Community: City of Farmington Hills
Population: Over 12,001
In 2018, the City of Farmington Hills purchased Harrison High School from the Farmington Public Schools for $500,000. The City identified the shuttered, former school as an opportunity to preserve and build upon a facility that was constructed and maintained with millions of tax payer dollars over its 50 year existence.
The City has invested about $25 million into repurposing the former school into the Farmington Hills Community Center – The Hawk, taking out a municipal bond to fund the project. The project focused on three main goals: maintain the existing amenities in the school that the community valued, build new amenities not currently available in the community, and preserve the legacy of Harrison High School.
In June 2021, The Hawk officially opened to the public. This innovative 245,000 square foot community center and 45-acre park now provides a hub for residents and guests to enjoy visual and performing arts, aquatics, fitness, and athletics along with many other recreational services, programs and events.
Replicability:
The Hawk can be replicated by other communities that work cooperatively with local and regional governments, businesses, and school districts. It is about identifying unique opportunities within your communities and beginning the conversation: How can we better serve or help people in our community?
The City of Farmington Hills is consistently seeking feedback from our residents and businesses. We engaged with both to discuss and determine the effectiveness and suitability of this, such a large project, how to ensure the positive effect of the project on ALL of our residents and to determine the readiness of our municipality for such an undertaking.
The same process can easily be replicated in other communities.
Creativity and Originality:
The project was unique in that it repurposed existing features to create new facilities, such as converting the high school band room into a new community black box theatre and creating a fitness center near the gymnasium, complete with group exercise rooms and a large dance studio.
The Hawk is unique in the diversity of programs and activities it offers, all housed under one roof. It includes a Makerspace (funded in large part by a grant from BOSCH), which is a unique place for hands-on learning. We work with our participants to foster a culture of community by way of shared resources, shared knowledge, shared experiences, and shared responsibility. Whether users are a hobbyist or an entrepreneur, the Hawk Makerspace has something for everyone, at all levels of comfort and experience.
Many civic and community organizations assisted in planning and supporting the overall project. For example, the Farmington Area Arts Commission (which supports the City with actions to ensure the arts and cultural heritage are integral components of daily life in Farmington Hills) developed the concept of a “scrapture”. During the construction process, several sizes of steel beams (scrap steel) were recycled from the demolished material and will serve as the principal design and components for The Hawk Tree Sculpture which will stand 21’ tall outside the main theatre entrance.
Community Impact:
The City of Farmington Hills Department of Special Services takes pride in offering programs, parks, services and events for all ages, interests, and abilities. At The Hawk, everyone is welcome to participate, at their own comfort level. In addition, the City grants financial aid to well over 300 families each year with its Scholarship Program.
The repurposing of a closed, local high school demonstrates the City’s dedication to the physical, emotional, educational, and social well-being of EVERY resident and guest. Furthermore, it accentuates the City’s commitment to serving the local community and beyond.
