San Francisco isn't the only city seeing innovative educational spaces come to fruition; over in Ohio, there's a buzz about the newly unveiled Metro@Indianola campus, a transformation of the historic 1929 Indianola Middle School into a cutting-edge, technology-infused hub for learning. Just this week, the Metro School bigwigs teamed up with folks from The Ohio State University and Battelle to slice open that ceremonial ribbon and give the new digs the old college, well, high school cheer, according to OSU news.
Touting it as a beacon of possibility, Ohio State President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. gave a nod to cooperative community spirit, saying through OSU news, “Metro@Indianola is a shining example of what’s possible when partners across the community come together around a shared vision to invest in students and the future of our state,” and he didn't stop there, going on about how this place is all set to pump out a fresh batch of STEM whizzes ready to take on Ohio’s job market; Battelle's CEO Lou Von Thaer chimed in with enthusiasm, talking partnership pride and life-changing opportunities all thanks to the new renovation, which opens the gates for more kids to dive into a STEM education.
It's not just a fresh coat of paint either, the updated building boasts 40 classrooms that can twist and turn to suit just about any educational task, and there's even a community health clinic in the mix. Metro Schools Superintendent Meka Pace, in reflecting on both the site's history and its reconstructed present, noted the symbolic marks of time on the old terrazzo floors, illustrating the many students who've traversed these corridors as they navigated their own educational journeys.
Architectural buffs might get a kick knowing that the structure was originally designed by Howard Dwight Smith, the same brain behind Ohio Stadium, and the refurb was led by none other than Curtis Moody, an OSU alum with his own acclaim this new iteration embeds itself as an emblem of both academic and architectural stature; beyond that, the renovation was funded by some heavy hitters like the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission and, naturally, Battelle, alongside other donors, ensuring that this isn't some flash-in-the-pan project, but rather a steadfast commitment to education.
And it's not Metro's first rodeo either, what with the school first throwing open its doors back in 2006 thanks to a team-up with Ohio State, Battelle, and a smattering of Franklin County school districts. Since then, they've been chalking up wins like a 100% graduation rate and seeing pretty much all their alumni sashay into college. This new campus is set to go the distance, paving the way for an even more diverse and increasing student body come fall, doing more than just echo the footsteps of the past, by crafting new paths for those yet to come.
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