Anoka HS (challenges, old and new)

Buildings constructed around 1970 have endless challenges to be met when remodeling it into a school that functions the way we need it to today.

One example of change: school records, cash, and other valuables were stored in a built-in safe. A safe like this:

A safe so well anchored to the building that after removing every wall around it, it has taken these two guys, nine (9) days, SO FAR, with saw cutting blades, jack hammers and God knows what else they used, to try and free it from it’s reinforced cast in place concrete and steel angle anchor.

Exterior of the Building:

To break from the prison like appearance of bare concrete double-tee wall panel exterior, new brick and glass additions will wrap around almost half of the existing building, housing new and much needed spaces. (Replacing multiple portables decades old)  

And for the main entry:   A 30,000 pound steel beam skeleton wave canopy soon to be lifted and set on a pair of three-legged columns.

These will bear on two 4’-0” square concrete piers anchored to two of these 9’-0” square, 20” deep footings,  with minimal steel bracing back to the building roof.

Be glad I didn’t do the structural math on this one. 

Once it is wrapped in Anoka Maroon composite metal panels, it will be a source of pride and protection for all who come and go to this public school building.

(Design and Architect of Record:

     Mike Kraft Architects (MKA))

(General Contractor:

      BCI, Inc. - formerly Boser Construction)

(LSF Design provided architectural services to MKA,  including schematic design, construction documents, and construction administration)

MN HIGH SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION

Anoka High School: New Main Entrance.   Protecting the concrete that will be honed and polished.

Blaine Hogh School: the view of Bengal Field from the roof of the new two story classroom wing.  Interior work in high gear.

Coon Rapids High School: dueling cranes - precast floors and high roofing taking place during a brief school break.

Coon Rapids High School: threading the needle.  Setting the floor plank adjacent to the high lobby with 7’ roof overhangs. Wow, mad skills.

LSF Design provided design consultation, code planning, construction document and Revit modeling for all three of these projects. Mike Kraft Architects is the designer and AOR (Architect of Record).  I have worked along side Mike Kraft in one office (Lindbeg Pierce), worked for him in another (Shea Architects), and have now helped him out these last five years since we each opened our own firms. (LSF Design and Mike Kraft Architects).