FARGO — The Fargo Board of Education approved an architectural firm’s proposal to lead the design of a new, combined elementary school in north Fargo.
Board members awarded the design project to ICON Architectural Group at their meeting Tuesday, Sept. 9.
ICON was one of seven firms that submitted proposals for the design project, according to district documents.
Members of administration interviewed the top three firms Aug. 26 and ultimately recommended ICON.
“Icon in particular, just kind of on every level, sort of took everything up a notch and really came ready to hit the ground running,” Facilities Director James Hand said.
The board approved the project at its July 8 meeting
as part of the district’s long-range facilities plan.
The project will involve architectural services covering building design; mechanical, electrical, structural, and civil engineering; landscaping; food service; and furniture, fixtures and equipment.
The new elementary school will be built on the current Horace Mann campus, consolidating Horace Mann, Roosevelt and Madison elementary schools into one three-section, K-5 building for approximately 444 students, a district memo said.
The existing Horace Mann school, built in 1915, will be demolished before construction begins.
The school marked its
last first day of school when the academic year began Aug. 27.
“With a construction start this summer, it’s important to have an efficient design process and a collaborative team, and I think they really exemplified that,” Hand said.
Bill Westrick, strategy and innovation officer, said ICON stood out based on their previous work with districts that had school consolidations.
“They even came up with a recognition wall that they said, had we not started with student feedback, I don’t know we would have ended up here,” Westrick said.
Superintendent Cory Steiner said ICON has already begun collecting photos from people who’ve attended the schools involved in the project.
Students enter Horace Mann Elementary School on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, during the “last first day” at the north Fargo school building.
Anna Paige / The Forum
According to the district memo, the three-story, 70,000 gross square footage facility will feature:
• A secure main entry and learning commons at ground level
• Grade-level “learning hubs” with adjacent small-group, sensory, resource, and flex rooms
• Dedicated STEAM/maker, music and visual arts suites
• A 4,700 square-foot gymnasium and multipurpose physical education studio
• Outdoor spaces including age-appropriate K–1 and 2–5 play areas, an outdoor learning area and open play field
• A 108-stall north parking lot with separate parent drop-off loop, bus-only curb, and service access