District unveils designs for consolidated Next Step/Pathways transition campus; built for up to 120 students

South Washington County Schools received a design update for a new consolidated Next Step Transition facility that will combine the district’s Next Step and Pathways programs into a single campus, district leaders and the architect said.

Mark DuBois of Como Architects described the project as “a new home, really,” explaining the design intent to create a nurturing, flexible learning environment with bright, open spaces and strong indoor‑outdoor connections. The district purchased an existing church building at the corner of Seventieth and Jamaica in Cottage Grove and plans to renovate the western portion while adding an eastern expansion, DuBois said.

The design calls for a secure main entry, an existing sanctuary converted to a large multipurpose room for…