Project Description:

Elder Grove School District #8 is one of the longest-standing school districts in Montana. Built in 1900, the first schoolhouse is still on site, and its bell tower continues to signal students for class. As the district grew, stakeholders hoped to realize a new middle school while preserving their rich heritage and school spirit. The new Elder Grove Middle School inspires collaboration and supports diverse teaching styles while celebrating the district’s deep community roots.

Planning for this project involved exhaustive efforts to prepare the site and gain stakeholder support. The design team explored myriad potential site diagrams to integrate the new school within its surroundings. Acquiring adequate land to accommodate anticipated student growth and desired athletic plans was critical. By ensuring the middle school would double as a civic asset, area residents bought into the concept. After an extensive bond campaign, including pre-bond planning and successful bond passage, the construction of Elder Grove Middle School began.

On a 15-acre site with an existing historic structure and elementary school, the middle school blends within the campus. The new building is strategically placed to maximize views of the original schoolhouse, increase efficiency, and complement other site facilities. A primary design driver was the district’s desire for improved efficiency and reduced energy costs. The design explores daylight control, a high-performance building envelope, water reduction, and native landscaping to create a more cost-effective building that is easier for the district to maintain. Daylighting is maximized through orientation and windows, and mounted sensors dim spaces at peak daytime hours to decrease energy use.

The school’s natural exterior palette complements its rural agrarian context and is an effective juxtaposition from the vibrant interior. Outlaw spirit is imbued throughout with floor-to-ceiling historic images and brand colors in carpeting, wayfinding, and lockers. A testament to team spirit on every surface, the new gymnasium invites the surrounding community in to cheer on student-athletes.

The district needed ample space for its 325 students and amenities that meet the needs of a modern educational institution. Focused on innovation, the middle school is equipped with general and STEM classrooms, and spaces that support contemporary teaching modalities. Ten standard classrooms, two science rooms, three tech labs, and art and music areas are incorporated for all curriculum requirements. A unique “collaboration corridor” with multiple breakout spaces supplies flexible learning areas for modern instruction. Shared facilities, like a new kitchen, service the entire campus, and the library has added security features to allow public access after-hours. Every facet of this design preserves the district’s community heritage and school spirit while incorporating contemporary education concepts.