HIGHER LEARNING

Chilton High School meets community's expectations

The clerestory windows in the new Chilton High School allow daylight into rooms that otherwise would depend on artificial light. Image courtesy of Hoffman LLC

As the city of Chilton neared the turn of the century, it had become very apparent that something needed to be done about the community's high school.

Built in 1934, the aging three-story school was in need of some serious updates that were certain to require some serious cash. The roof and the heating and air-conditioning system needed replacing, and other major fix-ups loomed on the horizon.

District officials examined their options and went to the community in 2001 with a $28 million referendum seeking permission to borrow funds for a new Chilton High School and improvements to other district schools. The measures were approved on the first try.

Principal Tim Schaid said district leaders wanted the design of the new Chilton High School to serve students, staff and the community while also offering opportunities for energy savings.

Hoffman LLC, Appleton, took on the task of designing the right space for this school at a cost of roughly $20 million. The school opened in fall 2003 to rave reviews.

"Everyone loves the facility," Schaid said. "The architects did a good job. The teachers were very happy. Many of them said their rooms were exactly what they asked for."

In the former three-story building, teachers had become accustomed to having windows in each room. When the new school was designed, Hoffman added clerestory windows to pop up above the ceiling in the interior rooms, allowing daylight into rooms that otherwise would depend on artificial light. Classrooms along the exterior wall have large-view windows.

The new $20 million Chilton High School marks a huge improvement over the old school. Image courtesy of Hoffman LLC

The school features three wings — academic, athletic and performing arts — that meet at the commons area, a vaulted space with a wall of windows and more clerestory windows to boost the natural light. Students also eat lunch in the commons area.

"It's a neat environment," Schaid said.

In addition to the referendum portion of the project, the Engler family, which owns Kaytee Products, donated $3.7 million to build a state-of-the-art performing arts center at the high school. The center is comparable in quality to the Weidner Center for the Per-forming Arts in Green Bay, Schaid said, but on a smaller scale. The high school's center seats 730 people.

"With its use of technology, its ornateness, its architecture, its colors — it's breathtaking," Schaid said.

The old Chilton High School was razed, and the remaining property was sold to the city. Schaid said the city grants the School District an easement to use the land for athletics.

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