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The recently completed transformation of Tartan High School in Oakdale,��Minn.,��shows how districts can modernize an aging campus while meeting expectations for flexibility, student��well-being��and equity.����

Rather than replacing the school, the district pursued an addition and renovation strategy that kept the campus��operating��on its existing site, reducing both cost and waste. Voters approved the work in spring 2019 as part of a districtwide effort that also included another local high school and set shared goals for both projects: strengthen safety and security, increase capacity at each high school to 1,800 students and create more flexible teaching and learning spaces. While the two buildings presented different constraints, the designers,��, were tasked with creating��an equitable��student experience, regardless of which high school students attend.��

“Modernization can support equity when districts are clear about the��experience��they want every student to have,” said��Wold��Education Practice Leader Sal Bagley. “It’s��about more than updating finishes.��It’s��about removing barriers and creating��additional��opportunities for��connection.”��

The��Challenge: An outdated layout��

Originally designed in 1969, Tartan featured two classroom “circles” of wedge-shaped rooms organized around central circular corridors. Interviews with students and staff surfaced operational issues familiar to many districts. Wayfinding was unclear. Major gathering spaces, such as the cafeteria, were constrained in single-story volumes. Classrooms were undersized and served by narrow corridors, contributing to congestion during passing times.����

The building also struggled to meet current expectations for well-being. Daylight was limited to narrow slot windows, and many learning spaces were fully interior with no access to natural light. Low structural heights resulted in limited options for modernizing HVAC systems. The cafeteria lacked enough seating, pushing some students to eat in their cars. Student resources were scattered throughout the building, adding friction for students trying to access support within a busy school day.��

These conditions are common in legacy schools: the building functions, but it does not support how the school currently needs to��operate. Frequent priorities center around reducing congestion, improving��clarity��and creating healthier, more welcoming spaces.��

Design that��Focused on��the��Student��Experience��

From the start, the project incorporated student and staff input to shape choices that affected daily routines. They provided months of feedback, including surveys on lockers, a departmental versus interdepartmental��model��and thoughts on restroom design. That input helped the team focus on comfort,��openness��and security in ways users would notice.��

“For a renovation to make a lasting impact, it��has to��show up in the moments students feel most. That means enhancing the experience when��they’re arriving��at school, passing time, eating��lunch��and seeking support,” Bagley said.��

A defining aspect at Tartan was a centralized, daylight-filled��commons��designed to improve dining and gathering. The existing gymnasium,��located��at the center of the plan, was renovated into the student��commons by adding floors and increasing access to natural light. Smaller spaces��branch off��the commons to support student groups and activities or clubs.��

Academic spaces were also upgraded to adapt as programs evolve. New classrooms were constructed to the north of the building and organized in a departmental model, with flexible options to combine rooms for different group sizes. After the school moved into these new areas, the existing classroom “circles” could be replaced with a clear main entrance aligned with the district’s safety and security standards. Additionally, modern activities and athletic spaces were added to support practice and competition needs for students and spectators’ experiences.��

Planning for��Performance and��Continuity��

Modernization should support reliable operations for decades. At Tartan, infrastructure was��aging��and maintenance costs were rising. Systems from the heating plant to air distribution,��roofing��and electrical distribution were updated or replaced to extend the life of renovated areas and improve occupant comfort.��

At the same time, the district faced a challenge many communities share – it needed to renovate without closing the school. Tartan remained open through a 14-phase plan from spring 2022 through summer 2025, with new areas coming online as other sections were updated or demolished. Students and staff��relocated��at times, making regular communication critical to managing disruption.��

“Phasing goes beyond a construction schedule to plan operations,��“ Bagley��said. “It was important that students didn’t miss out on learning because of disruptions.”����

What��Other��Districts��Can��Learn��

Tartan’s experience offers practical lessons for other districts. Projects should start by defining the student experience you want to improve, then��use��student and staff input to confirm what is not working and what matters most. Prioritize changes that reduce daily friction, such as clearer circulation or shared spaces that support connection and more consistent access to daylight. Build flexibility into academic planning so spaces can adapt as teaching models and enrollment change. In an older building, that may mean targeted new construction paired with selective demolition and replacement of the most limiting parts of the plan.��

Treat infrastructure upgrades as essential, not optional. A school cannot deliver on comfort and well-being if the systems that heat, cool and��power it��are��unreliable or outdated. Finally, if the school must stay open, plan phasing around instruction and communicate it consistently. Predictable updates and clear expectations can reduce stress for students and staff while building trust with families.��

Modernization as a��Tool,��Not��a��Compromise��

In early 2026, Tartan received the top award from the Minnesota Construction Association for addition and renovation projects, recognized for its project’s complexity and success. More important than��the recognition��is what the project��demonstrates��for districts facing similar conditions: addition and renovation can be a strategic alternative to full replacement when the goal is to modernize a campus, improve the student experience and extend the life of a building.��

