PLAINVIEW, Minn.—More than $15 million in remodel and addition work has been completed for several schools that are part of the Plainview-Elgin-Millville (PEM) Community Schools, a district that serves the communities of Plainview, Elgin and Millville, approximately 25 miles northeast of Rochester, Minn.

Kraus-Anderson Construction was the general contractor on these projects that were approved by voters in late 2018. At that time, a $15.5 million district bond referendum passed to improve safety and security, provide bathroom and accessibility upgrades, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) improvements. The work also includes new learning spaces, renovated science classrooms and Career and Technology Education (CTE) lab spaces.

At the PEM PK-3 Elementary School, 9-12 High School Plainview Campus, the project features a 78,537-square-foot remodel of the existing 225,000-square-foot high school building, featuring improvements for corridor circulation and accessibility, including a new ADA elevator in the center of the campus. Renovations also included upgrades to student learning spaces that serve high school science and CTE classrooms. These renovations will advance student learning opportunities, including the use of modern equipment in a layout that improves supervision, safety and collaborative teaching and learning. A 3,294-square-foot addition also provides a new secure main entrance, a separate high school secure entry by the student parking lot and vestibule, and additional administration space for the high school portion of the campus.

At the PEM 4-6 Elementary School Elgin Campus, the 51,536-square-foot remodel includes new HVAC, ceilings, lighting and upgraded bathrooms. A 400-square-foot addition provides a new secure entry and vestibule, as well as new fire sprinklers throughout the entire building.

At PEM 7-8 Junior High School Elgin Campus, the 62,214-square-foot remodel features new HVAC, ceilings, lighting and upgraded bathrooms. A 600-square-foot addition includes a new secure entry and vestibule.

The 198,468-square-foot project was designed by Wendel Architects.

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Minnesota and the entire Midwest is an emerging leader in the green building movement, and the local community is embracing schools as the future of sustainable leadership in the region. Minnesota alone has more than 30 LEED certified K-12 schools, totaling more that 3 million square feet of space. LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the most widely used green building rating system in the world.

At the conference, attendees will be able to participate in dozens of informative education sessions that will cover buildings and health, sustainability in the classroom, climate-centric solutions, sustainable collaboration and more. In addition, the conference will host a luncheon to announce the recipients of the Best of Green Schools and Green Apple Day of Service awards. The full program is available online and below is a preview of the events taking place during the conference about which we’re most excited!

Inspiring Keynote Speakers

This year’s keynote speakers will share unique stories about how they are helping to reinvigorate communities and the way people perceive sustainability in the age of climate change.

Emmanuel Pratt, co-founder and executive director of the Sweet Water Foundation, will kick off the GSCE conference on April 8. The Sweet Water Foundation is a Chicago-based organization that transforms vacant spaces and abandoned buildings into economically and ecologically productive and sustainable community assets. Pratt’s professional and academic work has involved explorations and investigations on such topics as architecture, urbanization, race and identity, and gentrification. Most recently he has focused on advancing community economic development through food security and sustainable design.

Zaria Forman, who will provide the keynote speech at the joint GSCE and IMPACT plenary on April 9, documents climate change with powerful pastel drawings. She travels to remote regions of the world to collect images and inspiration for her work, which is exhibited in venues around the world and acts as a visual representation of the natural world we stand to lose as a result of climate change. She has flown with NASA on several Operation IceBridge missions over Antarctica, Greenland and Arctic Canada, inspiring her art.

Women in Green Power Hour

Celebrating the “Culture of Courage,” this year’s Women in Green Power Hour on April 8 will invite discussion around leadership and overcoming the challenges women face in the workplace today. Featuring Dr. Tara Kulkarni, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering and director of the Center for Global Resilience and Security at Norwich University, Women in Green will explore how women in the green building and education fields can lead with purpose and drive a culture of courage, creativity and progress in the workplace.

