Following successful community engagement resulting in a $200 million bond referendum, Iowa City is poised to update City High School with an addition and renovation. The project includes a new gymnasium that will have two floors, seating up to 2,000 at athletic events on all four sides. Fans will pass through a new plaza area on their way to the gym entrance.
Locker rooms will be built between the lower commons and the gym and solve the problem of overcrowding that happened anytime athletic practices overlapped. The north wall of the upper commons will become a showcase space for the achievements of a wide variety of students, not just athletes.
The upper and lower commons will function as the new cafeteria and will have a variety of seating options, which will include an outside eating area leading up to the entrance of the new competition gym. The cafe-style seating will allow students to sit alone or in a group. The new space will prevent students from having to cram into the library, which was the only spot for studying and socializing.
The district sought updates to improve the student experience and invest in the future of education.
The renovations expanded the district’s wellness and athletics facilities, reinvented the student lunch experience, and created future opportunities for additional educational programs.
- Competition Gymnasium
- Expanded Areas for Dining and Studying
- Mechanical System Upgrades
- Accessibility Upgrades
- Locker Room Renovations
- Expanded Athletic Spaces
"All this coming together makes our already historic and beautiful campus just absolutely phenomenal. It's going to be the ideal balance of historic beauty with modern functionality."
- John Bacon, Principal, Iowa City High School
The design includes a second dome, which will tie the new addition to the historical look of the original building.
The original aesthetic received a nod from Architectural Digest in 2017, calling it the most beautiful high school in Iowa.
The project at TRIAD High School includes an 818-seat auditorium, complete with a balcony and stage, designed to accommodate up to 120 musicians and theatrical performances. The theater and multi-purpose room feature modern audio-visual systems, as well as cutting-edge theatrical lighting and rigging within the performance space. The addition also consists of four classrooms, averaging 865 square feet each, and a 1,700 square foot commons area for performing arts students and instructional use.
The additions and renovations to the School District of Clayton’s athletic facilities represent the next major step towards elevating the school’s facilities to align with the the district’s reputation for academic and athletic excellence.
This transformational educational environment is designed to support diverse students in learning through future-focused methods. Intentional features like operable walls and flexible seating facilitate easy collaboration and project-based learning. Additionally, bilingual teams and faculty can share students without leaving the classroom area, promoting seamless support.