An arson fire in February of 2012 devastated St. Anthony School in Oconto Falls. The combined effects of smoke, fire, water for fire suppression and exposure to weather le the majority of the building’s interior in need of replacement. This gave the school the opportunity to reconfigure spaces that were no longer used as originally built, and to provide accessibility to all floors of the building with a new elevator.
Entry from both sides of the school now opens into a lobby with offices and reception desk. The arrangement created a secure entry for the school and facilitated circulation to the adjacent church, which was untouched by the fire. While 1st
floor classrooms, toilets and lockers stayed in the same general location, they were reconfigured to include a library, computer room and multiple storage and display options. The partial 2nd floor, which had originally housed teaching sisters, received a completely new plan to support religious education and parish meetings. The building was ready for students by the summer of 2013.