Williston sits in the epicenter of the explosive growth resulting from the technological advances in oil development in Western North Dakota. The demographic projections for the city of Williston project a total population growth of 94.7% over a seven year window. JLG led the community through programming and planning for the possibility of a new high school facility — converting the former 5-8 middle school. The concepts were developed and entered the public input phase which featured extensive use of public forums to discuss options, costs, and final solutions. After a successful bond passage, the project has just completed construction.
The new high school includes a competition gym, cardio and wrestling rooms, music rehearsal and practice rooms, art rooms, a media center and an outdoor stadium. The campus also includes a standalone building for specialized career and technical education (CTE). Most of the classrooms are gathered in their own wing, away from the public areas, in order to create a connection between the community and the school. All of the public spaces are organized along a central spine, punctuated regularly by “storefronts,” both for ease of use and security.