Homestead High School

Portrait of a Graduate

Fort Wayne, Indiana

An outdated building did not meet the needs of modern learners, given the district’s goals and its mission-focused “Portrait of a Graduate”. Nearly 730,000 square feet of construction will be divided equally between new and improved space, although, when complete, the entire building will appear new. The new Homestead will include clusters of classrooms that support interdisciplinary teaching and flexible spaces encouraging students to collaborate and grow into critical thinkers.

Key building elements include a 1,000-seat auditorium, a black-box theater, a 3,000-seat competition gymnasium, a dynamic media center, as well as the art, music, PE, support, and core learning spaces needed to empower twenty-first-century students. A daylit student commons will organize the building elements and become a center for collaboration.

Multiple stakeholders have been involved throughout the design process, including staff, students, and local community partners. While aesthetics are important, the proposed design prioritizes safety and the needs of our students and staff, both inside and outside the school.