New Builds + Renovations
Windom Elementary School Windom, MN
Maple River School District Mapleton, MN
ISG partnered with Windom Area Schools to design a new elementary school with modern classrooms, administration space, and building support areas. The design for new the two-story elementary school balances the students’ need for work and play, with the incorporation of music and art rooms, a media center, a gymnasium, and other flexible learning spaces. One key goal of the new elementary school’s design was maximizing natural light and exterior views from each of the classrooms. By developing a series of floor plan options, the District was able to move forward with a concept that replaced the long, narrow corridors familiar to the older school building with wider, flexible learning spaces between classrooms. In addition, the site was strategically laid out to support safe pick-up and drop-off for students at the main entrance while providing a connection to the nearby high and middle schools. Involved throughout the pre-referendum process, ISG understood the program needs of the proposed 75,000 sq. ft. building, despite a limited amount of available funding. Working closely with the District, ISG was able to help guide stakeholders through a strategic prioritization and design effort while carefully aligning wish-list items with their long-term curriculum goals. The result was a successful $23.9 million referendum for the new elementary school.
With multiple school buildings located in several different communities, the Maple River School District faced many of the common issues among rural districts, including: aging infrastructure, declining enrollment, advancing technology and testing requirements, and increasing operational and maintenance costs. In response to the numerous challenges, the District engaged ISG to perform an assessment of the condition and space needs of their facilities as they considered options for the future. The assessment included analysis of site, exterior, interior, accessibility, life safety, hazardous materials, mechanical and electrical systems, program, and technology needs. With buildings dating back to the 1930’s, the facilities could not meet electrical demands, indoor air quality standards, or programmatic space needs. Additionally, the District desired outdoor spaces, transportation efficiencies, and reduced energy usage. The assessment and report paved the way for an ongoing relationship, in which ISG guided the District through the referendum process to successfully pass a $63.3 million bond and designed a new 185,000 square foot school and site.
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Architecture + Engineering + Environmental + Planning | ISGInc.com
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