With growing enrollment and outdated facilities, the Indianola School District was in need of an expansion and renovation of the middle school building. OPN Architects set up interviews with staff and administration, and developed a plan designed to solve immediate and projected future space needs. Administration spaces were relocated to the front of the school to address security and safety concerns, and to accommodate an expansion of the cafeteria and media center. The front offices are centrally located and all visitors are visible while passing through the adjacent corridor.

Growing participation in fine arts prompted the need for an additional wing of classrooms. All fine arts classes have been shifted into a new 83,000-square-foot addition, which allowed for renovation and newly captured space to expand the vocational program areas.

The large field house — comprised of four athletic courts, a three-lane recreational track, a six-lane competition track, a team meeting room, a flexible exercise space, office spaces, and interior concessions — was designed to complement the existing two-court gymnasium. The field house addition was made possible through a generous donation of $1,000,000 from Casey and Abbie Blake. Matching funds were raised by the Indianola Community Youth Foundation.

It is important to note that all phases of the project were implemented without disrupting or removing any students from the building. All construction was planned specifically to accommodate the students and staff throughout the school year.