As the Iowa City Community School District grappled with the challenges of rapid enrollment growth, aging facilities, equity concerns, and a desire for future-focused learning environments, they turned to the BLDD/Unicom•ARC team. The mission: conduct a comprehensive community engagement planning process to shape a long-term facilities master plan.
The resulting "ONE VISION" facilities master planning process brought the community together to create a transformative 10-year roadmap. This plan will serve as the district's guiding light for facilities decision-making, shaping a brighter future for generations of students.
The district faced a myriad of challenges that threatened to impede progress. With 27 facilities spread across 5 competitive communities, aging infrastructures cried out for renewal. Decades of mistrust stemming from past planning missteps hung over the community, fueling high expectations for change. At the same time, rapid enrollment growth strained already inequitable facilities, while safety concerns loomed large. Amidst this complex landscape, the need for a unifying, future-focused plan had never been more urgent.
The collaborative planning process laid the foundation for a resoundingly successful $200 million bond referendum, securing vital funds for the district's future."
A citizens’ led community engagement planning process was undertaken. Citizens brainstormed three different “big picture” approaches: consider expanding existing facilities; consider reconfiguring existing grade level configurations, and consider changing the existing mix of elementary, junior high, and high school facilities.
Examples of proposed solutions:
- Future-focused upgrades and security upgrades to all facilities
- Various combinations of new elementary and junior high facilities and retired elementary facilities
- Historic renovations of elementary facilities
- Change high school configurations
- Build third high school
- Build additions to existing high schools
- Build additions and move 9th grade to middle schools, make high schools 10-12
All approaches were modeled using our cost-benefit analysis software (QLEO) to determine the best plan for moving forward.
Founded in 1846, the City of St. Charles School District has been a cornerstone of the community, contributing significantly to the city’s rich history. As the district prepared to renew an upcoming proposition, it recognized the necessity of developing a comprehensive long-range facilities master plan to ensure the prudent allocation of district funds.
In January 2019, Mehlville School District embarked on an ambitious journey to reimagine its facilities for the next generation of learners. What began as a grassroots effort to assess facility needs has transformed into a $35 million comprehensive campus improvement initiative that touches every school in the district—all without increasing the tax burden on local residents.
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.