Faced with outdated and inflexible learning environments, unused spaces, chaotic drop off and pick up, and no central gathering area, doing nothing was not an option for the Jacksonville School District. Not only is the junior high experience a pivotal time in a child’s life, but of all the district facilities, the junior high was positioned to serve every student in the district.
- Safety Features
- Hands On Labs
- Maker Spaces
- Small Group Rooms
- Teacher Planning Areas
- Community Spaces
- Flexible Learning Environments
- Award of Merit, Exhibition of Educational Environments: IASB/IASA/IASBO 2018 Conference
How does the school district transform outdated and inflexible learning environments, unused spaces, chaotic drop-offs and pick-ups, and no central gathering area into an adaptable facility that supports 21st-century education and student development?
Additions and renovations were designed to maximize flexible and adaptive spaces, create clear and comfortable circulation paths, separate bus and parent traffic, and be a center for the community.
The site underwent a major shift in vehicle and pedestrian traffic patterns to increase safety and security. Entrances to the 14-acre site were moved. Parent drop-off areas are now separated from bus traffic, and access to the main entrance is clear and visible.
The facility was designed to be a center for the community and can be used for extended periods during the day and the year. The solution was designed to maximize flexible and adaptive spaces and to welcome the community with a clear entry space. The community commons, at the heart of the building, opens into the auditorium for local theater groups and can be separated from the academic wings as desired. A new gymnasium addition with adjacent fitness center and health lab is easily accessible to the public.
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.
The district spent four years working with the community and staff to plan for an expansion and renovation with the goal of meeting the needs of growing enrollment and providing future-focused learning opportunities to students.
With the implementation of a county-wide sales tax that provided additional funds to public schools across the region, the Mt. Zion School board wanted to invest funds into facilities that bolstered the community's small town traditions. The new athletics field house and auditorium within Mt. Zion High School provide ample space for a myriad of academic and civic events.