Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Historic Junior/Senior High School Re-Opens After Major Renovation

  • By Matt Jones
  • 06/13/22

Manzanola Junior/Senior High School in Manzanola, Colo., recently debuted a new campus addition and significant renovations to its original building, which was built in 1925. The 95-year-old structure was facing multiple issues related to the building’s age, including deferred maintenance issues, limited heating capabilities and housed asbestos, according to a news release.

 The addition’s design centers around a two-story media center near the west façade of the original structure. Learning spaces are organized into two wings that mirror the original design, creating a learning courtyard and extension of the media center. The addition also features new fifth-grade classrooms, new lab spaces, a gymnasium, locker rooms, administrative space and a reception area.

“We have such a bright and deserving student population and couldn’t be more excited for them to experience the new community campus,” said Superintendent Nancy Westfall of Manzanola School District 3J. “These reimagined spaces provide a collaborative learning environment and a safe, secure facility that honors our rural community’s long, rich history.”

Manzanola School District 3J partnered on the project with Wold Architects and Engineers, Nunn Construction and Vanir Construction Management. Wold helped the district land a Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) grant to help fund the project, which consolidates all district students into a single, secure facility.

“As a local firm, we are honored to work with the Manzanola School District to revitalize its new community campus and honor the original structure designed by [Temple] Buell,” said Josh Grenier, principal at Wold Architects and Engineers. “This campus supports a diverse student population that deserves a safe, enriching learning environment, and we are proud to play a role in bringing this important facility to life.”

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Tennessee Middle School Completes Health, Life Safety Renovations

    The Giles County Board of Education in Pulaski, Tenn., recently announced that a series of renovation projects has been completed at Bridgeforth Middle School, according to a news release. The district partnered with Wold Architects & Engineers and Brindley Construction to modernize building systems at one of the district’s oldest schools.

  • California K–12 District Finishes Renovations on Multi-Sport Stadium

    The Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) in Alameda, Calif., recently announced the completion of a renovation project on the Encinal Jr. & Sr. High School stadium, according to a news release. The district partnered with Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA) and Bothman Construction on the facility, and funding came from Bond Measure B.

  • Architectural Power for the Modern Campus Landscape

    For generations, an outdoor classroom only required a textbook and a patch of grass. Today, not only has the laptop replaced the printed pages, the rise of agile learning has turned campuses into study halls with students listening to lectures and researching topics from quads, gardens, and plazas. The challenge for architects and facility managers is to provide connectivity without cluttering the landscape with visual eyesores or creating safety hazards with extension cords.

  • Hawaii Elementary School Breaks Ground on New Classroom Building

    Kealakehe Elementary School in Kailua, Hawaii, recently began construction on a new, $16-million classroom building for its campus, according to a news release. The 13,000-square-foot building will stand two stories and connect the existing upper and lower campuses.