The International Spanish Language Academy (ISLA) is a Spanish immersion charter school whose mission is to “empower the whole child by nurturing the development of personal growth, strong character, academic excellence, and global vision.”
The two-level office building near Hwy 100 and 494 in Edina was converted from office space into classrooms, a media center, administrative offices, and a cafeteria. A new 5,000 SF gymnasium was constructed, and the property was modified to accommodate sufficient play area and traffic circulation.
The latest code requirements for schools require that some portion of the building be able to meet new storm shelter standards; they constructed the gym to reach these standards. This put an added strain on the budget and schedule. Solutions included identifying portions of work that can be accomplished at other times of the school year.