Tartan’s transformation shows that reinvesting in a legacy facility can move beyond patchwork improvements. With clear experience goals, flexible learning spaces, upgraded infrastructure and��disciplined phasing, districts can deliver a modern school environment while keeping students learning on site.��

Sal Bagley is an Education Practice Leader for��Wold��Architects & Engineers.��

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Cromer brings more than 40 years of experience designing K–12 learning environments that reflect the unique character and needs of their communities. A recognized architectural leader in the Colorado education market, he has partnered with school districts across the state to deliver facilities that strengthen communities and support long-term academic success.��He earned his Bachelor of Architecture from Kansas State University, and his career includes leadership roles at DLR Group and Klipp Architecture.��

“We are thrilled to welcome Greg to our team as we continue to grow our Colorado office and strengthen our mission of making a difference in the communities we serve,” said Wold Chief Executive Officer Vaughn Dierks in a statement. “His deep understanding of Colorado’s educational landscape and commitment to creating meaningful learning environments make him a tremendous asset to our clients and partners.”����

Known for his thoughtful approach and collaborative spirit, Cromer excels at guiding clients through complex capital projects, from concept to construction, while fostering teamwork and mentoring future design leaders. In his new role, Cromer will collaborate with district leaders across Colorado to design educational facilities that create lasting impact while empowering students, supporting educators and strengthening the fabric of local communities. He brings a proven track record in growing design practices, engaging stakeholders and delivering meaningful results that will help advance Wold’s commitment to purposeful, human-centered school design.��

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OWATONNA, Minn.—A $99 million high school has been realized in this town located approximately 70 miles south of the Twin Cities. Construction commenced in May 2021 on the three-story school, whose campus also includes a football stadium, tennis courts, physical education building, auditorium, “town square” and outdoor athletic fields. Companies such as Federated Insurance and Mayo Clinic Health System contributed funds to the project.

The 317,000-square-foot Owatonna High School, located at 1455 SE 18th St., was designed by Wold Architects and Engineers to hold 1,600 students. Their design includes industrial arts laboratories and tech shop classrooms, as well as a centrally located cafeteria. Among the types of career paths students can learn about at Owatonna High are nursing, publishing and digital media, culinary arts, and engineering. By offering career-education classes, the local Owatonna community is hoping to retain skilled workers upon graduation rather than lose them to larger cities.

“Following years of working alongside many incredible local businesses, partners, staff and students, we are thrilled to finally open Owatonna High School and watch our students excel,” Jeff Elstad, superintendent at Owatonna Public Schools, said of the new high school. “This school will help them foster a sense of community and ownership over their learning in an innovative and inspiring environment while serving as a source of excitement and pride for the city of Owatonna.”

Wold worked in concert with construction manager Kraus-Anderson to realize the project. The two firms collaborated to fashion a school built of precast concrete and structural steel. The facade comprises brick and metal panels as well as glazing that allows in as much natural light as feasible. Architectural flourishes on the interior include terrazzo flooring, hardwood and metal panels covering the column wraps, as well as prefinished interior panels within the auditorium.

The exterior of Owatonna High includes four athletic storage buildings as well as a parking lot that can hold nearly 1,000 vehicles.

“We’re grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with the district and local voices to create a school that reflects the community it serves,” said Paul Aplikowski, partner at Wold. “We are excited to see how this school realizes the district’s vision for education for many years to come and becomes a role model for the area in high school education.”

“Owatonna Public Schools has been a fantastic partner during the entire construction process, where close communication and coordination was needed to meet all expectations,” said Michael Stenbeck, KA’s project manager. “It has been amazing to witness jaws drop as students and the community walk into the new facility. We are so proud to be a part of this project.”

Stenbeck added that managing ongoing supply chain issues was an issue for the project. “We maintained close communications and collaboration with all of our partners and subs to manage delivery expectations,” he said in an email sent to �Ӱ�ԭ��ҕ�l.

“One of the most rewarding parts of this project was seeing the Owatonna community rally together to turn the dream of a new high school into reality,” Sal Bagley, partner at Wold, informed �Ӱ�ԭ��ҕ�l. “From the successful [bond referendum] to the unprecedented support from local businesses in the form of donations and programming involvement, the full community truly inspired the unique and reflective design of this landmark school.”

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MANZANOLA, Colo.—A historic high school building in the southeast of the Centennial State has been given a 21st century facelift. The Manzanola Junior/Senior High School—built in 1925 according to designs by noted Colorado architect Temple Buell—has undergone renovations to its older structures as well as the addition of more educational space to accommodate increasing enrollment.

Furthermore, the century-old school building featured rather antiquated climate control, and was also in need of asbestos remediation and various repairs throughout. The Manzanola School District 3J was able to secure $31 million from a BEST grant in 2019 in order to fund the upgrades.

