Calumet Laurium Keweenaw High School/Middle School & New Elementary

Calumet, Michigan

Firm

THA Architects Engineers

Client

Public Schools of Calumet Laurium Keweenaw

Area

265,000 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$8,071,748

Completion Date

09/1998

Situated in the Keweenaw National Historic Park, the educational needs of the community melded with its history to create a learning center for the resident or visitor. The primary objective was to build a new grades 1-6 elementary school, a new gymnasium, public/school library and district offices that would physically connect two historic structures.
Restricted by unique site conditions, the solution successfully connected five buildings under one roof. Significant geological features and historic mine entrances on the site were incorporated into the learning environment.
Simple building forms and traditional features facilitate snow removal (25 feet annually), while respecting the historic architecture. The interconnect is the main street of the school and conveniently accesses the public areas. The elementary school contains six educational houses, each containing six classrooms, a pullout classroom, teachers prep room, support spaces and an activity area designed for easy classroom conversion.
Equipped with 21st-century technology throughout, the facility was heated in its first year for $12,000 using wood.

Photographer: ©Ron Campbell and ©Kendall Cox

Additional Information

Associated Firm

Hitch, Civil & Structural Engineering

Capacity

1,710

Cost per Sq Ft

$65.41

Featured in

1999 Architectural Portfolio

Category

Specialized

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