Gallatin High School completes in Bozeman, Mont.

The new Gallatin High School in Bozeman, Mont., was designed around the concept of a town center to be a place where people come together for a variety of purposes aligned with creating a unified, supportive, interactive community.

Instead of spreading the 300,000-sf school across two levels, the team designed a more compact solution that combines stacked one-, two-, and three-story wings. This layout helps reduce travel distances from one side of the school to the other, creates opportunities for key spaces to make physical and visual connections to the commons, and enhances efficiency in the building’s footprint, systems, and energy use.

The commons were central to the school’s design. Here, students and staff can gather for assemblies, speakers, small group gatherings, and individual study time. A grand staircase offers a “wow” factor but is also highly functional and includes a coffee bar and a cafe tucked beneath.

The ideas of cross-pollination and discovery are infused throughout the design to create visibility into other learning areas to spur interest in trying something new. Wider hallways and an abundance of natural light support a learning environment that feels accessible.

The 70-acre site comprises athletic fields, a trail system, parking areas, a competition track, a softball fields, and tennis courts.

Build Team

Civil Engineer: TD&H Engineering

Structural Engineer: DCI Engineers 

Acoustical Engineer: Big Sky Acoustics

Auditorium: Schuler Shook

Client name: Bozeman Public Schools