College Community School District
OPN Architects
Recognitions:
K-12 Projects 2022
Project Description
In 2014, after more than two decades of partnering with the College Community School District on the execution of the long-term campus plan drafted by OPN in the mid-1990s, the firm and the district returned to the drawing board to revisit the 20-year-old master plan.
To launch the facilities review and long-term planning process, the district, with OPN’s assistance, convened a facilities committee made up of staff and community members to work through the process of discovery, exploration, and consensus building around the needs of the district’s facilities and campus. Once a preferred plan was determined, OPN assisted the district’s bond campaign with renderings, graphics, boards, postcards, website content, and attending meetings.
Following the successful referendum, OPN began working with the district to finalize the phased implementation of the plan and begin design development for the projects. The first to be undertaken was the transformation of the 60-year-old high school into a student-based learning center with collaboration spaces; teacher centers, maximized classroom utilization; open commons spaces; new scatter-style cafeteria and serving area; outdoor plaza area; improved fine arts and science classrooms.
This first phase also includes new tennis courts. The second phase addresses safety and security at the district’s three oldest elementary schools as well as a new Early Childhood Center. All of these projects were phased from 2019 to 2022
In March 2020, with OPN’s support the district successfully passed another $54 million bond for a new 5/6 building, which is under construction, as well as significant renovations to Prairie Creek, currently in design, in preparation for ninth grade and district programs.
In addition to those projects, OPN also recently completed a new agricultural building for the district and is currently working on renovations and an expansion to the Early Childhood Center.