The state’s largest school district had a number of unmet facility needs along with a burgeoning enrollment. The district’s superintendent had a grander idea of what to do with the “box.” With five other high schools serving the majority of students through customary means, she proposed a teaching and learning center that would bring together outlying programs and an international baccalaureate high school to serve both nontraditional and exceptional students in a mutually beneficial way. Rounding out the vision, Idaho State University partnered in the redevelopment endeavor creating an educational continuum for high school students, the opportunity for faculty enrichment through collaboration, along with the advantage of sharing classrooms, labs and common space.

The intended consequence is an adaptive reuse completely divergent from the building’s beginning. In a mall-like setting, students are enriched and prepared for the future. High school programs include culinary arts, building technologies, international studies, and dual credit coursework. Jointly shared space with the University, who has the state’s medical arts and science mission, include labs, multimedia classrooms, seminar rooms, media center, cafeteria and student commons. Renaissance students interested in the health sciences and research have the opportunity to use the ISU laboratories and resources while again having the option to obtain duel credit or Associate of Arts degree in General Studies from Idaho State University