The first building in Kenosha’s long-planned innovation district is opening this month, bringing new life to the site of a former Chrysler plant that shuttered 15 years ago.
LakeView Technology Academy is opening its 48,602-square-foot building at 5533 26th Ave. within the Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood. The first day of classes is Jan. 21, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony is being held Tuesday, Jan. 14.
A choice high school within the Kenosha Unified School District, LakeView Technology Academy offers a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) curriculum, as well as college-level coursework in areas such as information technology and advanced manufacturing through a partnership with Gateway Technical College. The high school is moving from its existing location at 9449 88th Ave. in Pleasant Prairie.
The new LakeView Technology Academy facility is planned to maintain a 400-student enrollment while expanding its programming for all Kenosha Unified School District high school students to access STEM education, according to a Tuesday announcement from the Kenosha Area Business Alliance (KABA), whose foundation owns both LakeView Technology Academy sites.
The foundation is under contract to sell the Pleasant Prairie building to a manufacturer but declined to disclose details because the deal hasn’t closed, KABA Marketing Director Becky Noble said in an email.
Funding for the new LakeView Technology Academy building came from the KABA Foundation, the city of Kenosha, Gateway Technical College, State Bank of the Lakes and the Wisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority, Noble said. She declined to disclose the total cost of the project.
“Reinvesting in LakeView is developing an important talent pipeline for our businesses, transforming a formerly industrial neighborhood into a vibrant hub of education and innovation,” KABA President Nicole Ryf said in the release.
Construction on the new LakeView Technology Academy building began in October 2023. Riley Construction served as the general contractor, and Partners in Design Architects provided architectural services.
Read more at the Milwaukee Business Journal.