Add as a preferred source on Google

Louisiana High School Opens New CTE Center

  • By Matt Jones
  • 09/26/22

A Louisiana high school recently completed a series of construction and renovation projects with the ribbon-cutting for its new Career Technical Education Center. West Feliciana High School in St. Francisville, La., renovated its old gymnasium as a centralized home for its CTE program, according to a news release. The other projects recently completed include a new gymnasium and a Freshman Academy, and all three cost a total of $14.2 million.

The news release reports that the CTE Center houses programs like welding, culinary arts, EMR training, and CNA training. These classes were previously held at local technical colleges, and having to transport students back and forth to these locations during the school day required precise scheduling.

“We had to be very rigid in scheduling,” said West Feliciana School District Superintendent Hollis Milton. “Now, we can be agile. Kids can have a flexible, dual experience here at school. You can take off your welding gear and head straight across the courtyard to Honors English.”

The Freshman Academy involved a renovation of the front portion of the school and includes new classrooms, a Freshman Commons area, science labs, an administrative suite and a more clearly defined entrance to the school. Its purpose is to create a smoother transition for incoming freshman, giving them their own dedicated academic and social spaces that are still part of the larger school. “With all this work, we’re aiming to improve the student experience,” said Milton.

West Feliciana High School Freshman Academy
West Feliciana High School Freshman Academy Exterior
Photo courtesy of Tipton Associates

The new gym features a large lobby, and the weight room offers floor-to-ceiling views of the football field. “It’s a place to compete and to celebrate,” Milton said.

West Feliciana High partnered with architecture firm Tipton Associates and general contractor Stuart & Co. for the project’s construction.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • North Dakota State University Completes Music School Renovation

    North Dakota State University in Fargo, N.D., recently announced that construction on the Challey School of Music has finished, according to a news release. The university partnered with Foss Architecture & Interiors for design and Kraus-Anderson for construction services, and construction began in July 2024.

  • LSU Breaks Ground on $200M Residential Project

    Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, La., recently broke ground on a new residential complex, according to university news. The South Quad residential project will consist of two buildings and add a total of 1,266 beds for freshmen students. The development comes with a price tag of $200 million, and it’s scheduled to open to students in fall 2027.

  • Beyond Four Walls

    Operable glass walls provide a dynamic solution for educational spaces. They align with today’s evolving teaching methods and adapt to the needs of modern learners. Beyond the functional versatility, movable glass walls offer clean, contemporary aesthetics, slim and unobtrusive profiles, and versatile configurations that cater to the evolving needs of students and educators alike.

  • Upcoming University of Alabama Performing Arts Center Hits Construction Milestone

    The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala., recently celebrated the topping out of its new Smith Family Center for Performing Arts, according to a news release. The university is partnering with HPM for program and project management on the facility, which broke ground in 2023 and is scheduled for completion in November 2026.

Digital Edition