Stillson Elementary School

Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin

Firm

ATSR Planners/Architects/Engineers

Client

Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District

Area

540 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$18,270,000

Completion Date

08/2021

Graham Washatka; Dean Beeninga

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Design team
Sarah Fox, AIA, NCARB; Dean Beeninga, AIA, NCARB, REFP

Designed to meet the community’s needs and pedagogical goals, this new elementary school for the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District is a testament to sustainable, student-centered architecture. The design celebrates future-ready learning with flexible, collaborative spaces. A core design principle was to create a strong connection to nature, achieved through an abundance of natural light and the extensive use of natural wood throughout the building.

This vision is supported by a comprehensive suite of high-performance sustainability features, including an orientation optimized for daylight and energy efficiency, high-performance windows with solar glazing, and advanced daylight harvesting controls. These elements, combined with on-site water infiltration, underscore a commitment to environmental stewardship. The project’s energy-saving design delivered a 10-year payback, proving that thoughtful, sustainable architecture can also be fiscally responsible.