How can high schools inspire pride and foster belonging? For the Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township, the answer is a bold transformation of Lawrence North and Lawrence Central High Schools. These redesigned spaces reflect the stories, achievements, and spirit of their communities, bringing pride and purpose to every student’s journey.

Under the visionary leadership of Superintendent Dr. Shawn Smith, this initiative celebrates diversity, fosters connection, and honors each student’s potential. Schmidt Associates is proud to have partnered with the district to turn this vision into reality.

A Vision of Belonging and Pride

Guided by Dr. Smith’s belief—“Every child has a gift… What are we going to do to help them realize it?”—these schools are designed to foster a deep sense of belonging and pride in every student.

Reflecting the district’s mission to prepare all students for a diverse world, the redesign focuses on eliminating barriers and creating opportunities for every student to thrive. This vision shaped every aspect of the transformation, from crafting innovative spaces to honoring the schools’ rich histories. The result is an environment where students feel represented, inspired, and empowered to contribute to their schools’ ongoing legacy.

Legacy Walls

The centerpiece of this transformation, the Legacy Walls, celebrates decades of history through vibrant, era-specific panels. These displays highlight athletic triumphs, academic excellence, performing arts highlights, and cultural milestones. Captions combine pop culture references with school and community achievements, creating a rich tapestry of the schools’ legacies. Photos and yearbook resources were provided through the diligent efforts of the Indianapolis Public Library digital projects team, ensuring the inclusion of meaningful archival content.

The Legacy Walls make a lasting impact by:

• Highlighting achievements in academics, athletics, and the arts.
• Reflecting diversity to ensure every student feels represented.
• Encouraging reflection and connection for students, staff, alumni, and visitors.
• Blending past and present to motivate future generations.

With bold headers and school colors set against a sleek, durable backdrop, the Legacy Walls are built to inspire and endure. More than just displays, they connect students, alumni, and visitors to the stories that have shaped their schools, fostering reflection and pride.

To ensure these stories remain relevant for future generations, the design serves as a living, ongoing document with space allocated for continuation, allowing future decades to be highlighted. This ensures the Legacy Walls evolve alongside the school, preserving its history while celebrating its ongoing growth and achievements.

A Personal Connection

The Legacy Walls resonate deeply with the community. For Anna Marie Burrell, Principal-In-Charge at Schmidt Associates and a proud Lawrence North alumna, these displays are personal: “Seeing the stories and faces of familiar friends and neighbors from my childhood in Lawrence on the Legacy Wall is a profound reminder of the impact these schools have had on generations of students. It’s an honor to contribute to a project that celebrates our shared history while inspiring today’s students to build their own legacies.”

Designing for Excellence and Equity

The redesign balances honoring history with fostering growth, celebrating the community’s legacy while creating opportunities for every student to thrive. Key updates include:

• Plaques showcasing valedictorians and salutatorians that permanently etch students’ achievements into history, inspiring excellence.
• Modern, efficient spaces replacing outdated sections.
• Flexible, collaborative classroom wings designed to adapt to evolving educational needs.
• Vertically aligned administration offices that seamlessly connect educational spaces.
• Phased construction to ensure uninterrupted learning throughout the transformation.

By focusing on equity and innovation, the redesign creates a vibrant environment that inspires pride, belonging, and possibility.

A Collaborative Effort

This ambitious project united district leadership, community input, and design expertise. Stunning visuals produced by Repro Graphics and designs led by Schmidt Associates’ Asia Coffee brought the vision to life. Reflecting on the project, Coffee shared: “It was heartening to watch people’s eyes light up as they saw themselves reflected in the school’s history. This project reminded me of my own high school experience and how impactful it would have been to have something like this. It was a privilege to help bring this vision to life.”

Honoring a Transformative Vision

The Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township has set a powerful example of how thoughtful design can honor the past, embrace the present, and inspire the future. Under visionary leadership, Lawrence North and Lawrence Central High Schools now empower students to feel connected and celebrated.

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