Cotter Schools
Classroom Building Renovation and Residence Hall
Winona, Minn.
Cotter Schools worked with BWBR to design a classroom building renovation and new residence hall that collectively transformed a large portion of the school’s campus. The 1960s-era Roger Bacon Hall was entirely renovated to create a 21st Century learning classroom facility for grades 7-12 and included a new all-student cafeteria collocated with kitchen services. The new residence hall, serving domestic and international students, was constructed as an expansion to the existing building for added convenience and safety.
Focus on 21st Century learning is incorporated into the entire design to encourage student-centered critical thinking. Classrooms are flexible and feature movable furniture, marker boards, and interactive monitors. A non-traditional media center is located next to the facility’s front door for before and after school access. Locker banks are collocated with collaborative breakout spaces.
The new residence hall features floors assigned by gender with one floor designed to flexibly subdivide by gender, depending on current enrollment. Students enjoy the comfort of traditional shared two-person rooms, a range of social and study lounges, a music rehearsal room, and student kitchen. The project enhances student safety by keeping students both on-campus and within physically connected buildings.
Size: 82,000 sq. ft.
Components: Updated classrooms; new cafeteria; new residence hall for domestic and international students; library; student lounges and study spaces; abundant daylight and energy efficient systems
Completion: 2021
Stephanie McDaniel
Craig Peterson
Darrell Brinkman
Allison Christoffels
Avery Gidley
Sophia Good
Mike Gray
Mark Kritz
Hanna Kuehl
Jeremiah Simones
Rachael Spires
Todd Warren