Rather than replacing the school, the district pursued an addition and renovation strategy that kept the campus operating on its existing site, reducing both cost and waste. | Photo Credit: Courtesy of Wold Architects & Engineers
By听听
The recently completed transformation of Tartan High School in Oakdale,听Minn.,听shows how districts can modernize an aging campus while meeting expectations for flexibility, student听well-being听and equity.听听
Rather than replacing the school, the district pursued an addition and renovation strategy that kept the campus听operating听on its existing site, reducing both cost and waste. Voters approved the work in spring 2019 as part of a districtwide effort that also included another local high school and set shared goals for both projects: strengthen safety and security, increase capacity at each high school to 1,800 students and create more flexible teaching and learning spaces. While the two buildings presented different constraints, the designers,听, were tasked with creating听an equitable听student experience, regardless of which high school students attend.听
鈥淢odernization can support equity when districts are clear about the听experience听they want every student to have,鈥� said听Wold听Education Practice Leader Sal Bagley. 鈥淚t鈥檚听about more than updating finishes.听It鈥檚听about removing barriers and creating听additional听opportunities for听connection.鈥�听
The听Challenge: An outdated layout听
Originally designed in 1969, Tartan featured two classroom 鈥渃ircles鈥� of wedge-shaped rooms organized around central circular corridors. Interviews with students and staff surfaced operational issues familiar to many districts. Wayfinding was unclear. Major gathering spaces, such as the cafeteria, were constrained in single-story volumes. Classrooms were undersized and served by narrow corridors, contributing to congestion during passing times.听听
The building also struggled to meet current expectations for well-being. Daylight was limited to narrow slot windows, and many learning spaces were fully interior with no access to natural light. Low structural heights resulted in limited options for modernizing HVAC systems. The cafeteria lacked enough seating, pushing some students to eat in their cars. Student resources were scattered throughout the building, adding friction for students trying to access support within a busy school day.听
These conditions are common in legacy schools: the building functions, but it does not support how the school currently needs to听operate. Frequent priorities center around reducing congestion, improving听clarity听and creating healthier, more welcoming spaces.听
Design that听Focused on听the听Student听Experience听
From the start, the project incorporated student and staff input to shape choices that affected daily routines. They provided months of feedback, including surveys on lockers, a departmental versus interdepartmental听model听and thoughts on restroom design. That input helped the team focus on comfort,听openness听and security in ways users would notice.听
鈥淔or a renovation to make a lasting impact, it听has to听show up in the moments students feel most. That means enhancing the experience when听they鈥檙e arriving听at school, passing time, eating听lunch听and seeking support,鈥� Bagley said.听
A defining aspect at Tartan was a centralized, daylight-filled听commons听designed to improve dining and gathering. The existing gymnasium,听located听at the center of the plan, was renovated into the student听commons by adding floors and increasing access to natural light. Smaller spaces听branch off听the commons to support student groups and activities or clubs.听
Academic spaces were also upgraded to adapt as programs evolve. New classrooms were constructed to the north of the building and organized in a departmental model, with flexible options to combine rooms for different group sizes. After the school moved into these new areas, the existing classroom 鈥渃ircles鈥� could be replaced with a clear main entrance aligned with the district鈥檚 safety and security standards. Additionally, modern activities and athletic spaces were added to support practice and competition needs for students and spectators鈥� experiences.听
Planning for听Performance and听Continuity听
Modernization should support reliable operations for decades. At Tartan, infrastructure was听aging听and maintenance costs were rising. Systems from the heating plant to air distribution,听roofing听and electrical distribution were updated or replaced to extend the life of renovated areas and improve occupant comfort.听
At the same time, the district faced a challenge many communities share 鈥� it needed to renovate without closing the school. Tartan remained open through a 14-phase plan from spring 2022 through summer 2025, with new areas coming online as other sections were updated or demolished. Students and staff听relocated听at times, making regular communication critical to managing disruption.听
鈥淧hasing goes beyond a construction schedule to plan operations,听鈥� Bagley听said. 鈥淚t was important that students didn鈥檛 miss out on learning because of disruptions.鈥澨�听
What听Other听Districts听Can听Learn听
Tartan鈥檚 experience offers practical lessons for other districts. Projects should start by defining the student experience you want to improve, then听use听student and staff input to confirm what is not working and what matters most. Prioritize changes that reduce daily friction, such as clearer circulation or shared spaces that support connection and more consistent access to daylight. Build flexibility into academic planning so spaces can adapt as teaching models and enrollment change. In an older building, that may mean targeted new construction paired with selective demolition and replacement of the most limiting parts of the plan.听
Treat infrastructure upgrades as essential, not optional. A school cannot deliver on comfort and well-being if the systems that heat, cool and听power it听are听unreliable or outdated. Finally, if the school must stay open, plan phasing around instruction and communicate it consistently. Predictable updates and clear expectations can reduce stress for students and staff while building trust with families.听
Modernization as a听Tool,听Not听a听Compromise听
In early 2026, Tartan received the top award from the Minnesota Construction Association for addition and renovation projects, recognized for its project鈥檚 complexity and success. More important than听the recognition听is what the project听demonstrates听for districts facing similar conditions: addition and renovation can be a strategic alternative to full replacement when the goal is to modernize a campus, improve the student experience and extend the life of a building.听
Tartan鈥檚 transformation shows that reinvesting in a legacy facility can move beyond patchwork improvements. With clear experience goals, flexible learning spaces, upgraded infrastructure and听disciplined phasing, districts can deliver a modern school environment while keeping students learning on site.听
Sal Bagley is an Education Practice Leader for听Wold听Architects & Engineers.听