Colorado’s own Wold Architects and Engineers was hired to redesign Manzanola, and their plans were realized jointly by Nunn Construction and Vanir Construction Management. Part of the architectural redesign by Wold entailed reconfiguring the school around a two-story media center, which served as the proverbial heart of the school. Accordingly, learning spaces were configured to emanate out from that central location along two wings—which simultaneously respected Buell’s initial vision for the school.

The reimagined campus now boasts a “learning courtyard” as well as modern facilities for administrative use, physical education and science classes.

“As a local firm, we are honored to work with the Manzanola School District to revitalize its new community campus and honor the original structure designed by Buell,” Josh Grenier, principal at Wold Architects and Engineers, said in a recent statement. “This campus supports a diverse student population that deserves a safe, enriching learning environment, and we are proud to play a role in bringing this important facility to life.”

Added Nancy Westfall, Manzanola School District 3J Superintendent, “We have such a bright and deserving student population and couldn’t be more excited for them to experience the new community campus. These reimagined spaces provide a collaborative learning environment and a safe, secure facility that honors our rural community’s long, rich history.”

In addition to its offices in Colorado, Wold operates from locations in Tennessee, Illinois and Minnesota. The 2021 Building Design + Construction Giants 400 Report ranked the company number 6 on its annual national list of top architecture-engineering firms.

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ST. PAUL, Minn.—Wold Architects and Engineers of St. Paul has a slate of school construction projects planned, both within the capital region as well as in cities throughout the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Wold is working on renovating older facilities as well as constructing new ones to reduce overcrowding.

Wold’s projects include White Bear Lake High School, to be located in the community also called White Bear Lake, as well as other high schools in Tartan, Oakdale, Owatonna and Mora.

Each of the schools designed by Wold will offer flexible learning spaces (the wisdom of which the covid-19 pandemic has made clear), learning studios and classrooms devoted specifically to technical education.

At White Bear Lake High School, Wold is renovating 285,000 square feet of existing educational space as well working on a 375,000-square-foot addition. When finished, the complement of students that the high school can comfortably house will be over 3,000. A three-story classroom will exist side by side with an 800-seat auditorium, athletics fieldhouse, student commons and specialty laboratories.

The new building, being built by general contractor Kraus-Anderson, will house technical and training programs to help students work toward potential careers in vocational and other courses. The addition is expected to be complete for the fall of 2024.

In addition to White Bear Lake High School, Wold is also working on renovations and upgrades to Tartan and North High Schools (ISD 622), Owatonna High School and Mora High School (ISD 332).

“As a local firm, we are proud to lead the design of these five high schools to ensure that the academic environment is positioned to help students, educators and faculty thrive,” Vaughn Dierks, partner at Wold Architects and Engineers, said in a recent statement. “Each of these school designs has been tailored to the goals of the district, and our team has worked hard to collaboratively create both functional and beautiful spaces that will help accomplish those goals.”

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The SIA, a leading trade association for electronic and physical security solution providers, is comprised of roughly 500 security and alarm firms representing some 300,000 members. The organization advocates for pro-industry policies and legislation, produces global market research, and provides member education and training.

SIA spokesperson April Dalton-Noblitt of Allegion, a home and business security firm based in Carmel, Ind., presented at the event. Dalton-Noblitt highlighted several new products, but keyed in on mass notification systems, access control and systems integration, as well as a need for potential lockdown solutions in the case of an emergency. The presentation was part of a SIA-sponsored panel discussing new developments in school construction, security and financing that school boards should consider when planning and advocating for infrastructure improvements.

“It was encouraging to see that school board members are engaged on this issue and want to make sure security vulnerabilities are addressed early in the planning stages for school construction and renovation,” Dalton-Noblitt said in a statement. “The integration of modern security technology is an essential part of the solution for ensuring our kids are safe and should not be overlooked.”

The SIA has also worked to reinstate federal assistance to schools systems looking to implement new security technology. SIA partnered with the National Systems Contractors Association (NSCA) to form Partner Alliance for Safer Schools (PASS) in October 2014, which develops assessments and best practices for affordable security solutions drawn from security practitioners, law enforcement officials and school administrators. The PASS alliance is now developing guidelines for the use of electronic security and life safety equipment in schools that will provide tiered recommendations based on the resources available at a given facility.

“By drawing upon the insights and expertise of security suppliers, security practitioners, school administrators and law enforcement, the SIA PASS recommendations will enable education officials to maximize the effectiveness of their security solutions,” SIA CEO Don Erickson said in a statement. “I have been continuously impressed by the passion and experience of our committee members, and I particularly appreciate NSCA’s commitment to this initiative. I am hopeful that additional security practitioner, first-responder, and supplier organizations who share our commitment to preventing senseless crime and violence in our nation’s schools will join the PASS coalition.”

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