K12 Education

Following an extensive master plan and facility study, The School District of Beaver Dam tasked the design team with a 162,000 sq. ft. renovation to their existing building, including improving/creating classroom spaces, breakouts for group learning, and spaces for music, culinary arts, and STEM programs. In addition, an expansive 59,000 square foot addition provides new administrative offices, a larger, more efficient student commons and event entry, and fieldhouse.

As part of the addition, the new student commons create a dramatic entrance to the school.  Polished concrete floors with the Beaver Dam logo show school spirit, while a white and gray palette with Beaver Dam gold accents provides a clean, modern backdrop. Large expanses of interior glass provide a connection between the commons and adjacent student service areas.  Furnishings are flexible and provide a variety of seating options with areas of lounge and bar height seating in addition to tables and chairs.
 
Adjacent to the commons is the new fieldhouse.  The new gymnasium is a six-station gym, making it the largest high school gym in the state.  The design team choose grade three maple floors for their rustic quality and to save on cost on the required expansive flooring.  Vertical bands of color help to break up the space and a stylized “Beaver Tail” waffle pattern is incorporated on to the end walls of the gym.  

The redesigned student library or learning commons provides comfortable space for reading, small group learning, and relaxing with its attached café.  The café is furnished like a coffee house with tables and seating and is staffed with students from the district’s Special Education Program.  A fireplace clad in stacked wood with a banquet provides a cozy spot to relax with a book or work. 
 
Renovated STEM classrooms, fabrication lab, and culinary labs feature a crisp white color palette.  Large glass partitions create opportunities for interaction between the classrooms and corridors.  Breakout areas with project rooms were integrated into classroom corridors to provide areas for group project work.
 
The renovation and addition of Beaver Dam High School has successfully improved the learning environment for current students and  provided improved facilities for community engagement in the Beaver Dam community.­ In the fall of 2019, Beaver Dam High School was awarded the Learning by Design Outstanding Project Award

Beaver Dam High School Culinary LabThe culinary arts lab engages students from the corridor by offering views through the large expanse of glass

Beaver Dam High School Field HouseThe new fieldhouse consolidates 5 teaching stations and is among the largest in Wisconsin with 2 courts, a 200m perimeter track, indoor long jump pit, and a climbing wall

Beaver Dam High School Student CommonsThe Student Commons provides an engaging environment with flexible furnishings

Beaver Dam High School Music Flex SpaceThe music flex room offers a space for students to store their instruments as well as practice

Beaver Dam High School Flex AreaThe collaboration spaces break up the monotonous corridors, offering areas for small group activity, and the furnishings are flexible for easy reconfiguration

Beaver Dam High School Library CafeThe Commons provide a collaborative, social, and working environment featuring a tech hub that offers students quick and easy access to technology assistance

Beaver Dam High School Weight RoomThe weight room houses various weight training machines, and features a garage door that extends into the field house corridor providing additional space