The Fargo Board of Education has approved ICON Architectural Group's proposal to lead the design of a new consolidated elementary school in north Fargo. Board members awarded the design project to ICON during their Tuesday, September 9 meeting, selecting them from seven firms that submitted proposals for the comprehensive project.
ICON emerged as the top choice after district administration interviewed the three highest-ranked firms on August 26. "ICON in particular, just kind of on every level, sort of took everything up a notch and really came ready to hit the ground running," said Facilities Director James Hand, explaining the selection rationale.
The new elementary school will be constructed on the current Horace Mann Elementary School campus, consolidating three existing schools - Horace Mann, Roosevelt, and Madison elementary schools - into a single three-section, K-5 building designed to accommodate approximately 444 students. The historic Horace Mann school building, originally constructed in 1915, will be demolished before construction of the new facility begins.
The consolidation project represents a significant milestone for the affected schools, particularly Horace Mann Elementary, which marked its "last first day of school" when the academic year began on August 27. The board had previously approved this project at its July 8 meeting as part of the district's comprehensive long-range facilities plan.
ICON's selection was influenced by their extensive experience with school consolidation projects in other districts. Strategy and Innovation Officer Bill Westrick highlighted the firm's innovative approach, noting, "They even came up with a recognition wall that they said, had we not started with student feedback, I don't know we would have ended up here." The architectural firm has already begun collecting photographs from people who have attended the schools involved in the consolidation project.
The comprehensive design project will encompass architectural services covering building design, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, structural engineering, civil engineering, landscaping, food service planning, and furniture, fixtures, and equipment selection. "With a construction start this summer, it's important to have an efficient design process and a collaborative team, and I think they really exemplified that," Hand emphasized.
According to district documentation, the new three-story facility will span 70,000 gross square feet and feature numerous modern educational amenities. The ground level will include a secure main entry and learning commons area, while the building will house grade-level learning hubs with adjacent small-group rooms, sensory rooms, resource rooms, and flexible classroom spaces.
Specialized educational spaces will include dedicated STEAM/maker suites, music rooms, and visual arts suites to support comprehensive curriculum delivery. The facility will also feature a substantial 4,700 square-foot gymnasium and a multipurpose physical education studio to accommodate various athletic and recreational activities.
Extensive outdoor spaces are planned to enhance the educational environment, including age-appropriate playground areas divided into K-1 and grades 2-5 sections, an outdoor learning area for environmental education, and an open play field for larger group activities. A 108-stall parking lot will be constructed on the north side of the building, complete with a separate parent drop-off loop, dedicated bus-only curb access, and service vehicle access points to ensure safe and efficient traffic flow around the school.
