Nebraska to Open Boys Town Education Center

The village of Boys Town, Neb., recently announced that the Boys Town Education Center has opened its doors to students in time for the fall 2023 semester, a news release reports. The town is a National Historic Landmark and serves as the headquarters of Boys Town, one of the largest non-profit childcare organizations in the U.S. Boys Town partnered with DLR Group for the building’s planning, design, and construction.

The new facility has a capacity for 450 students in grades 4–12. The site of the campus was previously occupied by Boys Town High School, which was built in 1948. The new facility marks the first time that elementary-, middle-, and high-school students enrolled in the program can come together underneath one roof.

“The new Boys Town Education Center is designed to support all types of learners through a variety of different learning environments, from one-on-one spaces to larger learning commons,” said Vanessa Schutte, AIA, ALEP, Principal and K–12 Education Leader with DLR Group. “Boys Town serves many at-risk students who have endured trauma. For this reason, DLR Group integrated trauma-informed design principles throughout the design of the school, providing the appropriate level of privacy, ease of visibility, and connection to nature. Our priority is to create spaces that respect and support each individual’s needs.”

The facility stands three stories and measures in at 110,000 square feet, according to the news release. Its exterior pays tribute to previous historic Boys Town facilities through brick patterns and the original Boys Town mural. The interior features “exceptionally adaptive” spaces that meet the learning needs of students of a variety of backgrounds and ages. It also offers a STEM-focused curriculum and activities to prepare students for careers in different industries.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Zurn Elkay Releases 2025 Sustainability Report

    Zurn Elkay Water Solutions recently announced the release of its annual sustainability report, according to a news release. The 2025 report discusses the organization’s efforts to maintain good environmental stewardship and the solutions provided in helping customers meet sustainability goals.

  • Children walking along bright school corridor with motion blur

    How Next-Gen Design Is Reshaping the Student Experience

    The environments where students learn play a crucial role in shaping their growth in and out of the classroom. By centering design on well-being, flexibility, and purpose, districts can ensure their facilities remain vibrant community assets for many years to come.

  • Girl Sitting at Library Desk, Using Laptop

    How Campus Design Shapes the Finals Week Experience

    Academic performance is not just about preparation. It is closely tied to how students manage stress, maintain their energy, and shift between work and recovery modes. Much of that is influenced, directly or indirectly, by design.

  • Image courtesy of Kahler Slater

    UW–Madison Announces Completion of Morgridge Hall

    The University of Wisconsin–Madison recently announced that construction is complete on Morgridge Hall, a new academic building, according to a news release. The facility opened September 3 at the start of the fall semester, consolidating the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences into a single facility for the first time.