Client:
Cuningham Group
Location:
Alexandria, MN
Project Cost:
$73 M
Completion:
2014
Services:
Structural Engineering
When Alexandria Schools recognized the need for a new school they pulled together an intensely collaborative team of Cuningham Group Architects, with Clark Engineering for structural engineering, and Kraus Anderson to bring visions to reality. The team worked through visioning sessions of the district and community user group to create a shared vision for “The World’s Greatest High School.” The new building would replace a 1957 building, Jefferson High School.
The end result was truly an award winning and nationally recognized school with its sunny and expansive commons, high-tech learning labs, flexible format classrooms and collegiate-style layout with ample space for informal gathering…further solidifying what persevered at the heart of this endeavor, collaboration.
The 283,000 square foot grade 9-12 high school facility opened for students Sept. 2, 2014 after a two-year construction schedule. The new high school accommodates 1,400 students on its 167-acre campus with two three-story academic wings and 36 classrooms, 12 learning spaces for small and large groups, science labs, technology and engineering lab, art rooms, media center, performing arts wing, commons and collaboration areas, stadium, athletic fields and 1000-seat auditorium. Additionally, all classroom tables and chair are on wheels and spaces are impressively flexible DIRTT sustainable modular walls creating the ultimate in room layout flexibility.
From an engineering standpoint, Clark Engineering was instrumental in developing a cost-effective structural system that maintained the openness the design team, community user group and district envisioned without compromising the budget. Other unique structural design features included open staircases with windows to the outdoors, a large cantilever balcony in the Auditorium, a 3-story open commons area where the look and feel of the space was further supported with glulam members in the open air spaces. One of the more notable structural features include the ‘Learning Stairs’ located in the center of each of the two classroom wings. These unique and grandeur steps, provide students with a space to settle in for a study or reading period, all conveniently located next to a traditional stair case.
Alexandria Schools was recognized as one of Finance & Commerce’s Top Projects of 2014 series, which recognizes outstanding construction throughout the state.
