“It’s hard to believe this was an old Wal-Mart; it looks nothing like it.”

Jordan Education Foundation Executive Director Mike Haynes has toured the new Jordan Learning Center multiple times, but he still marvels at the transformation.

The 41,000-square-foot building at 3706 W. 9800 South—across from Elk Ridge Middle School—is set to open with the new school year. It will house the Childhood Development Center, Jordan Credit Center, three virtual schools and the Foundation, each section distinguished by unique color schemes.

Renovation began 10 months ago after the district purchased the former retail space and its five-acre property. According to a LoopNet listing, “The $31 million will be paid from the (Jordan school) board's capital fund over five years, with interest-free installments of 1/5 of the total annually. This arrangement saves the district an estimated $5 million in financing costs.”

“It is an exciting new addition to Jordan School District,” Superintendent Anthony Godfrey said in a podcast, “using a cost-efficient approach to provide a growing number of essential and specialized educational services to families in a centralized location.”

The renovation cost $10.8 million, a fraction of new school construction, which ranges from $264 to $500 per square foot, said Ian Roberts, the district’s capital outlay manager.

“One good thing about this — Walmarts are big empty shells so we saved quite a bit of money by being able to renovate something that's existing,” Dave Rostrom said, district director of facility services. “It’s been cheaper than tearing it down and rebuilding it — and we get five acres in a prime location.”

Jordan School District’s new Jordan Learning Center is slated to open the beginning of the school year and house the Childhood Development Center, Jordan Credit Center, three virtual schools and the Jordan Education Foundation. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

In early August, the parking lot was repaved and crews were finishing the entrance, which now features wood-like panels and a steel canopy to provide lighting and shelter, said Scott Hansen, project manager with Engaged Contracting.

Inside, work continued on wiring, flooring, painting and other finishes.

“We put up every single wall, did electrical, thermal work, doubled up some trusses, added a new back-up generator, cut 16 skylights, 26 rooftop (heating and air conditioning) units, did everything — security, lighting, power, fire safety – right down to the exterior walls,” Hansen said, noting collaboration with MHTN Architects.

The CDC, now relocated from Kauri Sue Hamilton School, offers early intervention and preschool for students with special needs. Located on the west side of the building, it includes several large classrooms, office space, nursing stations, dedicated testing facilities and a fenced outdoor play area.

“The program itself is exploding so this will give them a dedicated space and free up some space at Kauri Sue,” Rostrom said. 

Near the CDC is the Foundation’s office, featuring fluted wood walls, workstations and a conference room. But Haynes is especially excited about the new warehouse at the north end.

“We've never had the ability to have a central drop off/pick up warehouse that we could store items,” he said. “Right now, we're scattered in six different places throughout the district. This is going to be so much nicer to have a centrally located building off of Bangerter and 9800 South.”

The warehouse includes ceiling-height shelving, a dock door and a donation pull-through entrance.

Crews work toward finishing the entryway of the new Jordan Learning Center. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

“Last year, on National Day of Service at West Jordan High School, we had 50 cars lined up to drop off food packs and they occupied all these rooms at the high school. The problem was we didn't have a way to get them out of the high school and we didn’t have anywhere to put the donations,” he said. 

The Foundation has previously turned away donations due to lack of space, even scrambling to store $1 million in toys last year before the holidays. The new space not only has storage, but it will allow for assembly of items and student volunteer work.

“We often have groups come and assemble food backpacks or other essentials for our students and now that we’re across from Elk Ridge Middle School, it will provide the students there a convenient way to volunteer to give service,” he said.

At the center of the building is a flexible multi-purpose room with expandable partitions, large screens and floor plug-ins.

“This is a treasure; it’s hard to find a large space available in the district’s buildings,” Haynes said.

Hansen added the room can be configured in multiple ways for meetings, luncheons or trainings.

To the east are classrooms and a science lab for virtual schools—Rocky Peak Elementary, Kelsey Peak Middle and Kings Peak High—which host in-person sessions for art, STEM and field trips.

“This is going to make a difference with virtual schools,” Haynes said. “It’s something a student can be proud about to be a part of it. It's so much different than working out of a portable or a shared school.”

Nearby are rooms for coaches, teachers and an employee break room. Much of the area has skylights and fabric-like architectural baffles which manage air, sound and light, Engage said.

In the southeast corner is the Jordan Credit Center, which offers students options such as competency tests, grade replacement and credit recovery to help them graduate.

Haynes believes the new center delivers on its promise: “This space is beautiful and will accommodate and support the needs of our students, programs, schools and community.”