Tag: twin cities academy (4)

Twin Cities Academy | Innovation + Environmental Responsibility

TECHNICAL INNOVATION It was imperative to transform and remediate the site into a healthy landscape with athletic fields for a dynamic school program. The innovation to correct the former industrial site is one of the best examples in the Metro Area. The Cemstone plant had inhabited the site for nearly 90 years, and within the site were a collection of dilapidated structures in need of demolition as well as remediation. Paramount to this process was to mine clean soil from the site, which was used in environmentally sensitive areas around the school to adhere to the MPCA guidelines. To minimize the impact on budget, the Kodet Team conducted feasibility and cost saving benefits due to hazardous items discovered on site to minimize impact on budget, while at the time satisfying MPCA requirements. In developing a more sustainable site we coordinated the site layout of the building, parking lot, and infiltration ponds to have the least amount of impact on the environment. ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY Sustainability was at the forefront of the design process with an aim to design a building that is not only energy and resource efficient, but also provides a healthy learning and working environment. The building itself is actually about 8,000 square feet smaller than the previous home of TCA; however, the efficient floor plan allowed for a smaller building footprint to accommodate improved functionality along with an increased number of students and staff. The project incorporated a variety of sustainable concepts such as the following: Efficient LED Lighting Healthy Indoor Air-Quality Energy Efficient Glazing to provide natural light for students + staff Acoustics in each room to maximize comfort + learning potential Materials with Low VOC content Recycled Materials and utilizing crushed concrete Remediating a brownfield site to create a healthy and safe environment to build a […]

Twin Cities Academy | Architectural Solution

The 9.2-acre site for Twin Cities Academy was the original location of the Cemstone Products Company, which was used as a concrete batch plant and nestled into St. Paul neighborhood. For many years the site was used for mining soils, storage, and concrete production. Environmental testing discovered hazardous materials and buried debris, which required extensive clean up. Chemicals used in the production of cement had also leached into the soils and increased PH levels on the entire site making it difficult to grow vegetation. However, through effective collaboration between the civil engineer, contractor, school, architect, and the MPCA, the difficult site was remediated into a healthy site for new school construction, the aerial site plans below illustrates this transformation. Through careful listening, the design team collaborated with Twin Cities Academy staff and stakeholders to develop a better understanding for the programmatic needs for each space. This resulted in an efficient floor plan that is smaller than the space they were previously renting. The student population is comprised of both middle and high school students and the school expressed a need for creating a separation of these two age groups but also developing a sense of unity within the school. In designing a large classroom wing that is comprised of middle school on one floor and high school on another floor it creates the separation desired by TCA staff. Housed in a different wing were shared programmatic spaces for gym, band, art, etc., and the two wings are connected by a grand atrium punctuated by a welcoming fireplace which promotes small group gathering and a delivers a wealth of natural light. Vital to the vision of the new Twin Cities Academy was to create a warm welcoming space for students, staff, and the community to gather. The open entryway achieves this, as students enter their […]

Twin Cities Academy | Merit Awards

TWIN CITIES ACADEMY | AIA-Minnesota Merit Awards Kodet Architectural Group was presented with the AIA-Minneapolis, Merit Award for Twin Cities Academy. The Merit Awards are unique in their approach to creating a jury, the award encompass the views of business professionals, real estate developers, community advocates, and academic leaders, as well as architects. The award is bestowed to projects by AIA-Minneapolis architects, which tell a story of excellence beyond design, reflecting the variety of forces that shape a building. Projects are evaluated based on how they respond to the following criteria: Architectural Solution Technical Innovation Environmental Responsibility Budget + Business Success Community Impact Client + Team Satisfaction Part of the philosophy of this award is the focus on the story of the project and Twin Cities Academy not only embodies these criteria but also illustrated by a compelling story. The story depicts the positive transformation of a once desolate site, which stands as a beaming reflection of Twin Cities Academy’s dedication to academic excellence and adds energy to the site and a permanent positive presence to the neighborhood. Twin Cities Academy is a tuition free public charter school in St. Paul and one of the top-rated charter schools in the country. After occupying a multitude of venues since 1999 and most recently rending an old outdated elementary school, TCA was in need of a change. In relocating their facility it would promote their vision of empowering and inspiring young adults to make a difference. In the fall of 2016, the new Twin Cities Academy provided the school a permanent home and established presence in the St. Paul neighborhood, which echoes their motto and commitment to “A Higher Standard of Academic Excellence”.