Best of Green Schools and Green Apple Day of Service Awards Luncheon

Every year, GSCE recognizes and celebrates schools from across the country that show exceptional leadership in education and sustainability at the Best of Green Schools awards, as well as those that participated in exemplary service projects to advance sustainability in their schools with the Green Apple Day of Service awards. The joint awards luncheon will take place on April 8.

USGBC’s CEO Shares the Latest Green Building Research

Perceptions of sustainability are constantly changing. To tackle this and determine the best way to communicate the importance of green building to different audiences, including students, USGBC has commissioned ClearPath Strategies to conduct independent nationwide research on the public’s view of the environment. During the GSCE and IMPACT joint plenary on April 9, USGBC President and CEO Mahesh Ramanujam, along with ClearPath Strategies founder David Bluestone, will discuss the ongoing research and initial findings regarding the public’s feelings and perceptions on sustainability and how we should be telling our story.

Expo Hall and Education Sessions

Featuring over 50 unique exhibitors, the GSCE x IMPACT Exhibit Hall is the place to meet with industry leaders. From the Networking Lunch to Happy Hour in the Hall, there are ample opportunities to meet with fellow experts dedicated to the sustainable development of schools. The Exhibit Hall will also feature the GBCI Certification Work Zone, where an expert will be on hand to discuss specific projects and answer questions about LEED.

The conference will feature 59 thought-provoking education sessions for attendees to select between, including topics on student-driven sustainability leadership and incorporating whole school sustainability, among others. Attendees can also participate in Conversation Corners, which are short, 20-minute sessions encourage focused discussion of critical issues related to sustainability.

There’s still time to register for the conference, so sign up today, and join us for two days of education, networking and inspiration!

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The annual Green Schools Conference & Expo (GSCE), the nation’s premier event for the green schools movement, and the annual IMPACT regional conference, the largest green building conference in the Midwest, are co-locating for two days in St. Paul, Minnesota. GSCE is committed to advancing sustainable schools for all and will bring together some of the industry’s top green school leaders, while IMPACT attracts building professionals and sustainability leaders from across the Midwest. Both conferences will include inspiring keynotes, immersive education sessions and informative workshops on the latest strategies and trends that support a sustainable transformation of the region’s schools, commercial and residential buildings and more.

In the Twin Cities, buildings are a significant factor in meeting climate action goals and at one time were the largest source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Minneapolis. Green buildings, like those that are LEED certified, help reduce GHGs, conserve water and provide people with better air quality and access to nature. In Minnesota, there are more than 450 LEED-certified commercial buildings and a workforce that includes nearly 3,000 LEED professionals.

When:

Monday, April 8, 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. – Includes the GSCE Plenary, the expo hall opening, education sessions and the Women in Green Power Hour

Tuesday, April 9, 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. – Includes joint plenary, expo hall and education sessions

Where:

St. Paul RiverCentre, 175 West Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55102

Who:

Emmanuel Pratt, executive director of the Sweet Water Foundation, will provide the keynote at the GSCE plenary.

Zaria Forman, renowned climate change artist, whose mammoth works of art depict the grandeur of our natural environment, will provide the keynote at the joint conference plenary.

David Bluestone, founder and partner of ClearPath Strategies, will discuss new wide-reaching research that is informing us about attitudes and behaviors toward green building and sustainability.

Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO of USGBC and GBCI, will discuss USGBC’s Living Standard campaign and the work we are doing to create a universal living standard for all.

Tara Kulkarni, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at Norwich University, will be the featured speaker at the Women in Green Power Hour.

Green building leaders, architects, engineers, developers, school administrators, students, and people who lead, operate, build and teach in U.S. schools.

For a full list of programming visit impact.usgbc.org and greenschoolsconference.org.

