Indian Hill Bond Levy

When Indian Hill Exempted Village School District passed its bond levy, the vision extended far beyond replacing aging facilities. The district sought to create learning environments that would support academic excellence, improve campus safety, modernize infrastructure, and position its schools to serve students for decades to come.

Motz Engineering partnered with MSA Design to provide mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, and technology engineering services for the district-wide capital improvement program. The work included the replacement of the middle school, major additions and renovations at the elementary school, infrastructure improvements at the primary school and high school, security upgrades across every campus, and modernization of critical building systems.

The project began with multiple feasibility studies evaluating replacement strategies for more than 25 air handling units, six chillers, four cooling towers, ten boilers, and numerous building control systems. These evaluations allowed the district to compare cost, schedule, and system performance before selecting the approach that best aligned with its long-term facility goals. Once those decisions were made, Motz Engineering developed the construction documents and coordinated equipment pre-purchasing to reduce lead times and maintain the aggressive construction schedule. Equipment procurement strategies helped reduce lead times by as much as half on several major systems.

Beyond mechanical infrastructure, the program included significant technology, life safety, and security improvements throughout the district. Enhanced building access, upgraded fire alarm systems, improved indoor air quality, campus-wide security enhancements, and expanded learning environments all worked together to create safer, more flexible spaces that better support today’s educational experience. Motz Engineering also commissioned the building systems to optimize controls, improve efficiency, and help ensure long-term building performance.

For school districts planning major capital improvements, the most successful projects begin long before construction starts. Feasibility studies, infrastructure planning, equipment procurement strategies, and phased implementation allow districts to make informed investment decisions while reducing schedule risk and controlling costs. When engineering, architecture, construction, and district leadership work collaboratively from the beginning, schools are better positioned to deliver facilities that support student success for generations.

The completed bond program demonstrates how thoughtful engineering and collaborative planning can transform not only individual buildings, but an entire educational campus system while preparing it for future growth and continued academic excellence.