Adaptive Reuse: The Summit Center

Adaptive Reuse is a relatively popular category for the Rural Resurrection website. If done right, an adaptive reuse project can be a profitable venture for those involved. But if done right, it can also become a visual centerpiece for your community, drawing others in. This includes school buildings, many of which have great architectural character, but need a new use to survive.

RAGBRAI 25 was quite the ride. Not only did I get out from behind the wheel and ride my first full day, but I also checked out a few locations I had been eyeing since the route was announced. One of those turned out to be the most impactful stop along the route…at least from a Rural Resurrection point of view. This was the Summit Center in Bancroft.

History of Bancroft and the Summit Center

The town of Bancroft, Iowa, was first surveyed in the fall of 1881. It emerged relatively quickly as an important agricultural and railway hub for the area. Bancroft was named after George Bancroft, the American historian and statesman, reflecting the town founders’ respect for learning and civic life. By the early 1900s, Bancroft had become a vibrant hub, boasting shops, schools, and churches that anchored community life in the early 20th century. The Catholic Parish of St. John, in particular, has long been a central institution, shaping the spiritual and cultural heartbeat of the town.

Bancroft’s population peaked in the 1970s at just over 1,100, but it has dropped somewhat since then. Yet the real estate market in town remains strong, with some pointing to the change in household size as the culprit. It’s an aspect that many communities have witnessed as the average family size has slid over the years.

“We’ve kept the business community on Main Street. You can still get groceries, still get gas, get your car fixed, and go to a restaurant. We’ve worked hard to keep the business community alive since the 80s,” states Ellengray Kennedy. “We didn’t give up in the 1980s when they said we were going to die.”

The St. John School was originally constructed in the mid-1930s. With expanding enrollment, the school added a cafeteria and the two-story east wing (now called the Parish Center) in the 1950s. For decades, the building provided foundational education for grades 1-12. until it eventually closed in 2011.

New Businesses Anchoring the Building

Since the school’s closure, community leaders have sought ways to reuse this stately old structure. Through a flexible plan for adaptive reuse, they envisioned the Summit Center serving many purposes under one roof. In the Summit Center, the residents of Bancroft have created an anchor for numerous kinds of community activities.

As you enter the Summit Center from the northwest entrance, you will see Saintly Treasures to the right. This thrift store sells gently used clothing, books, baby items, small furniture, and a variety of other items. Saintly Treasures donates 100% of its proceeds to the Bancroft Community Foundation which are primarily used for activities at the Summit Center.

Further down this hallway is the KidsStop wing. This highly regarded childcare center occupies five classrooms. Don’t delay in signing your kid up; this DHS-licensed childcare has a wait list!

A Flexible Event Space

The main draw of the facility so far is the renovated multi-use auditorium. In addition to providing indoor recreational facilities for the community, it also hosts a variety of gatherings. It’s a great, affordable venue for wedding receptions, banquets, and other events.

Due to damage to the aging structure, the east wall of the auditorium had to be rebuilt. This created an ideal time to incorporate large glass doors that open to an outdoor space between the east wing and the west wing of the structure. It’s an ideal space for a future courtyard area.

Across the hallway from the auditorium is the Gathering Room. A flexible space which serves many uses, from small group meetings to serving as a dressing room for bridal parties. There’s also a set of renovated bathrooms nearby that look nothing like those you typically find in a school building.

Nearby is the school’s old cafeteria. But there’s nothing “old” about this cafeteria. The dining area has been renovated with a more welcoming appearance, including an acoustic cloud ceiling and flexibly zoned lighting. The kitchen itself has been updated and rebuilt with new commercial-grade equipment throughout.

Future Aspirations

The next step in this massive undertaking involves the second floor. “Phase III” plans call for the conversion of the former classrooms on the second floor into eight live/work/play loft spaces. Each loft will feature unique features like lofted ceilings and gorgeous refinished woodwork, floors, and built-in storage. Although each space will have a kitchen and a restroom, the buildout will be fully flexible, allowing for use as an office or any other use that fits well within the space.

“The goal is the creation of spaces that are usable and flexible for the next 50-75 years.”

Those involved in the resurrection of this former school are also planning improvements to the outdoor spaces adjoining the auditorium. This flexible, well-landscaped environment will be a welcoming courtyard for everyone who lives at or visits the Summit Center. With doors from the auditorium providing a transition from the indoor event space to the outdoor courtyard, the event center meets a wide variety of event-related needs. “That’ll be the frosting on the cake,” says Ellengray.

How You Can Help: Donate to the Summit Center

The rebirth of the Summit Center didn’t happen overnight, and its future depends on steady support from people who believe in it. Additional funding is needed to keep the center going and to complete Phase III. Project leaders are looking at some state and federal grants other funding sources that they think they have a good chance of getting. “When they just see how much local support there’s been in the past, our consultant and grant writer is very comfortable with our chances,” remarks Ellengray.

Although they have some promising funding routes, additional assistance is always greatly appreciated and essential to completing the capital stack of funding. If you’d like to contribute, reach out to the Summit Center management team through their Facebook page to learn about donation opportunities, sponsorships, naming opportunities or memorial gifts. Whether it’s a one-time gift, a recurring contribution, or even volunteering your time, your support keeps projects like this alive.

The Summit Center is funded through the Bancroft Community Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit foundation committed to the revitalization of the Summit Center into a multi-use facility for the community. To the right is a QR code to the donation website page for more information.

Adaptive reuse only works when the community invests, not just financially, but emotionally, in the future of these shared spaces.

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Have you seen a building in your community reborn like Bancroft’s Summit Center? We’d love to hear your story. Tell us about it in the comments section or drop a line on the Contact Us page.