Project File: School district makeover

Bloomington Public Schools, Bloomington, Minn., has been transformed from a suburban district in decline to a district prepared for the challenges of 21st-century education. The realignment process included the redesign of instructional programs, the reorganization of grade-level structure, and the renovation of all school facilities.

The $107 million project included work at 10 elementary schools, three middle schools and two high schools. The project added expanded media centers, flexible classroom spaces, technology upgrades and performing-arts spaces.

Jefferson High School and John F. Kennedy High School activity centers add 72,000 square feet of space. The architect led task forces composed of representatives from the athletic and physical-education departments from each school, along with community groups. The process led to designs that met the needs of all user groups and achieved equity between the two high schools.

Oak Grove Middle School also received facility improvements. Major project features included reconfiguring and remodeling the existing two-story classroom wing to create six middle school houses of 160 students each. Skylights and atrium spaces are being added to increase natural light in certain areas. The school administration area was relocated. General ADA upgrades and deferred-maintenance projects also are being completed.

The architect for this project is Cuningham Group (Minneapolis).