McHenry High School Upper Campus project wins design award

McHenry High School’s Upper Campus expansion was recognized for excellence in the design of educational environments by the Illinois Association of School Boards.

Wold Architects and Engineers assisted McHenry High School District 156 in transforming its Upper High School Campus, which opened in August and serves more than 1,800 students, according to a news release. The district’s goal was to consolidate 10th through 12th graders at the west campus and develop a freshman center on the east campus.

The project, funded through a $44 million voter-approved referendum, included a 70,000-square-foot addition known as the Center for Science, Technology and Industry. It houses classrooms for advanced computing, engineering, robotics, manufacturing, construction, broadcasting and biomedical equipment, as well as a 500-square-foot greenhouse, a 700-square-foot EcoDeck for outdoor growing and experimentation, and a graphics printing studio.

Renovations of the existing school include a resource center, upgraded art labs and choir room, a career center and an improvement to circulation with passive study zones.

“As a local firm, we’re proud to have led the design in response to the innovative initiatives at McHenry [District] 156 and help ensure the academic environment is positioned to help students, educators and partnerships thrive,” Dan Kritta, partner at Wold Architects and Engineers, said in a statement. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with the district and design forward-thinking spaces that will help accomplish the district and community’s goals for many years to come.”

The Award of Merit was given after an evaluation by a panel of school administrators and architects.

The project was selected as one of 22 for display in the Educational Environments Exhibition at the 2021 joint conference last month of the Illinois Association of School Boards, Illinois Association of School Administrators and Illinois Association of School Business Officials.