In a bold move to reshape secondary education and improve student outcomes, Elkhart Community Schools (ECS) launched a comprehensive strategic plan that would forever change the educational landscape of Elkhart, Indiana. With the merger of Elkhart Memorial and Elkhart Central High Schools into a single, unified Elkhart High School, ECS set out to create a more effective and forward-thinking learning environment for students in grades 10 through 12. Through this, JPR’s architectural, engineering, and planning expertise helped bring ECS’s ambitious vision to life across multiple phases of development.

Elkhart High School: Phase 1 - Enhancing Core Facilities

JPR led the charge on the first major renovation to the Elkhart Memorial campus — now home to the new Elkhart High School. Phase 1 focused on adapting the facility to support a larger student body and elevate the student experience.

Central to this phase was the expansion and redesign of the school’s main cafeteria and kitchen. JPR transformed the former music area into a state-of-the-art kitchen with production and staging zones to support multiple satellite food service areas across the campus. In tandem, the existing cafeteria was renovated to increase seating capacity and improve service efficiency. Serving lines were reimagined in a food court layout, and a remote café was added to provide students with flexible dining options outside traditional lunch hours.

This phase was a key step in preparing the building for its new role as a dynamic, centralized hub for upper-grade students.

Elkhart High School: Phase 2 - Creating Future-Ready Learning Environments

Building on the success of Phase 1, JPR continued its partnership with ECS in Phase 2 of the high school transformation. This phase addressed the integration of four newly developed academic departments, reflecting updated curricular goals and modern teaching methods.

Faced with limited space and budget constraints, JPR worked closely with ECS staff and the design team to prioritize essential program elements and develop multi-use, adaptable spaces. The team introduced departmental “hubs” to serve as central access points, renovated classrooms and labs, and upgraded HVAC and lighting systems throughout the facility.

Perhaps most notably, the design emphasized informal learning through the creation of student commons. These comfortable, communal spaces provided room for student collaboration, casual meetings, and teacher-student engagement — fostering a more collegiate and inclusive campus environment while making efficient use of available square footage.

Supporting Vocational Education at Elkhart Area Career Center

In alignment with the overall high school campus strategy, JPR also played a pivotal role in the expansion and modernization of the Elkhart Area Career Center (EACC). The merger of the two high schools significantly increased the student and staff populations served by the EACC, demanding a reconfiguration of existing spaces within the same building footprint.

To accommodate this growth, JPR worked alongside the design team to relocate and repurpose classroom and lab spaces, introduce satellite food service areas via a new “bistro” concept, and double the size of cafeteria and food preparation facilities. The design also prioritized student-teacher interaction by incorporating informal lounge areas and charging stations, with water bottle filling stations positioned along major circulation routes to support comfort and usability in these shared spaces.

Additionally, expanded exam room space in the staff clinic addressed the needs of a growing employee base, reinforcing ECS’s commitment to comprehensive student and staff support.

Elevating Accessibility Across the District

Beyond new construction and renovations, ECS partnered with JPR for a district-wide ADA compliance assessment. JPR evaluated restroom facilities across 23 buildings, focusing on critical factors like door clearances, stall layouts, grab bar placement, signage, and sink configurations.

Using precise measurements and industry standards, JPR identified accessibility barriers and proposed targeted modifications to bring facilities into full ADA compliance. The detailed reports included cost estimates for each improvement, empowering ECS to strategically allocate resources and prioritize enhancements. Immersive 360-degree photography provided stakeholders with visual insights into current conditions, facilitating more informed and collaborative planning.

This ADA review became a cornerstone of ECS’s broader accessibility strategy, reinforcing the District’s dedication to creating inclusive, equitable learning environments for all.

Solving Traffic and Safety Challenges

One of the most immediate challenges resulting from the high school merger was a significant increase in campus traffic — twice the students meant twice the cars and buses. ECS turned to JPR to study and redesign the vehicular and pedestrian traffic flow at the newly consolidated high school campus.

JPR’s comprehensive traffic analysis revealed critical inefficiencies and safety concerns, including overlapping vehicle and pedestrian routes and limited separation between buses, student drivers, and parent traffic. These issues not only created confusion and safety risks for the ECS community but also contributed to congestion on the main roads surrounding the campus.

The solution was a new bus parking lot, strategically located on the site of a former softball field. Designed to accommodate up to 68 full-size buses, the new lot effectively segregated bus traffic from cars and pedestrians — streamlining circulation while prioritizing safety. It also reduced congestion on the surrounding roads.

Completed in Fall 2021 after nearly two years of planning and construction, the traffic improvement project exemplified how thoughtful infrastructure design can directly impact student well-being and campus functionality.

As part of the same strategic plan, JPR was also tasked with reconfiguring bus access to the fuel tanks — efforts that included relocating and updating ECS’s aging fuel center. JPR’s site design team coordinated closely with school personnel across multiple departments to plan the relocation of fuel tanks and the removal of outdated structures. They also facilitated test runs with bus drivers and maintenance staff to fine-tune new gate and kiosk systems.

Thanks to this work, buses now have a dedicated entrance and exit on Kent Street, completely separate from student drop-off traffic. They also benefit from convenient access to the new, modern fueling center equipped with above-ground tanks. To complete the transition, JPR’s environmental team also oversaw the safe removal of four outdated underground storage tanks, ensuring full regulatory compliance and environmental responsibility.

A Vision Realized Through Partnership

The collaboration between ECS and JPR stands as a model of how thoughtful design and strategic planning can create enduring improvements in public education. From traffic flow and cafeteria design to career readiness and accessibility, each project phase reflected a shared commitment to safety, innovation, and student-centered learning.

As ECS continues to adapt and grow, JPR remains a trusted partner, helping to shape educational environments that serve both today’s needs and tomorrow’s opportunities.

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