New Ames High School

History of the Ames High Project

On June 3, 2019, members of the school board and district administrative staff took a moment to celebrate years of design at the official “groundbreaking ceremony” for the next Ames High School. Just over a year since the Ames community approved a bond referendum for the building, the moment marked the end of design and the beginning of what will be a 3-year construction project to build the next Ames High School.

From June 2019 to June 2020, construction focused on the southern part of the project with site work and establishing the geothermal wells. The following spring, a portion of the new parking was installed in preparation for Phase 2.

The primary building structure was constructed from June 2020 to June 2022. This also included restructuring the stadium entrance and demolition of the pool in the spring of 2022. Once the pool is demolished, Phase 3 established the west side of the building with paving and site work. With the building substantially complete in the summer of 2022, select items from the current building were moved to the new high school in preparation for opening.

Phase 4 will decommission and take down the current high school building. Most of the materials will be either sold, reused, or recycled, which is consistent with other construction projects in the Ames District. Once the snow melts in the spring of 2023, the site where the current building sets can be restored. Athletic fields will be installed, as will some of the other academic amenities on the west side of the building that include the outdoor classroom, science discovery area, and greenhouse.

The new Ames High School is set to open in August 2022 with the entire project being completed in September 2023.

November 2021 – Inside Look at the new Ames High

October 2020 – Project Walk Through

Ames High Construction Project Walk Through – Part I

Project Walk Through – Part II

May 2019 – Phases of Construction Released

Phases of the new Ames High School Construction were released.

September 2018 – Public Forum

The general public got an in-depth look at the new Ames High School.

Public Forum Project Summary Presentation

August 2018 – First Look

This is a “first look” at the location of the future of Ames High. Images reflect the work done by OPN Architects during the schematic design phase of development.

April 2018

Ames bond referendum for a new high school is approved by Ames voters with a 84.77% yes vote.

May 2017 – Phase 1 Study

Ames-based Haila Architecture completed a Phase I Study to evaluate the existing high school building and to consider options for renovation/additions or new building construction.  The resulting report (listed below) includes an assessment of the condition of the existing building; high level conceptual programming; conceptual building and site layouts for renovation/additions or new building construction; and consideration for phasing, cost, and schedule for renovation/additions or new building construction.

The Board of Directors for the Ames Community School District in response to High School Phase I Study, Report, and community input, has determined that the current High School facility including the swimming pool is inadequate to offer the educational program of the District. To address these needs, the Board of Directors plans to prepare a Bond Referendum for community vote in April 2018 to fund a new High School building. 

Previous Phase 1 Summary Documents
Task 1 – Assessment of Existing Building and Site
Task 2 – Programming
Task 3 – Building and Site Conceptual Design
Task 4 – Cost Opinion and Schedule