Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Small-Town Native to Fund $40M K–12 Renovation Project

  • By Matt Jones
  • 04/20/21

The Winifred School, part of Winifred Public Schools in Winifred, Mont., is set to receive a series of high-tech upgrades and renovations that would double the school’s original size. Upgrades to the K–12 school will include lab spaces, a woodworking area, an agricultural science space, a car repair space, and a full-size gym featuring an indoor track.

The project is the initiative of Norman Asbjornson, who grew up in Winifred and went on to found HVAC company AAON, Inc. Asbjornson is funding the entire $40-million project himself and expressed a desire to give back to his hometown, which has a population of about 200.

“I’m more than capable financially of doing a significant contribution, and I said, ‘Well, if you’re committed to it, then I’ll dial in. And if we’re going to do it, we’re going to do it right,’” he said. “I am guiding it a little bit to the architect and type of school, and making sure everything that could be done to make an outstanding school in the state of Montana.”

The school is partnering with A&E Design on the project. The school’s new layout is meant to encourage collaboration and encourage an active learning environment with multidisciplinary work spaces. “The vision, particularly from Norman and the design team as a whole, is that we could start to see this level of education facility ripple throughout the state—that this will be a model for others to look to and say, ‘How do I accomplish that?’” said Dusty Eaton of A&E Design.

In May 2020, AAON’s Board of Directors donated $1.25 million to the Winifred Montana Public Schools District in honor of Asbjornson, to be used for the construction of a new K–12 public school building.

“The town is becoming a better town all the time, and it’s raising a lot more prime citizens for the future, who will hopefully someday return the favor to the town when they’re capable and continue to make Winifred and Montana a better town and a better state,” Asbjornson said.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Indiana University Launches Capital Campus in D.C.

    Indiana University recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new IU Capital Campus in Washington, D.C., according to university news. The eight-story facility will provide a central hub for the university’s existing programs and business operations based in D.C., uniting them under one roof and providing the opportunity to expand.

  • S4L Announces 2026 Education Design Showcase Winners

    Spaces4Learning is thrilled to announce the winners of the 2026 Education Design Showcase! Now in its 27th year, the annual awards program honors innovative solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction across K–12 and higher education.

  • Campus Safety Requires Using Every Resource Available

    Across the U.S., school and campus leaders are facing a security landscape that has changed dramatically over the past decade. Incidents on school property have increased in recent years, with several consecutive years setting record totals. According to analysis of data by CNN, dozens of shootings now occur on school grounds annually across K-12 and higher education environments.

  • Phoenix School District Breaks Ground on New Prep Academy

    The Creighton Elementary School District near Phoenix, Ariz., recently broke ground on a campus replacement for Biltmore Preparatory Academy, according to a news release. The new space will allow the school to expand its enrollment by 50 percent for K–8 students and accommodate modern, collaborative learning styles.