PROJECT OVERVIEW

In 2019, a successful bond referendum empowered the community to invest in a new high school for MAPS. It was envisioned not simply as a replacement facility, but as a modern, expressive structure capable of reflecting community pride and supporting the continuing evolution of high school education.

Read more about this project in the Summer 2026 issue of Ascent.

PRECAST SOLUTION

From both a design and delivery perspective, the project called for a building material that could meet and exceed performance demands while elevating architectural expression. Architectural precast concrete emerged as the ideal solution.

Owner

Moorehead Area Public Schools

Architect

Zerr Berg Architects

Structural Engineer

Heyer Engineering

Construction Manager/General Contractor

Gehrtz Construction Services

Precast Concrete Producer

Taracon Precast

Key Project Attributes

• The new Moorhead High School is more than just an educational facility. It’s a visually stunning and resilient building that will foster continued opportunities for the next generation of students

Project/Precast Scope

• The architect sought a building material that could convey durability and confidence while also delivering a refined, contemporary aesthetic. Just as important, the team sought a surface that could serve as both structure and expression—something that wouldn’t need to be hidden or softened once inside the building.
• Large, expressive precast concrete volumes were developed to represent the most communal programs—athletics, aquatics, and the performing arts—giving the building a strong civic presence and clear visual hierarchy, while other portions of the building incorporate a combination of complementary structural systems.
• The precast concrete producer manufactured more than 72,000 square feet of architectural wall panels along with nearly 58,000 square feet of structural wall panels for the school. The project also included about 33,000 square feet of hollow-core, along with double tees and stadium components.
• To achieve the required consistency across tall, uninterrupted panel surfaces, the precast concrete producer relied on a machine-controlled, flatbed polishing system that enabled precise, repeatable results.