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.
Through a $100 million bond referendum, the Edwardsville School District can provide 21st century learning environments throughout their facilities.
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.
The Central Transportation Facility, located on an 8.9-acre site in Kinloch, Missouri, was one of three transportation facilities owned and operated by the Special School District of St. Louis County.