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While agriculture education is nothing new, a dedicated facility that can house livestock on a rural campus in the Midwest is a surprising anomaly. The Agricultural Complex is the only one in Illinois — and one of a handful in the United States.
With an already thriving program, the planning of the facility and its location needed to be tightly knit into other district programs, such as athletics and general education. A key consideration was also the ability to expand program offerings in the future, through enlarged facilities and features which could include on-site gardens, crops or additional livestock support.
How do we provide future farmers and agribusiness leaders access to the tools, resources, and flexibility they need?
The complex offers a flexible design that is intentionally minimal, budget-friendly and ideal for future-ready, hands-on learning. A livestock chute in the lab allows animals to be held for vaccinations, tagging, health inspections, general hygiene and care.
The animal ward offers a flexible design that allows students easy access to the lab and outdoor areas. The design features a built-in watering system, unfinished floors, high ceilings and sliding barn doors.
- 5,296 s.f
- Designed for Program Expansion
- Flexible Furnishings
- Lab Spaces
- Award of Distinction, Exhibition of Educational Environments: IASB/IASA/IASBO 2019 Conference
"I have been able to expand what and how I teach because of this structure. I have the resources I need right here, so I can teach more efficiently and more effectively."
Primed for future expansion, the design offers ample lecture, lab, storage and livestock housing space to accommodate a thriving agriculture program.
Features such as an operable partition between the lecture and lab spaces, a clear, open lab that can be washed down, and mobile furniture offer another level of flexibility for the building to evolve with the program.
This transformational educational environment is designed to support diverse students in learning through future-focused methods. Intentional features like operable walls and flexible seating facilitate easy collaboration and project-based learning. Additionally, bilingual teams and faculty can share students without leaving the classroom area, promoting seamless support.
The district spent four years working with the community and staff to plan for an expansion and renovation with the goal of meeting the needs of growing enrollment and providing future-focused learning opportunities to students.
The new Knoxville K-8 campus is more than a building replacement project—it's the creation of a unified educational environment that reflects the pride and identity of the Knoxville community. Guided by the district theme of "We Are Knoxville", the design thoughtfully combines a repurposed existing facility with new construction, creating one cohesive and compelling campus experience.