When the district started talking about renovating the site, administrators saw a chance to do more than just update an old building—they decided to bring both high schools together under one roof. What began as a renovation and addition project turned into an opportunity to create a single, unified school for students and the wider community.
The updates opened up brand new collaboration spaces for both students and teachers. One standout is the Information Commons, a future-ready hub where students can check out all kinds of media and find a comfortable spot to work or hang out. To encourage even more teamwork, part of the first and second floors was opened up to create a dedicated STEM zone. This new area breaks down barriers between subjects, giving students in science, math, robotics, and engineering the space to work together and spark new ideas.
Flexible furniture lets students rearrange their classrooms for group projects or solo study, depending on what they need. And instead of filling rooms with extra desks, the district kept furniture to a minimum, making the most of their small class sizes—a point of pride for the schools.
The district had two outdated and disconnected high schools.
By combining the two high schools and renovating the commons to be the heart of the school, the student body and community were reconnected.
- New Auditorium
- New Secondary Multipurpose Practice Gymnasium
- On-Campus Weight Room
- STEM Wing and Collaboration Spaces
- Secure Entry
- Environmental Branding
Environmental graphics showcase the district’s core values and mission statement.
The iconic mascot and colors are featured throughout the building.
To connect with the past, graphics are used to chronicle history with images of various high schools built throughout the county.
The district first partnered with BLDD in 2010 to develop a comprehensive facilities assessment and improvement strategy that addressed both immediate challenges and long-term aspirations. This partnership came at a crucial time as the district implemented its “Righting the Ship” initiative, a strategic plan designed to ensure fiscal stability while maintaining educational excellence.
Through renovations and an addition to a 1950s-era building on a tight city footprint, an engaging, innovative and inviting high school, focused on providing modern facilities to support digital learning, academic achievement and fine arts and athletic excellence was developed. While the student population was highly achieving, the existing school did not reflect the student merit.
Unsure of whether to remodel their historic middle school, build new on the existing site near their current high school, or build new on a different site, the Maroa-Forsyth School District reached out to get community input via BLDD's community engagement process.