Construction of LakeView Technology Academy is underway in the new Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood, between 30th and 23rd Avenues and 52nd and 60th Streets. It will be the first building constructed in the development.
The new building will be nearly 9,000 square feet larger than the current building at 9449 88th Ave., with a total size of 48,602 square feet.
“The old building was built as a spec building with a school we fit into it,” said Kenosha Unified project architect John Setter.
It will feature more windows and natural light, additional traditional classrooms and dedicated lab areas for CNC operation, automated manufacturing and IT classes.
“In this building, we have a (two-floor) academic wing with just classrooms, and we have a more industrial feel on the west side of the building where you have the technical lab spaces,” Setter said. “Our centerpiece is the commons area. It’s going to be the cafeteria for the space on a day-to-day basis, but we’ve designed it (for possible) presentations or other community activities.”
Although the school will be larger, the 400-student enrollment will not increase for the new building.
Gateway partnership
At its new site, LakeView will continue its partnership with Gateway Technical College, which leases the building from Kenosha Unified for evening courses. Graduating students are offered Gateway College credits.
“We’re very happy with the central location of it,” Setter said. “(Students from) Tremper, Bradford and Reuther have to be bused out to the current location. Now within the city, it’s a lot shorter trip.”
Groundbreaking
City officials, county officials, Kenosha Unified school board members and administrators, members of the Kenosha Area Business Alliance and other community leaders gathered Tuesday morning near the corner of 56th Street and 24th Avenue to mark the beginning of construction on the new home of LakeView with a groundbreaking ceremony.
Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian said the new school location in the KIN gives younger people an opportunity to learn and prosper in the city.
“That’s what it’s about,” he said. “The ability to make sure that young people stay in Kenosha, the ability to make sure that they get an education that is going to give them the tools they need and for us to make sure that we work with the private sector to get the types of jobs we need in this community, so our young people stay here.”
Read more at the Kenosha News.