Design with Purpose
Grooters Leapaldt Tideman Architects (GLTA)

Kennedy Community School
New PK-8 School
St. Cloud Area School District 742
St. Joseph, Minnesota

In 2005, St. Cloud Area School District 742 convened a Community Committee which developed a Long-Range Facilities Plan for the School District. Among other things, that plan recommended the construction of a new PK-8 school in St. Joseph to address the rapid growth in that area of the District.

GLTArchitects was hired to design the school which will serve 755 students. The school will have approximately 135,000 square feet and is currently being constructed on a 71-acre site in St. Joseph, Minnesota.

Even though the school will be large, the community desired a school that would be family-friendly and have the community aspects of a small school. To accomplish this, grade levels are arranged around a central core into three learning communities – PK-2, Grades 3-5, and Grades 6-8. Safety was also a consideration so the school was designed so that bus and car traffic was separated, and only one entry is used for both daytime and nighttime activities.

The community also desired that the school be environmentally responsible, and it is intended that the design will receive Silver LEED Certification.

The school is scheduled to be completed in July, 2008.

Watch the construction on webcam.

New St. Cloud Public Library
St. Cloud, Minnesota

As associate architects and the firm in charge of construction administration, GLTArchitects is currently overseeing the construction of the new St. Cloud Public Library. The soaring curves of the building and its glass, copper, and granite façade will make this structure a landmark in Downtown St. Cloud. The building is scheduled to be completed in early summer, 2008.

Centennial Hall
St. Cloud State University
St. Cloud, Minnesota

Centennial Hall is the former library at St. Cloud State University and was emptied years ago upon completion of the new library. GLTArchitects was selected to design the adaptive reuse of this 35-year-old building. After the renovation is complete, Centennial Hall will house the entire College of Business, along with the Philosophy department and Student Services. In addition, the project will include student gathering spaces, the existing auditorium, and the Husky Bookstore. The second floor will be connected to Atwood Memorial Center (and Brown Hall in the future) via skyways, creating an internal connection as identified in the Campus Master Plan.

         
 
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