Indian Hill Exempted Village School District looked to create a project that focused on improving overall safety and security, expanding recreational and arts spaces, supporting STEM and project-based learning, and ensuring the success of the school for the next 50+ years.
Primary goals included providing new spaces for unified arts programs, fostering creativity and collaboration, inspiring students and sparking curiosity, appealing to all senses and the whole student, and connecting to nature and the outdoors.
The new addition houses new art studios, state-of-the-art STEM lab, music classrooms, language classrooms, collaboration areas, and a multi-purpose performance and recreation space. The new, flexible, and active learning spaces complement the existing, more standard academic building and are a place where students can explore, interact, and spark their curiosity for learning. Learning spaces open onto a centralized, community commons that supports social interaction and collaboration. Large window openings and access to outdoor areas strengthen the connection to nature and provide increased daylight and views. The Elementary School even achieved the prestigious STEM designation from the state of Ohio as a result of the innovative teaching, learning, and facility upgrades.
Increased natural light, a high-performance building envelope, finishes and furniture with sustainable, green materials greatly improved the health and well-being of the students, faculty, and staff while also achieving the District’s sustainability goals.
The project also includes improvements to the outdoor learning and play spaces and reconfigures entry plazas and parking areas to address issues with security and access as well as with overall traffic flow in and around the campus.
