Civic

LAKEFIELD, MINN. — Kraus-Anderson (KA) has completed construction of Jackson County Central Middle School in Lakefield, a city in southern Minnesota. JLG Architects designed the $26 million, 84,000-square-foot project. The school features multiple classrooms, including career and tech education learning spaces, as well as a gymnasium, kitchen and band and choir areas. Voters passed a $35.4 million district bond referendum in late 2019. The referendum addressed the district’s needs for facility replacement and improvements. KA renovated the district’s Pleasantview Elementary School in April 2021.

VIRGINIA, MINN. — Kraus-Anderson has completed construction of Rock Ridge Career Academy High School, which utilizes a new model of education for students to explore different occupations and identify potential careers. The $122 million project, which is part of Rock Ridge Public Schools’ plans for more than $190 million in construction and demolition projects, totals 280,000 square feet and is located in Virginia, a city in Northwest Minnesota. The school offers career tracks within three different categories, including: (1) business management, administration, arts, communications and information systems; (2) health and human services; and (3) agriculture, food, manufacturing, construction, engineering and science. Designed by Cuningham Group Architecture alongside local firm DSGW Architects, the school features a variety of lab spaces as well as a pool, gymnasium, stadium, performing arts center and turf fields.

ST. PAUL, MINN. — Ryan Cos. US Inc. will build the new Lee and Penny Anderson Arena at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. Ryan A+E Inc., Ryan’s design studio, is collaborating with Crawford Architects on the design of the multi-purpose arena and practice facilities, which will serve as the new home for the men’s and women’s hockey and basketball programs. The private university is transitioning to NCAA Division I athletics from Division III. The arena will also host commencement ceremonies, academic convocations, conferences, career fairs and other events for the university and broader community. Meyer Borgman Johnson will provide structural engineering services and IMEG Engineers will provide mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2024 and be completed in fall 2025. The university received a $75 million gift from Lee and Penny Anderson for the project. Lee Anderson sold APi Group, a conglomerate of construction and fire-protection businesses, for $3.5 billion in 2019, according to the Star Tribune.

ELY, MINN. — Kraus-Anderson has completed a $21.4 million renovation and expansion project for Ely Public Schools in Ely, a city in Northwest Minnesota. The district is comprised of Ely Memorial High School and Washington Elementary and serves approximately 550 students. Designed by Architectural Resources Inc., the project consisted of a renovation of the two existing schools. Kraus-Anderson added a 39,000-square-foot common area that connects both the schools. The addition houses new classrooms, a gymnasium, media center, music room, metals shop, wood shop and a cafeteria with commercial kitchen equipment. Both schools now feature upgraded HVAC systems. New locker rooms were added to the high school and an early family childhood education area was added to the elementary school.