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 renovations involve expanding and upgrading the culinary arts classroom with new sinks, cabinets, and appliances, in addition to new finishes. The art rooms are being reconfigured to provide a single 1,240 square-foot classroom with new finishes, cabinets, lighting, and sinks, along with a general classroom. The existing stage is being transformed into a new band room to accommodate approximately 100 students. The new band room, as well as the existing choral and instrumental music rooms, will be equipped with new recording and playback equipment. The existing stepped seating area in the cafeteria will be infilled to create a level floor, providing a more usable and versatile seating area within the cafeteria. The existing CTE suite is being completely reconfigured to provide two classrooms of approximately 530 sf each, two labs measuring 1,280 SF and 1,230 SF, a 2,500 SF metals shop, and a wood shop measuring 1,330 SF.
New finishes, work countertops, lighting, and ventilation are being provided in the CTE rooms. The exterior of the building addition consists of brick-faced architectural precast concrete panels at the theater and multi-purpose room, with a glass curtainwall and metal panels at the two-story high lobby. The classroom portion of the addition features brick and cast stone veneer.
Following a successful year-long master planning process, designed to address concerns of aging infrastructure and facility inequities, Lanphier High School was identified as a top priority for revitalization among the district's three high schools.
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 building was designed to replace several small, aging elementary schools with one larger facility that accommodates small learning communities and future education changes through its unique modular design.