Washburn Rural High School underwent a sizeable addition & renovation to expand the crowded school and provide up-to-date facilities to benefit the students. With the assistance of HTK Architecture, the project includes a 2,600-seat gymnasium with a track around the upper perimeter that also connects to a weight room and a state-of-the-art media center that features two computer labs. Furthermore, the expanded commons area will now have a coffee bar, new concessions, and a full-service bank. The district will also add a 250-seat balcony to the existing auditorium and two new science classes. HTK additionally aided the district in securing a $750,000 grant that allows them to build new lower-level locker rooms.

The new 50,000-square-foot innovation center will help to better prepare students who plan to enter the workforce post-graduation. “We have about 16 percent of our kids that go directly into the workforce,” Washburn Rural High School Principal Ed Raines said. “And it’s just as important to attend to the needs of those kids and to equip them with the skills that they need to be successful in whatever path they choose as it is to get our kids ready for college.” The project is anticipated to be finished by January of 2025.

The $20 million project was designed to seamlessly integrate and renovate older buildings with a modern addition. The Selux Inula Bollard was selected for the pathway lighting due to its efficiency and optical performance. It provides consistent and coordinated lighting which was needed across the exterior of the school. This sophisticated luminaire is comprised of four quadrants at the top, that allows the light to be distributed where desired. Inula is DarkSky Approved, ensuring minimal glare, reduced light trespass, and zero uplight. This means it’s environmentally conscious because it protects the night sky by keeping light on the paths and preventing pollution.