growing in community
Upon making the decision in 2016 to move its campus 12 miles away, in the growing community of Dyer, Indiana, Illiana Christian High school (ICHS) needed a partner capable of seeing the big picture and executing it. AMDG developed a master plan that included a phased approach to design and construction. Phase I focused on getting the school functionally up and running. Phase II would be about fully realizing the vision of building Christian community and completing a range of co-curricular learning spaces.
Flexibility was at the heart of the plan, which itself was revised in 2022 when the team began the phase II process. With nearly all the phase I stakeholders in place, the new plan would be informed by the previous phase experiences as well as real-world learnings of how the current space functioned. Flow was a key consideration. To free up the school’s one central hallway, the new plan incorporated multiple circulation arteries for the growing number of students. The plan also called for vocational classrooms, maker spaces, a dedicated band room, choral room, and auditorium (as a part of a future phase III).
Along with several practical considerations, phase II was informed by a series of design principles. At the top of the list was for the new campus to create a community hub, transforming the school from a functional learning environment to a place that actively encourages students, faculty, and parents to gather and connect. Design capable of shifting and standing the test of time was another essential, followed by reinforcing the school vision of developing a passion for God, people, and the world. And the final design principle was to create an environment that is welcoming to all learners, engaging a diverse range of students each at their level.
In many ways the design process was a chance to ask the big questions and rethink the role of Christian education in the 21st century. With AMDG helping to facilitate the discussion, design of the school was informed not simply by architectural concepts but also by mission-driven building blocks. The net result? A school that draws young people into community and deepens their connection to the faith.
getting to the why
The opportunity to start over and build a school in a new community is exceedingly rare. For the ICHS leadership team it was a chance to ask fundamental questions. For example, how can design help a broad range of kids flourish as students and grow as people? And how can spaces encourage Christian fellowship?
an expanded curriculum
Included in phase II of the design/build process, vocational and maker spaces expanded the school’s curriculum beyond its initial course offerings
forming a flexible plan
Growth was always part of the plan for ICHS. Working from AMDG’s master plan, many of the school’s spaces needed to function optimally in the short term while allowing for change in the years to follow. For example, the school’s shared band/choral space (phase I) would eventually serve as home for the school’s wrestling team (phase II). With second phase complete, both the band and choir now have their own dedicated spaces.
