Cotter Schools

Classroom Building Renovation and Residence Hall

An aerial view of the Cotter Schools campus with a nearby chapel in the foreground
Straight-on street view of the Cotter Schools International House residence hall
An exterior view of the entrance to the Cotter Schools renovated classroom building
Street view of the Cotter Schools campus
A person walks past brightly colored chairs and seating options outside the Cotter Schools cafeteria
Bright blue and red chairs provide seating options outside of the Cotter Schools cafeteria
Red armchairs, task chairs, and feature wall all create a cohesive study nook in a student lounge
Movable red chairs and tables give space and teaching options in a classroom for 21st Century learning at Cotter Schools
Glass walls allow views into student study lounges at Cotter Schools
A blue themed study lounge features armchairs, study tables, and a small fireplace for Cotter Schools students
Blue themed study chairs lead to Greek inspired wall art and a small staircase in Cotter Schools
A red themed corridor is home to locker bays and drop-in benches outside of classrooms at Cotter Schools
A green themed locker bay features drop-in study tables for Cotter Schools students
A corner study lounge offers views to the Cotter Schools campus

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