Kraus-Anderson completes construction of 5 Mounds View schools to meet demands of the growing district
August 17, 2020
Improvements add much-needed space to better serve students
MOUNDS VIEW, Minn. (August 2020) – Kraus-Anderson (KA) has completed construction of five schools for the Mounds View School District, all a part of a $165 million bond referendum featuring 12 schools that voters approved in November of 2017.
Designed by Wold Architects and Engineers, the five schools include Mounds View High School, Pinewood Elementary, Chippewa Middle School, Bel Air Elementary and Valentine Hills Elementary.
Mounds View High School – 1900 Lake Valentine Rd., Arden Hills
The 140,675-square-foot addition and remodel features a four-station gym with an overhead track, two new classrooms and general renovations with mechanical, electrical and plumbing upgrades throughout.
The renovated commons provides students with an updated gathering space as well as increased access to Kauls Court and the auditorium. The classroom additions feature opportunities for student collaboration and team teaching along with increased visibility to flexible learning areas. The renovated classrooms, which were previously undersized, give students ample flex areas.
The gymnasium addition features a four-station gym with windows that provide natural light into the space and frame views from the second-story walking track. The athletic commons outside the gymnasium addition creates a space for students to collaborate as well as a gathering space for school events; and the new fitness center is an asset for students and athletes. The existing kitchen has been expanded to better serve students. The size of the parking lot was increased and the parent drop-off was improved.
Pinewood Elementary – 5500 Quincy Street, Mounds View
The project added two classrooms, remodeled the cafeteria and kitchen, and included renovations to the parking lot.
Chippewa Middle School – 5000 Hodgson Rd., North Oaks
The 14,000-square-foot project includes a 12,000-square-foot renovation and 2,000-square-foot addition with a new main office and breakout spaces. The administrative addition and renovation allow for a secure entrance at the main entry, and the commons space gives students a place to gather, study and wait for transportation.
Bel Air Elementary – 1800 5th St NW, New Brighton
The 12,380-square-foot project includes two new classroom, resource area additions and a cafeteria expansion.
Valentine Hills Elementary – 1770 W County Road E2, Arden Hills
The 19,028-square-foot project includes two new classrooms and an expansion of the cafeteria and kitchen.
As part of the overall district referendum, Kraus-Anderson completed in September 2019 an addition at Island Lake Elementary in St. Paul; and is currently working on an extensive 80,000-square-foot expansion at Irondale High School and an addition as Sunnyside Elementary in New Brighton – both to be completed later this year.
The Mounds View schools are among dozens of major K-12 construction projects Kraus-Anderson will work on this year during its “Summer Sprint,” a critical, concentrated time during the summer months when school is not in session and when crews can perform work that ranges from new school construction to upgrades to deferred maintenance projects.
KA continues to lead the field of regional education construction projects and is currently ranked 8th in the nation in the construction of K-12 facilities by Building Design and Construction magazine. Over the past five years, KA has completed over $1 billion in K-12 projects. KA’s comprehensive school construction services include facility analysis and budget approaches, leading to informed and successful referendum initiatives.
COVID-19: KRAUS-ANDERSON’S COMMITMENT TO JOB SAFETY
As the world continues to deal with and adapt to the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kraus-Anderson’s top priority remains safety. The company has implemented stringent social distancing practices and other elevated safety protocol on construction job sites, details of which can be found at KA’s COVID-19 Response Page.
About Kraus-Anderson
Established in 1897, Kraus-Anderson® Construction Company is one of the nation’s premier commercial general contractors and construction managers. Kraus-Anderson, an Equal Opportunity & Affirmative Action employer, is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn. and has regional offices in Madison, Wis., Bismarck, N.D., and Duluth, Bemidji and Rochester Minn.