Manitou Funds Education & Art Center

The Manitou Fund Education & Art Center is a vibrant, multifunctional facility that now serves as the home for River Grove Elementary, a public K-5 charter school nestled in the heart of Washington County, MN. With a focus on project-based learning and nature-inspired curriculum, River Grove fosters social, developmental, and academic growth in a tight-knit, community-supported setting. 

Formerly the Zephyr Theater, this space was transformed through the close collaboration between the Continua team and MSR Design. The primary challenge was to create a warm, inviting environment that supports both academic learning and artistic expression for over 200 students and staff. With flexible programming needs, including classrooms and a performance space accommodating up to 130, the design called for careful planning and seamless versatility. 

Continua provided both indoor and outdoor furniture solutions, with a strong emphasis on modularity, ergonomics, and aesthetics. A curated mix of brands featuring ERG, Fleetwood, Forms & Surfaces, Global, Knoll, OFS, Pots and Planters, Stylex, and VS, was selected to support a variety of learning and performance activities. 

Throughout the 1.5-year project, our team worked together with the Manitou Fund to address everything from safety and traffic flow to food service logistics and outdoor learning spaces. With natural light, calming color palettes, and thoughtful spatial planning, the result is a highly adaptable and inspiring environment that welcomes creativity, collaboration, and growth. 

We’re proud to have played a part in bringing this space to life, and even prouder to welcome River Grove’s students and staff to their new home. 

Design Firm: MSR

Photography: Round Three Photography