Nov. 20, 2008
Duluth News Tribune

Plans for two remodeled high schools include large additions
By Sarah Horner

Details of the design for the eastern high school were released Wednesday along with schematic designs for the expansion of Denfeld High School in West Duluth.

Community meetings will be held to gather input on the drawings in December. The meeting on Denfeld High School will be at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 11 in the Denfeld Lecture Hall.

Final designs for the two schools are expected to be approved by the Duluth School Board in early winter. Construction on both projects is scheduled to start in the summer.

Denfeld High School will be renovated and expanded to accommodate about 1,400 high school students.

* An addition will be built off the south side of the existing high school toward Grant Street. Part of the addition will be three stories, which will house science labs and classrooms.

* The other part of the addition, which is one story, will be the location of the school’s new commons and cafeteria area and media center. The addition will be tucked between the school’s existing auditorium and gymnasium, where a parking lot sits.

* A new, security-equipped main entrance will be created for the building off Fourth Street, near the school’s auditorium. The district plans to vacate Fourth Street between 44th and 45th avenues. A small addition will be added near the entrance to house administrative offices.

* The rest of the first floor will hold classrooms, modernized and expanded to 900 square feet. Current classrooms are as small as 600 square feet.

* Second and third floors: Science wings and upgraded classrooms.

* Parking will be expanded from 63 parking spots to 285 spots. Green space also will be added around the building.

Information provided by DSGW Architects, the design team for Denfeld High School.