Cedar Falls High School

INVISION Architecture

Recognitions: K-12 Projects 2022

Project Description

After evaluation of the potential renovation of existing facilities at the existing Cedar Falls CSD high school, it was determined that a new 1,400-student, 300,000-square-foot replacement high school would best suit the goals of providing 21st century learning environments for students and staff. The district and design team then partnered on a successful year-long campaign to build support in a community-driven bond referendum process. Once finished, the facility will support district initiatives such as providing a professional learning community and student-focused power hour through design of the facility. To better understand the district’s educational model and aspirations for a new and improved high school, our team spent a week cultivating conversation with students, administration and staff, initiating data gathering tools and gaining community input. INVISION used this on-the-ground insight as the basis of the initial planning concepts. Student and staff engagement continued during the year-long design phase through student workshops, virtual feedback sessions, community parent meetings, diverse learner focus groups, and all-staff meetings. The modern programming of the new high school includes a 21st-century media center, innovative career labs, multipurpose auditorium, community commons, athletic venues and collaborative small learning communities, among many other spaces. A conscious focus was made to include specific types of space such as heads-down and small group work along with furniture to foster student engagement and to have multiple levels of unique learning spaces. During design, a direct connection to a centralized “student hub” and courtyard space was implemented by the team. Other unique project features included the placement of a “tech help” desk to improve the student experience and acoustically controlled and technology-rich learning environments. "INVISION guided us through many collaborative conversations, have been adaptive to our needs and continuously focused on enhancing educational opportunities for our students,” said Cedar Falls Superintendent Dr. Andy Patee.