Details on New Tech High School, Apollo Renovations Emerge

ST. CLOUD -  More ideas and concepts are emerging for a new Tech High School and for renovations to Apollo High School.

A High School Design Task Force led by the Cuningham Group made their recommendations to the school board during a special meeting on Wednesday night.

The proposed new Tech High School would fit 1,800 students and would have 360,000 total square feet.

The school would have specialized lab spaces, a graphics computer lab, video production space, an engineering lab and mechanical engineering space. There were also talks about adding a culinary arts lab.

A new Tech would have a 700-seat auditorium and music rooms, a three-station gym, eight-lane pool, fitness center and wrestling room. A new football stadium and ballparks would be put-in near the school. The task force decided on a two-floor building design with the student commons area in the center of the building. The commons would have large windows to display the wooded areas outside and give an open feeling to the school.

The current Tech High School is nearly 100 years old. The district decided last year to move forward with a plan to build a new Tech, instead of trying to renovate the current building.

The task force also discussed remodeling Apollo High School during the meeting.

The group says Apollo needs to adjust its parking areas and bus chutes. The entry ways would be remodeled and centralized with a new glass entrance. The center of Apollo would be remodled into a "Discovery Center", an area themed to reflect science and technology. Adjustments would also be made to the interior of the building to create more hallway space.

In December, architects said building a new Tech High School would cost about $112 million and costs to improve and upgrade Apollo would cost around $52 million.

District 742 is looking to build the new Tech at a location on 33rd Street South. Voters will ultimately need to pass a referendum in the fall for a new Tech and renovations for Apollo to be built.