PIPER HIGH SCHOOL | PIPER USD 203

Location: PIPER Unified School District 203

SIZE: 122,000 SF (New CONSTRUCTION); 104,000 sf (Remodel)

In 2021, iDS worked with Piper Unified School District to complete a long range assessment and facilities plan leading to a bond issue for the following year. During this assessment, several key projects were identified by the community including a new high school building. The challenge posed was to remodel an existing 3-5 elementary building and design an addition to create a cohesive wall-to-wall academy high school – the first of its kind in the state of Kansas.

It became clear early on in the design process that a traditional high school building would not support the academy model the district was moving toward. The iDS design team proposed a lab-based high school where every space is focused around experiential learning. We converted the existing elementary building into learning lab pods to include multiple areas of education such as theater, graphics, media and science labs designed to hold several classes simultaneously. The addition is comprised of a multi-use space where each area is focused around the idea of hands-on learning. The completed project will also include a competition field house, auxiliary gymnasium, locker rooms and music rooms.

iDS created one cohesive design that brings the addition and existing structure together seamlessly. The master plan has been mapped out for the entire building to ensure it will be able to support future growth needs.