A New Era of Athletics and Arts at Osceola Middle School

After a 2023 structural evaluation determined that Osceola Middle School’s historic 1937 gymnasium was no longer safe for use, Marion County Public Schools moved quickly to plan for a replacement. Walker Architects partnered with the district to provide study, design, and contract administration services for a new facility that supports student life, wellness, and daily campus operations.

The new gymnasium was designed to serve a wide range of school activities. Along with the main court and locker rooms, the building includes ticketing and concessions, staff offices, a multi-purpose room, a first aid room, and generous storage. It also supports the school’s arts curriculum with a dedicated band practice room and specialized storage for instruments, uniforms, and sheet music.

Working closely with school stakeholders, the design team studied student circulation, bus traffic, and day-to-day operations to make sure the new building works well for the entire campus. The goal was to create a versatile, cost-effective facility that meets current needs while fitting comfortably within the character of Osceola Middle School’s historic campus.

As Ivonne Bumbach, Director of Facilities for Marion County Public Schools, shared, the project “showcases [Walker Architects'] ability to merge functionality with aesthetic appeal.” She added, “The gymnasium is not only a dynamic and welcoming space for students but also a testament to Walker Architects' forward-thinking approach.”

With simplicity and elegance in mind, the Exactech Garage merges classic, rectilinear forms with sleek, high-tech metal accents to create a balanced composition that frames the Exactech signature emblem. 

 The result is a construct that extends a gentile and warm welcome to the Exactech complex while satisfying the need for secure storage of over 560 vehicles on four levels.

The new Exactech Parking Garage was completed as Phase I of a multi-phase expansion of the Exactech campus in Gainesville. Walker Architects provided master planning for the Exactech campus in Gainesville focused on optimizing interaction between staff departments and work flows.