The Northstar Middle School houses between 750 and 800 students and is located on a sloping, wooded site on Eau Claire's north side. Building into the hill at the east side of the site allowed for on-grade access to both levels of the two-story school. It also reduced the apparent scale of the 120,000-square-foot building and its impact on the surrounding neighborhood.

The two-story classroom section is divided into grade-level "houses" that accommodate grades 6, 7, and 8. Each grade level has its own identity and houses its own science labs, computer labs, lockers and restrooms.

Also included in the new middle school are a two-station gymnasium, swimming pool, and a tiered commons that functions both as a cafeteria and an auditorium.