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. USGBC works toward its mission of market transformation through its LEED green building program, robust educational offerings, an international network of local community leaders, the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, the Center for Green Schools and advocacy in support of public policy that encourages and enables green buildings and communities. For more information, visit usgbc.org and connect on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

The Green Schools Conference & Expo (GSCE) is the largest annual conference and expo for green school advocates in the U.S. GSCE is the only national event to bring together all the players involved in making green schools a reality: people who lead, operate, build and teach in U.S. schools. It’s hosted by the Center for Green Schools at USGBC and produced in partnership with the Green Schools National Network. For more information, visit greenschoolsconference.org, connect on Twitter and Facebook, and follow the hashtag #GSCE19.

Expanding its reach throughout the Midwest, USGBC’s annual IMPACT conference attracts hundreds of green building professionals from across the region, and serves as a forum for builders, developers, sustainability leaders and change makers to unite and demonstrate the many innovative ways the Midwest is raising the bar when it comes to green building. The USGBC communities of the Central Plains, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri Gateway, Nebraska Flatwater, North Dakota and Wisconsin collaborate together to host the conference.

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PERHAM, Minn. – TSP Architecture has successfully completed renovation to the Perham High School project, providing both students and staff with a freshly updated and modernized facility for a new school year.

TSP Architecture and BHH partnered together to create a design of flexibility in meeting with the ever-changing technologies and 21^st century educational trends of today, while also separating the operations and student body by age, and utilizing the connection of the nearby middle school by creating shared functional efficiencies.

Perham High School’s new building bolsters space in function, adjacencies and right-sizing to assist in the current style of education delivery and learning styles – which was lacking in the previous facility.

District staff deliberately sought student input – finding consensus on what was desired as well as reviewing what worked or did not work in the previous facility.

Student representatives were able to serve on the Facility Planning Committee during the conceptual planning stage. The design was presented to the public at strategic intervals during the process for information sharing, input gathering and idea implementation.

The team ultimately sought a design that would allow the new school to follow contemporary educational trends; including providing flexible spaces, in size, arrangement and proper sizing.

The first example includes the design of the building is organized around a central, two-story space known as the “Great Hall,” noted for its ample daylight, and features student dining, food service and a public function common/gathering/reception space.

This area operates as a centrally located organizational “hinge” for the floor plan with the building’s main entry located near this particular juncture. The academic area is on one side of the Great Hall, while shared support spaces such as administrative offices, the gymnasium and physical education spaces, visual arts and performing arts are on the other. The overall intention of this design was to create controlled zoning between these differing functions.

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SAINT PAUL, Minn. — On March 6, Rep. Jenifer Loon, R-Minnesota presented her newly sponsored bill before the House Education Finance Committee (HEFC), which would allow school districts to fund and prioritize safety and security upgrades for Minnesota schools. The $28.5 million package would provide funding for both security and safety improvements as well as mental health counseling and resources. Rep. Loon, who chairs the Education Finance Committee, is advocating for the bill to become law this session.

The legislation would develop the use of long-standing facilities maintenance revenue, generating more money and resources available for districts to create safety improvements, including emergency communications, building enhancements and security upgrades.

According to Rep. Loon, the security package is made up of two initiatives she has crafted to fund school-security upgrades. The initial policy expands the scope of a program called Long-Term Facilities Maintenance Revenue, which would allow such funds to be used for necessary security upgrades across districts statewide. The second measure would provide $25 million in the bonding bill to be used for grants used directly by school districts for safety upgrades.

Loon explained that as schools assess their needs, another proposal in her school-safety package would reimburse schools that fulfilled security audits. “We are also increasing the per-pupil funding every school will receive under the current Safe Schools Levy program from the current $36 per student to $54 per student,” Loon said in a statement. “Eden Prairie Schools would receive an additional $172,000 if this Safe Schools increase becomes law.”

The flexible financial stream is slated to fund school resource officers, mental health counseling, other school support personnel, security improvements, crime and drug-abuse prevention or gang-resistance training. Moreover, smaller schools with reduced student populations will be granted a minimum of $30,000 to secure significant resources for school safety.

