Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Iowa High School Breaks Ground on New Music Wing

  • By Matt Jones
  • 03/14/22

Keokuk High School in Keokuk, Iowa, recently began construction on a new wing to provide additional space to the fine arts department. The 8,000-square-foot addition will be built onto the school’s science building and feature two ensemble rooms, spaces for band and choir, administrative space, an auxiliary room and storage. The project comes with an estimated $4-million price tag and is expected to be complete by November.

“Everything our fine arts department needs will be in that wing,” said Principal Adam Magliari. He said the expansion has been on the school’s radar for years and will greatly benefit the 75 students who participate in the school’s choir and band. “Our students are thrilled. It’s been over 30 years since they had a new practice facility. Most people don’t know it, but our show choir is in our cafeteria. That affects every student in your building.”

Funding for the project is coming from the SAVE Fund, which provides state sales tax revenue for improvements to school infrastructure.

“We have a long-lasting tradition of fine arts and competing across the state. Many, many trophies and many awards have come out of our program here, and so it’s been a long time coming to have that area where they can practice,” Magliari said.

The district is partnering with construction manager Carl A. Nelson & Company.

“This year, we are building this new performance center outside the science wing for our music programs,” said Student Council President Abigale Wolter at the groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, March 9. “I know that limited space has been a recurring issue for these [music] programs, and this new addition will solve all those problems. It will also help programs like Little Feathers and Color Guard; it will give them a place to practice when the gym is being used for other activities.”

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Embry-Riddle Completes Construction on Research, Lab Facility

    Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in Daytona Beach, Fla., recently announced the end of construction on a new research and lab facility on campus. The Center for Aerospace Engineering II (CAT II) will support aerospace research and technology development and broke ground last summer.

  • Designing the Bridge Between Inclusivity and Independence in K–12 Schools

    Fostering independence is fundamental to learning and development for K–12 students. It offers many proven benefits, such as enhanced confidence, problem-solving, decision-making, and social skills. However, this foundational objective loses its impact if it’s not accessible and adaptable to all students. Inclusivity plays a critical role in cultivating independence and healthy autonomy for students, fostering positive student learning outcomes by uniting pedagogy with the physical learning environment.

  • Year-Round Schools Require Year-Round Indoor Air Quality Planning

    While many schools are out for the summer, year-round schools follow a more “balanced” schedule with shorter, more frequent breaks spaced throughout the school year. Even though this offers educational benefits, these facilities have less downtime for building maintenance. This can become an issue when facilities managers overlook the importance of routine HVAC maintenance and air duct cleaning services.

  • Planning with Clarity: Using AI to Make Better Campus Decisions, Not Just Better Designs

    Higher education leaders are being asked to make increasingly high-stakes decisions about campus facilities amid greater uncertainty than ever before. Social and economic pressures, shifting enrollment, and evolving learning models compete with growing deferred maintenance needs to strain even the most robust infrastructure budgets.