Hamilton Southeastern Schools had a decision to make just a few years ago: sell the aging Fishers Elementary School property and build elsewhere, or preserve one of the community’s most historic school sites through a major renovation and expansion.
District leaders chose to stay, and Thursday evening they celebrated that decision by cutting the ribbon on a transformed Fishers Elementary School at 11442 Lantern Road.
The three-year, $45 million project nearly doubles the size of one of the district’s oldest schools while preserving a piece of Fishers history. The project expanded the building to more than 107,000 square feet, increased the number of classrooms from 28 to 36, and retained about 23 percent of the original structure, primarily the gymnasium area, which was extensively renovated.
“This project honors the history of Fishers Elementary while giving our students and staff a school designed for how they learn and work today,” Principal Dr. Emily Supergan told those attending the ceremony. “Our school community showed tremendous flexibility throughout construction, and it is rewarding to see everyone enjoying these new spaces.”
Superintendent Dr. Matt Kegley said the site has served students for well over a century. Public education has existed on the property since the late 1800s, with the original Fishers High School opening there in 1908. The current elementary school first opened in 1958, followed by additions in the 1960s and major renovations in 1990.
“The decision was made to remain on this site and significantly renovate and expand the footprint of the school,” Kegley said. “For all intents and purposes, this is a brand-new learning space of which the entire community and HSE Schools can be proud.”
Rather than relocate students, construction was completed in phases, allowing classes to continue throughout the project. Kegley praised district facilities staff, teachers and administrators for maintaining normal school operations while construction crews worked around them.
The redesigned school incorporates concepts first used at Deer Creek Elementary while adding features tailored specifically for Fishers Elementary. Improvements include flexible learning spaces, a more secure main entrance, expanded parking, separated bus and parent drop-off areas, and enhanced traffic flow designed to improve student safety.
Emily Newton, project manager with CSO Architects, said the project presented unique challenges because of the limited size of the site.
“It was the tightest site we’ve ever had to work on,” Newton said. “This renovation was designed to support everyday movement for students, provide flexibility for teachers, create a welcoming space for families and reflect the community’s investment in its children.”
Max Wurster, chief operating officer of Wurster Construction, said the project overcame early scheduling delays while still delivering the new classroom wing on time in January and completing portions of the gymnasium ahead of schedule.
“This project wasn’t without its challenges,” Wurster said. “But through strong collaboration between the district, the design team and our subcontractors, we were able to deliver a facility that will serve this community for generations.”
For Supergan, who is beginning her first year as Fishers Elementary principal, the evening also carried personal significance. A graduate of Hamilton Southeastern Schools, she told the audience that her sister attended kindergarten at Fishers Elementary.
“Our theme this year is ‘A New Chapter, One Tiger Family,'” she said. “A new chapter doesn’t mean forgetting what came before. It means taking everything that has shaped us and using it to write what comes next.”
Students returned to the renovated school on Aug. 5 for the start of the 2026-27 school year.
