Happy Spring!
Welcome to the Alexander Baker School Reuse Project Page
Project located in International Falls, Minnesota
Alexander Baker Building Constructed 1912-1914
Alexander Baker Building
Alexander Baker School Chronology 1912 - 2019
- 1912 Construction begins
- 1914 The Alexander Baker School is dedicated in June
- 1936 The E.W. Backus School is constructed directly to the south of the Baker School
- 1978 In response to energy concerns the windows in the Baker and Backus Schools are down-sized and partially filled in with insulated panels
- 1983 The Alexander Baker School is tuck-pointed
- 1987 The Backus auditorium is refurbished
- 1988 School District #361 offices move into the Alexander Baker School from Falls Junior High School and all classes move out of the School
- 1991 All traditional classes move out of the Backus School, but portions of the building remain in use for other school district purposes
- 1995 The School District offices move to the Backus School from the Baker School, and a sprinkler system is installed in part of the complex
- 1996 Hail damages the roof of the Alexander Baker and Backus Buildings
- 1999 Alexander Baker and Backus Buildings are placed on Preservation Alliance of MN’s list of “10 Most Endangered Historic Buildings”
- 2002 Citizens for Backus/AB, Inc. purchases the Alexander Baker and Backus Buildings for $850
- 2004 Alexander Baker and Backus Buildings are placed on the National Register of Historic Places
- 2005 A market analysis of housing potential for the building is conducted
- 2008 $180,000 is raised to replace the roof
- 2010 SJA Architects develop plans for repurposing the Alexander Baker building for a KOOTASCA service center and apartments
- 2016 Environmental testing is conducted
- 2016 The Voyage Forward "Quality of Life" Destiny Driver Team tours the Baker Building. The potential for affordable housing becomes apparent to KOOTASCA and Backus staff
- 2017 Asbestos is removed from a 3rd floor classroom and other areas encapsulated and secured
- Boards of Directors of Backus and KOOTASCA sign joint resolutions to work toward the reuse of the AB School
- Original 1912 Boiler Refractories are re-built
- Koochiching County Housing Collaborative is organized by KOOTASCA and Backus. 24 stakeholders join the table to discuss housing issues and solutions for the community
- 2018 Koochiching Co. Housing Collaborative raises more than $35,000 to conduct a housing study
- Community Partners Research begins work on a comprehensive housing study
- Site visit by the Preservation Alliance of MN
- KOOTASCA is awarded a “Strengthening Rural Communities” grant for technical assistance for the Alexander Baker project from MN Housing Partnership
- Backus receives a MN Historical Society grant award of $10,000 to conduct a “Conditions Assessment” of the Alexander Baker Building
- 2019 Backus and KOOTASCA apply to participate in the American Institute of Architects Search for Shelter Design Charrette
- Kaas Wilson Architects hired to complete a building conditions assessment
- Community Partners Research completes the housing study and makes significant recommendations for addressing housing challenges in Koochiching County. The study recommends the rehabilitation and re-use of the Alexander Baker School as affordable housing
- Alexander Baker Building selected to participate in the American Institute of Architects Minnesota Search for Shelter Design Charrette
- 2023 Alexander Baker Partnership bought AB and started construction for affordable housing units.
The AB Building on the left, with the Backus building being constructed to the right