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Minnesota District Converts Middle School into Community Hub

  • By Matt Jones
  • 07/14/26

White Bear Lake Area Schools in White Bear Lake, Minn., recently announced the end of a major renovation project that converted a former middle school into a new centralized district and community hub, according to a news release. The district partnered with Wold Architects & Engineers on the three-phase project, funded through voters’ approval of a 2019 bond referendum.

The goal of the new facility is to centralize services that had previously been spread across the district. These include early childhood programming; community services; recreation spaces; and the Transition Education Center (TEC), which supports individuals between ages 18–22 as they prepare for the workforce and living independently.

The facility plays home to the main district office, early childhood programming, the TEC, a senior center, and a gymnastics facility, the news release reports. The renovation was part of the district’s long-range “Building Our Future” facilities plan, developed with extensive engagement from the community.

About the Author

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

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