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 new Ellsworth Dansby Jr. Magnet School houses K-8 students in an environment that revolves around student-focused learning with the incorporation of flexible and collaborative work spaces to encourage students to work in small groups.
The new K-8 school features a commons area with a stage for presentations and events, along with a media commons in the core of the school. Students enjoy colorful “portals” to represent different environments within the school, as well as creative makerspaces for a hands-on education.
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.
The new Herscher Intermediate School is set to transform daily life for students, families, and the entire community. Outdated intermediate and underutilized high school spaces are being updated by a single, purpose-built facility—bringing everyone together under one roof for a safer and more connected experience.