Creek’s campus reconstruction project has now entered the programming and concept design stage, where the community contributes ideas for the future campus, so the project leaders can figure out natural areas and building spaces.
The reconstruction project is in partnership with Ratio Design and HCM architects. Ratio Design has created projects as far-flung as Seoul, South Korea, and both firms place an emphasis on their educational designs, both having designed many other K-12 schools as well as colleges and universities across the United States.
Ratio Design architect Jennifer Song-Koeppe serves as the day-to-day manager of Creek’s reconstruction project.
“Per our schedule, February to March is what we call programming and concept design,” Song-Koeppe said. “That’s the first thing we need to figure out. What [will be] in the new school, how big are the spaces, how do they relate to each other, that’s what we would call programming.”
The architects of Creek’s reconstruction believe that student and staff input is vital for a good architectural design that works for every department.
HCM Managing Principal Adele Wilson has contacted and interacted with teachers and other staff members in order to get a good understanding of what they need.
“[Educators and coaches] understand what they need [in terms of] space,” Wilson said. “Our job is to interpret that, and try to lay out a space that will work for what they are trying to do educationally, something that fits in the budget and fits on the site.”
Athletics Director Jason Wilkins is invested in the design of his new department. Among other ideas, he seeks an expansion of the lap pool and a bigger basketball gym, inspired by Indiana high schools.
“Right now we have an eight-lane pool. We’d like to have a bigger deck space,” said Wilkins. “My idea would be to have the gym sunk into the ground, so when you walk in, you’re at ground level, and everything goes down.”
Students are also given the opportunity to have a say in the design of the new campus, through the Principal’s Advisory Committee (PAC), where leaders around campus meet to bring up issues and ideas from different clubs and activities.
Senior Sophia Eison, a member of PAC presented an abundance of ideas in terms of simple amenities and structural elements that the new campus’s architecture could provide.
“I think having natural lighting wakes people up and lifts their mood,” Eison said. “There are some differing viewpoints here, but I honestly think it’s safer to have the four buildings.”
Senior Class Vice President and PAC Member Grayden Robb encourages any student with an idea for the new campus to reach out so that they can get their voice heard.
Even though most current students will graduate before the new campus will be realized, Robb thinks that it is imperative to include the voices of current students. He was impressed with the amplification of student opinions on the part of the design team.
“They have lived all of the good and the bad at Creek. Their voice is [important] to ensure that all of the best aspects of the campus are kept for future students,” Robb said.
As of now, construction is targeted to begin in spring after the 2025-2026 school year, and would begin with the demolition of district administrative buildings on the west side of the campus, in order to facilitate the construction of a new West building. Meanwhile, the school’s other buildings are to remain operational and won’t be torn down until at least 2028 after a mill and bond initiative.
“Because [the architects] are getting the opinion of the people who have lived on the current campus, they can easily point out what things were good about it,” Eison said. “This is their home. This is our work environment. When you go to work every day, this should be somewhere where you feel comfortable and where you can do the best job you can.”
