Co-location of Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired and Indiana School for the Deaf
Co-location of Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired and Indiana School for the Deaf
In 1847 the General Assembly established the Indiana School
for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ISBVI), which was initially located downtown and in 1930 relocated to its present College Avenue site where multiple services for the Blind and visually impaired community across the state continue to be provided. These services include both a residential program and a day school.
Additional information is available here: https://www.in.gov/isbvi/
The Indiana School for the Deaf (ISD) was founded in 1843 and originally named after its founder, William Willard. After only three years in operation, the Indiana School for the Deaf (ISD) became the first Deaf school to provide free education to Deaf and hard-of-hearing
students. Prior to the current campus, built on East 42nd Street in 1911, the facility had occupied several sites. ISD serves the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community via programming for students ranging from 3 to 22 years old.
More information is available here: https://www.deafhoosiers.com/
In spring 2022, the State of Indiana announced that ISD would vacate its current East 42nd Street site to co-locate with ISBVI at the College Avenue campus. The Indiana Department of Administration Division of Public Works will deliver this project. The design team has since
been formally selected and the planning phase is underway. Construction is tentatively
scheduled to start in the summer of 2024. During that time, ISBVI operations will be temporarily relocated.
A multi-tiered design and construction phasing is in progress for the Co-Location campus to blend a mix of new structures with historic ones. Current activities on-site include selective demolition of existing structures and utility work. Additional updates will be provided as available.
Redevelopment of the existing 67-acre parcel will include both new construction and
renovations to several historic structures. The schools will continue to operate
independently while sharing facilities to enhance each institution’s program offerings,
promoting a cohesive and innovative campus. Iconic elements indicative of each school’s
traditions will be incorporated throughout the site.
Any questions can be submitted to capitalprojects@idoa.in.gov.
Please reference "co-location inquiry" in your message subject line.
Please reach us at capitalprojects@idoa.in.gov if you cannot find an answer to your question.
Thank you for your inquiry. Currently, the future of the Indiana Deaf School campus has not been determined. Planning discussions are still ongoing. We will provide updates as more information becomes available.
Yes, updates will be provided directly by each school administration.
Late Summer 2024
Grass
In the current design football/track will have lights. The baseball and softball fields will not.
Total sqft of the co-located campus is less than the current total of both school's sqft combined. This is because there is efficiency in shared items like campus-wide services such as maintenance areas and utilities.
The tactile physical model will continue to be updated as design progresses and will be brought to any future town halls.
Many alternative locations were studied for cost and feasibility including both existing school locations. All of these studies lead to the decision by ISBVI, ISD, and IDOA to use the existing ISBVI campus.
The Design Team has met with ISD leadership, staff, and teachers over the last 3 years to review athletic teams, practices, competition schedules, and educational programs. The campus wide athletic buildings and sports fields have been designed with all of this information in mind.
Under the current design, a parking garage is no longer needed. All parking is accommodated through surface parking
Located on a mature and historic site at 75th Street and College Avenue in Indianapolis, Indiana, the Co-Location Campus promotes a one-campus mentality for students from both the Indiana School for the Deaf & Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired while maintaining and respecting their two unique and historic identities.
With such a unique site, we strived to enhance and celebrate a wonderous and natural landscape that maximizes student safety, joy, and discovery. We sought to restore and modernize historic structures to foster a world-class educational model that develops the unique needs and strengths of its students. And complement those historic structures with new state-of-the-art facilities that respectfully respond to the rich context while being designed of our time.
The rolling, forested site with its bluff overlooking Williams Creek is an idyllic place for a school and residential campus. Most buildings are designed with specific entries and spaces for each school.
• The existing signature Administration Building, with its Bell Tower and adjoining wings, will be renovated and repurposed as the new Campus Center.
• In the true spirit of collaboration, a new Academic Building will be constructed accommodating both schools as a centerpiece of the main Academic Quadrangle just north of the historic Administration Building.
• Similarly, a new Residence Hall will be constructed for both schools in the quiet northeast corner of the site.
• A new Fieldhouse will be constructed that will include two high school gymnasiums. The existing Natatorium structure will be converted into the new Dining Hall.
Overview
- Owner = IDOA
- Two user groups
- Campus will serve ages 18 months–22 years.
- Design team includes 150 people currently.
- Full team listing available upon request.
Academic Quadrangle