By CASSANDRA MICKENS / Associate Editor

INDIAN SPRINGS VILLAGE — Modernized classrooms, a new dining hall and a new arts center are among the projects that would benefit from Indian Springs School’s largest effort to raise private money.

More than 300 people gathered in the school’s John Badham Theater April 11 for the public launch of a $20 million capital campaign titled Campaign for Springs Eternal, the largest campaign in the school’s 62-year history. ISS Director Gareth Vaughan said more than 100 alumni, parents of alumni and current parents committed about $15 million, or 75 percent of the fundraising goal, during the campaign’s silent phase from September 2013 to early April 2014. Vaughan asked the Indian Springs community to make a commitment to the campaign, which will continue through 2018.

“It’s incredibly exciting to be able to usher in this next chapter in Indian Springs School history,” Vaughan said. “The passion and dedication that we are witnessing from the ISS community will give our students the tools they need to succeed in an increasingly global world and provide our world-class faculty a state-of-the-art stage on which to shine.”

The campaign is born of the school’s new Campus Master Plan, which identifies the need to replace or modernize aging buildings dating back to 1952. The plan includes removing six classrooms, adding 15 new classrooms, building a new administration building and renovating the library. A new dining hall will feature an outdoor dining area and new appliances, and a new arts center will feature five new art studios, an art gallery and an outdoor art yard at the heart of campus.

Vaughan said classroom construction is slated to being this summer. The arts center and dining hall plans will be finalized by the ISS Board of Governors later this year as fundraising continues. Architecture Works, LLP of Birmingham and Lake|Flato Architects of San Antonio prepared the plan with input from ISS board members, alumni, faculty, staff, students, parents and friends.

“The firms we’ve chosen absolutely recognize the unique character of the school — the new buildings will be beautiful yet modest and part of the natural landscape,” Vaughan said. “We will be honoring the original architecture and respecting our connection to the outdoors.”

For more information about the campaign, visit ISSspringseternal.org.