Kraus-Anderson has completed construction on three projects for the White Bear Lake School District. The schools include North Star Elementary, Birch Lake Elementary and Lakeaires Elementary.
Designed by Wold Architects and Engineers, the schools are part of a long-range facilities plan that in total includes 16 district projects, all funded by a 2019 $326 million school bond referendum, the largest in Minnesota history.
North Star Elementary – 15198 Forest Blvd., Hugo, Minnesota
The new two-story, 103,000-square-foot school will serve approximately 720 K-5 students in the northern part of the district. The $28.834 million school features new classrooms, media center, learning commons, gym, storm shelter area, cafeteria, kitchen, conference room and offices. The project also includes new athletic fields, parking lots and bus loop.
Birch Lake Elementary – 1616 Birch Lake Ave., White Bear Lake
The $3,593 million, 5,200-square-foot project adds new classrooms, flex spaces, media center, conference room, offices and asphalt playground. Renovations were made to the bathrooms, learning commons spaces, offices and family lounge. In addition, safety and security measures were upgraded.
Lakeaires Elementary – 3963 Van Dyke Street, White Bear Lake
The $1,864 million, 5,149-square-foot project includes a new media center, walk-in freezer, dry storage room and kitchen staff office, MEP upgrades, as well as renovations to the learning commons and restrooms.
The projects, which address the district’s enrollment growth and building maintenance, represent the first phase of a construction plan that is anticipated to take place in phases until the 2024-25 school year. KA completed six of those projects for the district in September of 2022, including Sunrise Middle School (formerly White Bear Lake Area High School), Matoska International, and Lincoln, Vadnais Heights and Willow Lane Elementary Schools, and a Transportation Building.
