The only public grammar school designed by Frank Lloyd Wright is currently undergoing restoration in Southwest Wisconsin. The Kenosha News recently highlighted the effort to preserve not only the building, but its use as an educational facility. Read a brief summary below and the full piece here: Watch now: Frank Lloyd Wright school building getting an upgrade for more events and programming (April 19, 2021).
Work on the Wyoming Valley School | Source: Steve Apps, State Journal
Students learn in the east classroom of the Wyoming Valley School | Source: Wyoming Valley School Cultural Arts Center
The school opened in 1958 and served the River Valley School district until 1990. It has served as a Cultural Arts Center for the past 10 years and will reopen in 2022 after restoration is complete. In addition to a new roof, the chimney is being rebuilt, wooden window sashes repaired, and the foundation restored. The design includes ample natural light, exposed beams covered in mahogany, and a double-sided fireplace. More details may be viewed in the article’s embedded video.
Preservation has been shown to provide economic benefits to the area in which a historic building sits. In that spirit, nearly half of the project has been financed by a Community Development Investment grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. Clearly, this is a Place That Matters.