(Unity Christian High School in Orange City, Iowa - KIWA Staff Photo)Orange City, Iowa (Sioux County Radio) — Unity Christian High School is moving forward with a nearly $8 million building project designed to expand hands-on learning opportunities while improving the school’s kitchen and cafeteria facilities.
The school celebrated a ceremonial groundbreaking last week for its “Hands On Hearts In” campaign. Construction on the industrial arts addition began earlier this summer.
Head of School Wayne Dykstra said the project reflects the school’s desire to help students explore a variety of career paths and callings.
Expanding Learning Opportunities
The addition will expand industrial arts and agriculture programs while adding space for foods, family, and consumer life skills instruction.
Plans include increasing the number of welding stations from five to 10, more than doubling the carpentry shop area, and creating a larger project construction space. A dedicated aquaponics room with two stations is also included in the project.
Dykstra said the school will also replace its former greenhouse with a larger and updated facility.
He said expanding hands-on education had already been identified as a strategic goal for the school, and conservations with a local contractor helped shape the project.
The expanded facilities will support both career exploration and practical skills students can use in their own homes.
More Room for Meals and Community
The project also addresses growing demands on the school’s food service facilities.
Dykstra said enrollment has increased by roughly 100 students over the past decade, creating congestion during lunch periods. A redesigned serving area with two lunch lines is expected to significantly reduce wait times.
The project also includes a new 380-seat cafeteria that will allow students to eat together in a single space rather than multiple locations throughout the building.
The current kitchen will be renovated with an improved layout, updated equipment, and additional workspace. The existing cafeteria space will be converted into a food service area connected to the new dining room.
The overall project also includes heating and cooling improvements in portions of the existing school.
Fundraising and Construction Timeline
Dykstra says the project is expected to cost just under $8 million. At the time of the interview, more than $3 million had already been pledged or contributed.
School members voted to begin construction before reaching the traditional fundraising benchmark of 70%.
Fundraising efforts will continue through donor meetings and special events.
The industrial arts addition is expected to be completed by fall 2027. Kitchen renovations are planned for summer 2027, with the goal of resuming food service that August.
Construction of the new cafeteria is expected to begin after demolition of the existing shop, custodial, and van garage areas and could be completed in late 2027 or early 2028.
