The new Olathe Public Schools Innovation Campus is a centralized campus that empowers students to engage in authentic, hands-on learning alongside industry professionals. Our design transforms a vacant call center into a dynamic hub for career and technical education that blurs the line between school and workplace. Locating the center along the I-35 corridor in Kansas enhances industry partnerships and streamlines access to real-world career pathways. Flexible lab environments support a broad spectrum of programs consolidated from multiple high schools within the district, while shared commons, conferencing spaces, and a student-run restaurant and coffee shop invite public interaction.

The campus supports specialized programs including culinary arts, health science, animal science, avionics and electronics technology, and adult transition services. A commercial kitchen, student-run restaurant, and public-facing coffee shop support culinary training, while new construction and electronics labs offer flexible environments for hands-on learning. An addition that houses the district’s new Operations Service Center creates a living lab where students in the construction pathway contribute directly to the maintenance and service of facilities district-wide. Other offerings include special education programs for adults aged 18 – 21, the district’s mental health services, and professional development spaces. Shared spaces and conference rooms are designed to host job fairs, interviews, and direct engagement with industry partners.