The Grand Forks (North Dakota) district has broken ground on the Grand Forks Air Force Base for Nathan Twining Elementary and Middle School.
The Grand Forks Herald reports that the school is being erected on the site of the former Carl Ben Eielson Elementary School and will accommodate up to 500 preK-8 students.
The $69 million building will have 110,000 square feet of space. The projected total cost, including design and demolition work, is $74.5 million; 80% of the funding comes from federal sources and 20% from local sources.
The need for a new school is "extremely crucial because Twining school is failing," says Michelle Shepperd, president of Grand Forks Air Force Base School Board
The building lacks air conditioning — forcing early dismissals when heat makes teaching and learning impossible — and the foundation has shifted, causing cracks in walls.
It provides inadequate space for student groups to perform in music, band and orchestra productions and lacks storage space for related equipment.
The new school is set to open in 2028.
The architect is JLG Architects, and the general contractor is Construction Engineers.
