Neenah With Pride!
Photo Credit: Graham Washatka of Graham Images
In the autumn of 1875, the inaugural cohort of Neenah High School students embarked on a historic journey as they entered their new school premises at the corner of Walnut and Franklin Streets. Since that momentous day, countless students have traversed the corridors of various Neenah High School buildings. And now, echoing the excitement of that very first day in 1875, a new generation of eager students is poised to step through the doors of a state-of-the-art educational institution, marking the culmination of nearly seven years of meticulous planning, multiple referendums, and extensive community engagement. Huffman Keel Partners is honored to have been a part of this monumental project.
This 446,703-square-foot building on a sprawling 225-acre campus is a testament to the community's dedication to providing top-notch education. Within the campus, you'll discover abundant natural light throughout, a football stadium with 3,580 grandstand seats, 1,053 parking spaces, an auditorium with a capacity exceeding 800, 16 private practice and ensemble rooms for music instruction, 968 student lockers, 1,300 athletic lockers, and an impressive 26 basketball hoops.
The school's layout ensures that each wing houses classes spanning all four core content areas, fostering grade-level cohesion and promoting enhanced teacher-student collaboration. This effort is enhanced by connected classrooms, allowing for more flexible learning and collaboration. The science facilities have been significantly upgraded, offering group workspaces for three students, additional sinks, and cutting-edge equipment. Notably, a hydroponics lab has been added, where lettuce will be grown year-round for the school's food service.
A significant feature of the new high school is that the art, welding, woods, and engineering courses are all located in the most visible areas. As students move around the school, they will walk past these incredible areas daily. The spaces were designed with expansive windows to display ongoing learning activities. These large windows also allow students to work on different projects simultaneously and still be observed by staff.
The new state-of-the-art auditorium is one of the first in the Midwest to have a fully immersive sound system, delivering a lifelike three-dimensional auditory experience to eventgoers. A hearing loop has also been installed to benefit hard-of-hearing individuals. The auditorium has a 70-foot high fly system for quickly changing sets throughout performances. But wait, there is more. The Performing Arts Center also includes:
A black box theater.
Outdoor theater.
Two fully equipped green rooms.
A large lobby to hold pre- and post-performance gatherings.
The athletics department has also received a significant boost! Two new courts accommodate students, athletes, and spectators, including a competition gymnasium, seating approximately 3,000 spectators, which caters to basketball, volleyball, and wrestling events. The second gymnasium, spanning 25,684 square feet, includes four basketball and volleyball courts, serving as a practice and game venue when events are being hosted in the competition gym. Additionally, a wrestling room with three mats and an 8,691-square-foot weight room is available. Notably, the Rockets stadium shines as a centerpiece, accommodating 3,580 fans with room for many more in standing areas. The stadium is encircled by a 1,600-meter track and with a scenic cross-country course winding through the entire complex. Furthermore, the campus has baseball and softball diamonds, a soccer stadium, tennis courts with bleacher seating, and irrigated practice fields for football and soccer.
Security measures have been significantly enhanced in the new school. A spotlight feature is a unified door control system seamlessly integrated with electronic clocks and public address systems. The system enables automated door locking, visual and auditory alarm activation, and swift notification to authorities in emergencies, ensuring the safety of all within the school's confines.
In 2024, Neenah High School will witness a graduating class numbering in the hundreds, a remarkable evolution from the mere nine students in the school's inaugural graduating class. While the landscape has transformed significantly over the years, one thing remains the same: Neenah's unwavering commitment to the future and the education of its youth. None of this monumental achievement would have been possible without the tireless efforts of the Neenah School District, Miron Construction, Bray Architects, Huffman Keel Partners, and the entire Neenah community. Together, they have forged a beacon of learning and opportunity for future generations.
For more specifics about the process and the school can be found via the Neenah School District’s website by clicking on this link. And a special thanks to Graham Images for so many fantastic photos of the school and surrounding grounds.
