While staff and students were enjoying their summer vacations, the buildings across the Appleton Area School District (AASD) were still very active over the last few months. Building expansion, renovation, and modernization of AASD schools, including the construction of a new elementary school to accommodate enrollment growth on Appleton’s north side, were approved by voters with the passage of a $129.8 million referendum in November 2022.
Hoffman Planning, Design & Construction, Inc. is providing design and construction management services to a number of the District projects. Here’s the latest update from Hoffman regarding the AASD projects.
Appleton North High School
Footings and foundation have been poured on the Appleton North renovation and expansion projects. Headlined by the addition of a nearly 25,000 square foot, two-story fitness center, the Lightning’s older weight room will be converted into a classroom while the current fitness center becomes an open multipurpose gym. Two new science labs are also being created on the second floor, and the existing Tech Center is being remodeled to better suit current programs. All Appleton North projects are scheduled for completion during the summer of 2025.
Kaleidoscope Academy
When Kaleidoscope Academy students went back to school in September, they entered their newly renovated and expanded building. Two additions were made to the middle school, the first of which is 10,000 square feet containing six new classrooms and the second is a 9,500 square foot auxiliary gym. The main office has been relocated and remodeled to enhance building security. The STEM area, special education classrooms, and locker room were also remodeled.
Sandy Slope Elementary School
Roughly $35 million of the AASD referendum was allocated for the construction of a new elementary school, Sandy Slope. Located across the street from Appleton North High School, Sandy Slope Elementary will be the District’s 18th neighborhood elementary school and will have capacity for 600 students in grades K-5.
The building will be approximately 96,000 square feet with two-story classrooms organized into grade-level “community pods” with collaborative classrooms and a common space called the “Extended Learning Center.” The school will also have:
- A dedicated two-class gymnasium with a full-size basketball court
- A central cafeteria and gathering space
- A general music room and a band/strings room
- An art room
- A STEM room
- A sensory gym and a number of special education spaces throughout the building
The design of the school centers around creating a self-contained learning “collaborative neighborhood” for each grade level, with classrooms organized around a central flexible extended learning area and including locker areas, breakout spaces, restrooms, and teacher support. Natural light, security, and energy efficiency are also primary considerations of the design, with abundant windows and a highly efficient geothermal heating and cooling system. The exterior will consist of brick, burnished colored masonry, and metal panels, and inclusive playgrounds will be situated around the rear of the school, accessible from the collaboration neighborhoods.
At this time, masonry walls are going up, structural steel is being placed, and the geothermal wellfield is being drilled, which is a significant step in the project. A topping off ceremony was recently held to celebrate the last steel beam being lowered into place. Sandy Slope Elementary School is expected to be completed during the summer of 2025. Additional details about Sandy Slope Elementary can be found, here.
Wilson Middle School
Also wrapping up in time for this school year and welcoming sixth graders for the first time, Wilson Middle School now has 30,000 square feet of new classrooms spanning two stories and an auxiliary gym. Renovations to STEM spaces, secured entry, and public facilities were completed as well.
Hoffman will be managing additional renovations to various elementary schools within the District at a later date. Construction on those renovation projects, which consist primarily of dedicated STEM labs in each school, will begin in summer 2025 and will be completed prior to the start of the 2025-2026 school year.
“Hoffman greatly values our long-standing relationship with the Appleton Area School District,” said Jody Andres, Hoffman owner and K-12 Market Leader. “We are proud to be able to assist the District on many of their 2022 referendum projects and are excited at the safer, more modern learning, fitness, and gathering spaces we are helping them provide for their students and the community.”
Hoffman Planning, Design & Construction, Inc. is an integrated Total Project Management firm based in Appleton, Wisconsin. Hoffman’s mission is to make a positive impact on people’s lives and their environment by providing creative ideas and responsible solutions. Total Project Management (TPM), is Hoffman’s exclusive process that integrates efficient, healthy, and cost-effective building solutions that respect the environment while enhancing a building’s quality and value and reducing initial and long-term facility costs. Learn more at www.hoffman.net.
