Construction Projects

Renovation of K-12 school in Hunter, N.D.

Construction planned for STEAM-based children’s museum in Minot., N.D. MINOT, N.D. • Construction started this spring on the Magic City Discovery Center, a 22,123-square-foot, interactive educational museum in Minot.

The one-of-a-kind hybrid children’s museum and science center will provide STEAM-based indoor and outdoor activities for children up to age 14, where kids will have fun while learning skills that prepare them for future careers.

Construction started in May by Kraus-Anderson.

“Contracts are being issued, shop drawings being reviewed, ordering of material and coordinating with the exhibit vendors,” K-A Senior Project Manager Curt Janssen, based in Bismarck, told Prairie Business.

The three-story educational building will feature 12 interactive exhibit galleries, focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM). The discovery center is designed for open-ended, layered learning, allowing children to independently and collaboratively engage in lifelong learning through discovery, creativity and play.

The company said other STEAM-based exhibits in the children’s museum will include an aerial flight exhibit, digital worlds, light and sound labs – all designed to encourage creativity, exploration and problem solving.

Magic City Discovery Center expects thousands of families to visit the museum regularly, in addition to the more than 1,300 children in grades K-5 who live on and off the Minot Air Force Base.

Designed by Minot-based Ackerman-Estvold, the $14 million project, including exhibit costs, is funded in part by a $6.3 million grant from the Department of Defense, and through public-private partnerships with the city of Minot and Minot Park District.

The project is expected to be completed in fall of 2022.

“I am excited to be involved in a project that will benefit kids, their families, the State of North Dakota and beyond,” Janssen said. “Having the opportunity to do something unique that will impact lives for decades to come is very special.”

HUNTER, N.D. • The North Dakota office of Kraus-Anderson has begun a $3.2 million renovation of the K-12 school for Northern Cass Public School District in Hunter, N.D. Designed by Zerr Berg Architects, additions feature a new secure entry vestibule, commons area and music wing. Renovations also will be made to the existing serving kitchen, administration area and main entrance lobby.

Construction is expected to be completed in January 2022. The Northern Cass school is one of dozens of major K-12 construction projects KA 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.

Over the past five years, KA has completed over $1 billion in K-12 projects.

Construction on Jackson County Central Schools in Lakefield, Minn.

LAKEFIELD, Minn. • Kraus-Anderson will begin construction on two projects for Jackson County Central Schools in Lakefield in southern Minnesota. The $26 million project includes the construction of a new middle school and interior remodeling of Pleasantview Elementary School.

Designed by JLG Architects, the new 84,000 square-foot Pleasantview Middle School features new classrooms, Career and Tech education learning spaces and science classrooms. The new school also adds a new gymnasium, band and choir areas, kitchen and commons area.

Interior renovations to Pleasantview Elementary School, located adjacent to the middle school, include air quality upgrades, as well as improvements meeting Americans with Disabilities Act requirements at all district buildings.

KA worked with the district on the $35.4 million district bond referendum, which voters passed in November 2019. The referendum addresses the district’s needs for facility replacement and improvements that will help to prepare students for careers and post-secondary education opportunities.