How disheartening to learn of Columbus City Schools’ abandonment of the proposed use of the National Register-listed Indianola Middle School, 420 E. 19th Ave., as the combined French Academy and Spanish Immersion Schools despite the development of a workable, creative solution developed by a team of esteemed professionals. (Read 9.5.12 Columbus Dispatch article)
In March 2012, Columbus Landmarks Foundation was asked to call together a team of architects and consultants experienced in preservation to explore alternatives on the heels of a failed contract to renovate the building. We heartily agreed in the interest of rescuing this important preservation project that was at risk and protecting the investment already made. An eminently qualified team was assembled and with program requirements in hand for each of the two schools, the team first conducted a walk-through of the building from basement to roof (literally – a few team members nearly got locked out on the roof top!) Next they spent an afternoon conducting a charette, exploring design alternatives and matching program needs with space available for each school – all the while accommodating the schools’ wishes to remain independent of one another within the building. The team explored the pros and cons of housing one versus two schools within the building and determined that indeed, the most cost effective and efficient use of the square footage and real estate was to house both programs in the one building. In the end, a model was constructed, additions designed, color renderings drawn, conceptual plans developed and it was determined that both schools’ needs could be met and within a reasonable budget. >>VIEW HISTORY & PLANS
After a long pause once the charette was completed, we learned of the decision to abandon the project. The $1 million of taxpayers’ funds being thrown away is a travesty, and so too are the wasted hours of donated professionals’ time spent planning, investigating, brainstorming, designing and drawing up conceptual plans. Thank you to our team: George Acock, Charissa Durst, Robert D. Loversidge, Jr., Steve Shinn, and Nathalie Wright. Now what is to become of Indianola Middle School? If you are concerned, please contact the Columbus Board of Education, 270 E. State Street, Columbus, OH 43215, c/o President Carol Perkins ([email protected]) and encourage the Board to work with Columbus Landmarks to seek an alternative use for this Howard Dwight Smith-designed treasure.
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I think it is helpful to separate historic building preservation from appropriate and adequate school buildings for children. I believe in preserving history, but more importantly I believe in modern buildings with state of the art technology available to our children.
Thank you for your comment, Joan. We do not believe that historic preservation and state-of-the-art building amenities are mutually exclusive. We point to the renovated East High School as just one example. East High School is a finalist for this year’s James B. Recchie Award that honors excellence in design & preservation.
I’m from Columbus, but went to school in Bowling Green. I did quite a bit of work at Scott High School in Toledo, an incredible hundred year old building which recently underwent extensive renovation. The finished product is amazing, and serves those students incredibly well, while still preserving historic integrity. I know they also had an uphill battle fighting to “Save our Scott” — might be worth checking in to how they did it. It can be done! I no longer live in Ohio, but I’m sending positive thoughts in your direction!