Watertown, SD (2024)
The good folks at Lake Area Tech have long dreamt of connecting their entire main campus, mostly to improve wayfinding and nurture a sense of community, but at least partly because it gets pretty cold up there in the winter. Hence, a new bridge over Arrow Ave.
We’ve been working with LATC for a while now on projects big and small, with this project being the culmination of a couple iterations of master planning. The Archway Complex, which includes the Dana J. Dykhouse Business Center, the Advanced Manufacturing Center, and of course, the bridge between, has finally connected the northern and southern halves of campus and created an unmistakable front door to campus.
The design of this ~50,000 SF addition responds to that of the Prairie Lakes Healthcare Center of Learning and solidifies a new architectural language on campus. It also adds a significant amount of classroom and office space, addressing LATC’s continued growth. Most importantly, it serves as a central hub for students and staff to meet, study, or just hang out between classes.
We’re back on campus now for more master planning, dreaming up another ten years of visionary moves for our state’s original technical college. There’s always a buzz in the Archway when we’re around. Physical connections –> social connections –> better recruitment/retention –> more skilled workers in and around SD. LATC’s got the recipe.
