Owatonna High School represents a community coming together to create a facility that provides experiential opportunities for their students to discover their passions and take meaningful steps toward their future. The project is the result of years of planning and study, a successful bond referendum, and significant donations from local business partners totaling more than $22M.
The driving feature behind the design of the building is the career pathways programming that aims to have all students have access to hands-on experiences in one of three areas—Business Communications & Info Technology; Engineering, Manufacturing, & Agriculture; and Health Science & Human Services. These career pathways spaces are featured prominently around the commons to highlight and emphasize these learning experiences.
The core content areas are organized into learning studios, which include a landscape of classroom types to allow educators to align their learning and teaching with the right environment and create flexibility. The architecture celebrates the city of Owatonna through incorporation of iconic elements, including downtown/main street and the agricultural community as well as the many business partners who came together to make the building a reality.