Expanding mental health services is also a key part of Loon’s safety package this session. Rep. Loon is vehement in addressing this need since becoming chair of the Education Committee in 2015. Since then, they have more than doubled mental health grants — from $5 million to $11 million annually — with the safety package investing an additional $5 million in the program for fiscal year 2019 and on an ongoing basis.

This is all part of her efforts to build what Rep. Loon describes as a “healthy school climate”, an environment in which students treat their peers with respect, nurture a culture of inclusiveness and ensure that children who struggle socially have a school safety net.

“I am dedicated to working for our schools, students and parents, championing changes that positively impact student safety. Fortunately, there is quite a bit of overlap on policy ideas being proposed in the Legislature and by the Governor’s Office, and those complementary ideas make me optimistic we can make significant strides in enhancing students and school safety, continuing to put our kids first,” concluded Loon.

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The Ladybug Child Care Center in Shakopee is the second such center Stahl has built for the organization, which is family owned and operated and headquartered in Chaska, Minn. Michael Monn Architects in Lakeville, Minn., also contributed to the project.

The new center is adjacent to Shakopee Public Schools’ Jackson Elementary School, which allows Ladybug to offer before and after school programs for school-age children with the benefit of having staff members walk students to and from school. The structure is comprised of a 10,500-square-foot single-story surrounded by 15,000 square feet of playground area featuring interactive outdoor equipment and a fenced retainage pond area intended for teaching natural sciences. Interior features include a full-service kitchen, inside playground and a nursing station. There is also a crib room for babies and toddlers. Total occupancy for the facility is 145 children, who can range in age from infants to elementary school-aged.

“Ladybug required a close eye for detail to pass and exceed mandated child care requirements for both the indoor and outdoor spaces,“ said Stahl’s Project Executive, Deb Aldrich, in a statement. “The layout of the building, materials used, paint colors selected, and toys available were all chosen by the owners to help create a child-friendly environment.”

Aldrich worked on both the new Shakopee location as well as the original Ladybug Child Care Center in Waconia, Minn.

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The design of Jordan Middle School, located in Jordan, is so successful that it recently hosted school officials from Missouri, Kansas and other states throughout the region, amounting to 50 hours worth of tours, according to Jordan School District Superintendent Matt Helgerson.

“It was driven by the desire for a different academic approach,” said Helgerson of the school’s new design, which resulted, in part, from staffers and the school board’s eagerness to increase collaboration between students and create dynamic learning spaces that could readily transform to suit a variety of use-case scenarios.

DLR Group, which has offices nationally including Minneapolis, was engaged to work with the school’s stakeholders to design the extensive renovation, which cost about $29 million. The redesigned school opened for the 2015-16 school year with modular furniture, movable tables and chairs that can easily be arranged into workspaces of various sizes and a project room and science lab area festooned with transparent walls.

“It’s a nontraditional design but very purposeful,” observed Helgerson, who pointed to the garage doors in the classroom walls that open up into a commons area. “It has 21st century level technology for kids be able to connect, share and collaborate.”

The open commons area also includes a tiered stage that is used for live performances such as choir concerts. The district also incorporated energy-efficient measures such as lighting controls that assesses the amount of natural light coming through the windows and adjusts the building’s electrical lighting accordingly.

“At the same time we were building it, we were going one-to-one with our student devices, and we wanted to build something where staff and students were able to collaborate and mix and work in a setting that’s more a ‘corporate, professional workforce’ driven environment,” said Helgerson, who estimated that the school’s renovations could increase student capacity by 200. “A number of our parents work in that professional setting, and I think, in order to be attractive to families but also — more importantly — to prepare kids for that environment, I knew we had to create something different,”

The middle school’s new design has received its share of honors, including being among 26 honorees in Finance and Commerce’s Top Projects of 2015 series as well as being featured in the Minnesota School Boards Association Journal.

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