In August 2017, Alturas International Academy Charter School in Idaho Falls opened its doors to eager students, marking a significant milestone in the school’s rich history. Originally a schoolhouse dating back to the 1930s, the building underwent a series of transformations, from abandonment to revival as office space and back to its educational roots. erstad, in collaboration with Alturas International Academy and Building Hope, undertook the challenge of revitalizing this historical former Junior High School into a modern educational facility.

Drawing from our prior experience in 1999 when we re-designed the building into office space after 18 years of abandonment, we seamlessly transformed the historic structure into a state-of-the-art K-8 Charter School to cater to the community’s educational needs. The comprehensive upgrades encompassed ADA accessibility enhancements, the creation of a new play area, and the redesign of interiors to accommodate 30 new classrooms, a refurbished gymnasium, updated restrooms, administrative and teacher workspaces, and adaptable learning/library areas. At erstad, we’re proud to have played a pivotal role in preserving the legacy of this iconic building while modernizing it to meet the evolving needs of Idaho Falls’ children.