South Washington County Schools reviews Woodbury High School construction plans, bids open

Kelly Janssen, assistant superintendent for South Washington County Schools, introduced a design-phase wrap-up Tuesday night for the Woodbury High School renovation and addition, telling the School Board the project is now out for bid.

Architects from Wold presented floor plans, site work and a two-year construction phasing plan that would place most construction activity between summer 2025 and summer 2027. The project scope includes a new secure main office and vestibule, a two-story cafeteria addition that will serve as a storm shelter, a relocated inclusion center, renovated science and CTE (career and technical education) spaces, upgrades to the media center, a new “den” flex space, art and trades remodels, and long-term facilities maintenance work such as mechanical and finish replacement.

Paul Apokowski and Sal Bagley of Wold described how the design was shaped by an advisory committee of staff and administrators and by guiding principles favoring department-based organization, a central student services suite, and a stronger kitchen–cafeteria relationship intended to create a new commons. Site work will reconfigure drop-off and on-site circulation so parent traffic flows more directly through a two-lane inroad and improved stacking near the southwest parking loop; parking capacity is not being significantly expanded.

Architects showed renderings and materials samples emphasizing earth tones and a “park/trail” design language inspired by Woodbury’s waterways and parks. The cafeteria will be a two-story volume with an upper deck overlooking the main dining area; designers said parts of the space are being designed to serve as a hardened storm shelter, with deployable shutters and reinforced glazing specified.

District staff said the schedule anticipates two summers of concentrated renovation work to limit disruption during school sessions; the first wave of additions and relocations would be built in spring–summer 2025 and occupied so interior renovations can follow through summer 2026 and summer 2027. The district is coordinating phasing and sequencing with contractor Kraus Anderson to preserve school operations while construction proceeds.

Bids are open now; the design team and district staff said they hope favorable contractor interest will yield competitive pricing in the upcoming procurement. No construction contract had been awarded during the meeting, and no final contract approvals were voted by the board Tuesday.

The presentation included detailed classroom and CTE lab diagrams, kitchen and servery layouts, and proposed secure-entry changes. District staff said the project also includes several long-term facilities maintenance items (flooring, ceilings, mechanical systems and replacement of demountable partitions) that will be completed as part of the renovation.

District officials said they will return with contract recommendations and construction-start confirmations once the bid process closes and awards are evaluated.