Anyone who has driven past Southport High School recently has noticed that construction is officially underway.

The work marks the beginning of a campus transformation that will reshape Southport High School over the next several years. As part of Perry Township Schools' $175 million capital improvement initiative, approximately $75.8 million has been dedicated to improvements at Southport.

While many people have noticed the new building taking shape east of the school, that project is just one part of a much larger vision.

A New Student Activity Center

The first phase of construction includes a new Student Activity Center that will become one of the premier athletic facilities in central Indiana.

The facility is planned to include:

  • Four basketball courts
  • A four-lane indoor walking and running track
  • A new wrestling room
  • A new weight room

It is important to note that this facility is not replacing Southport's historic Fieldhouse.

The Historic Southport Fieldhouse, one of Indiana's most recognizable high school basketball venues, will remain the home of Cardinal basketball while also receiving improvements as part of the overall project. The new Student Activity Center will be built adjacent to the historic gym, giving Southport expanded space for practices, physical education classes, offseason training, camps and community events.

Together, the two facilities will create an athletic complex unlike anything Southport has had before.

Improvements Across Campus

Although the new Student Activity Center has received the most attention, the project extends far beyond athletics.

Plans also include:

  • Renovated locker rooms and adjacent athletic spaces
  • A new academic classroom wing on the north side of the building
  • Expanded Career and Technical Education (CTE) facilities with a dedicated public entrance
  • Renovated Family and Consumer Science classrooms
  • Improvements to existing instructional spaces
  • Performing arts facility upgrades
  • A dedicated outdoor marching band practice area

The campus itself will also function differently once construction is complete. New parking areas and redesigned traffic patterns are intended to improve circulation for students, staff and visitors during the school day and at evening events.

Additional work includes roof repairs, fire alarm replacement and other infrastructure improvements that will modernize the nearly century-old campus.

Looking Toward 2028

Construction of a project this size will take time, and portions of campus will continue to change as each phase progresses. The district currently expects the work to be completed before the start of the 2028-29 school year.

When finished, Southport High School will offer expanded academic opportunities, enhanced career education spaces, modern athletic training facilities, updated performing arts spaces and improvements designed to serve students for decades to come.

For current students, many of these changes will become part of their daily experience before they graduate. For future Cardinals, they will simply become part of what it means to attend Southport High School.

Readers interested in exploring the project in greater detail, including renderings, cost estimates and planning documents, can visit the official Perry Township Schools Facility Improvement Projects page

As construction continues, Cardinal Sports Network will provide updates as new milestones are reached and additional information becomes available.