Building the Future of Learning Across North Dakota

At ICON Architectural Group, every milestone we celebrate is rooted in a simple but powerful purpose: to design environments that elevate community and inspire human connections. Over the past week, we had the privilege of standing alongside three school districts as they broke ground on projects that will shape the next generation of learning, gathering, and growth. Each ceremony reflected a shared commitment to investing in spaces where students, educators, and communities can thrive together.

Valley City Public Schools - A Unified Campus for K-12 Learning

In Valley City, hundreds of Hi-Liners gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new grades 3-12 school - a transformative $46 million project led by Valley City Public Schools.

This future facility will be directly connected to the existing K–2 school and located on the same site as the varsity football field and track, creating a truly unified campus experience for students. Once complete, the building will serve approximately 950 K-12 students and feature a state-of-the-art library, gymnasium, and district offices.

ICON is honored to support a project that brings learning, athletics, and community together in one connected environment designed for long-term growth and opportunity.

Devils Lake Public Schools - Honoring History While Designing for Tomorrow

In Devils Lake, we joined Devils Lake Public Schools for the groundbreaking celebration of the Central Middle School renovation and addition project.

The ceremonial dirt toss marked the exact location where a new commons and performance space will soon become the heart of the school - welcoming students, staff, and the broader community.

This thoughtfully phased transformation blends preservation with progress, including:

• A new commons and performance space featuring exposed historic brick

• An updated media center

• A secure new main entrance and administrative office

• Improved accessibility through new ramps and circulation upgrades

• Modernized classrooms, lighting, finishes, and casework

• Careful preservation of original hardwood flooring and architectural character

This project reflects a deep respect for the past while creating flexible, future-ready spaces for learning and connection.

Fargo Public Schools - One Community, One New Elementary Vision

In Fargo, we celebrated the groundbreaking of the new Horace Mann Elementary School, a project within Fargo Public Schools that brings together the former Horace Mann, Roosevelt, and Madison schools into one unified K-5 learning environment.

The $35 million, 78,460-square-foot facility has been designed with both neighborhood context and modern education in mind. Brick, cast stone, and refined architectural detailing ground the building in its historic surroundings, while interiors prioritize flexibility, daylight, and creativity.

Highlights include:

• Spacious, light-filled classrooms

• Adaptable learning environments

• Playful color accents that support engagement and identity

• An inclusive playground with accessible equipment and safe surfacing

• Expansive green space designed for recreation, play, and community gathering

This new school will serve as a shared home where learning and connection can flourish daily.

Moving Forward, Together

Across Valley City, Devils Lake, and Fargo, these groundbreaking celebrations represent more than construction milestones - they mark the beginning of environments designed to bring people together in meaningful ways.

At ICON Architectural Group, we are proud to partner with communities who share our belief that schools are more than buildings - they are places where relationships form, ideas grow, and futures take shape.

Because when we design with intention, we don’t just create spaces.

We elevate community and inspire human connections.