Knutson Celebrates The Emerald Trail Elementary Ribbon-Cutting

This morning, teachers, district staff, board members, Wold Architects, and Knutson gathered to celebrate the ribbon-cutting of Emerald Trail Elementary School. The event was filled with excitement, gratitude, and anticipation for what this new space will mean for students and the community.

Emerald Trail Elementary was designed to address District 196’s growing student population in the southern portion of the district. The school will relieve overcrowding at Rosemount Elementary, which was over capacity by more than 100 students during the 2024–2025 school year. With room for 750 students and an overall building capacity of 1,600 people, the new 80,000-square-foot facility is built to serve families well into the future.

Sustainability also takes center stage at Emerald Trail. The school is powered entirely by geothermal technology, with 440 geothermal wells beneath the ballfield providing heating and cooling. This innovative system allows the building to run solely on electricity, aligning with the district’s commitment to energy efficiency.

Reflecting on the project, Tom Leimer, Knutson’s SVP, shared:

“I am extremely proud of the Knutson team and trade partners for completing this project on schedule and, most importantly, without any lost time accidents. We appreciate the partnership we have created with the District #196 staff and Wold Architects & Engineers on executing the first large project of many to be completed in the coming years!  These facilities will be great additions to the District #196 community!