The Out-of-Door Academy Begins Construction on New Specials Studio at Clark Road Campus
Purpose-built learning spaces will expand opportunities for creativity, exploration, and joyful learning for Lower School students
SARASOTA, Fla. – September 2026 – Construction is underway on a new Specials Studio at The Out-of-Door Academy’s Lower School on Clark Road, transforming an existing campus building into purpose-built learning environments designed to support art, STEM, Spanish, music, library, and technology education.
The project, anticipated for completion in early 2027, was made possible in large part through a generous lead gift from an anonymous Clark Road family. Their contribution provided the momentum to move the project forward and inspired additional support from other Clark Road families.
“Philanthropy has the extraordinary ability to turn possibility into opportunity for our students,” said Dr. Deb Otey, Head of School at The Out-of-Door Academy. “We are incredibly grateful to the family whose generosity helped make this project possible, as well as the Clark Road families who joined them in supporting this vision. The Specials Studio is an investment not simply in a building, but in the curiosity, creativity, and potential of every child who will learn within it.”
The Specials Studio reflects ODA’s continued investment in its growing Clark Road campus and its commitment to creating learning environments that are as intentional as the educational experiences they support. Because every Clark Road student participates in specialty programming, the new spaces will become a shared part of the daily Lower School experience.
Building 800 is being reimagined as two flexible learning environments designed around the unique ways young students learn, create, collaborate, and explore. The spaces will feature collaborative gathering areas, integrated instructional technology, dedicated library resources, flexible furnishings, and adaptable teaching spaces to support a wide variety of hands-on learning experiences.
“The Lower School years are filled with moments of discovery—when a child realizes they love creating art, building something with their hands, making music, discovering a favorite book, or communicating in another language,” said Dr. Kelly Rose, Head of the Lower School on Clark Road. “The Specials Studio gives those experiences a home. These spaces are being created specifically for the way our youngest learners explore the world, and I’m excited to see the confidence, creativity, and curiosity that will grow here.”
The Specials Studio comes as ODA continues the strategic growth of its Clark Road campus. The campus currently serves students in Pre-K through Grade 3, providing families in the region with greater access to ODA’s Lower School experience. Grade 4 will be added in the 2027-28 school year, and Grade 5 will round out the entirety of the school in 2028-29.
“Years from now, students may not remember that this building was renovated,” Otey added. “But they will remember the first robot they built, the artwork they were proud to bring home, the book that sparked a lifelong love of reading, or the moment they discovered a talent they didn’t know they had. Those are the experiences this project is ultimately about.”
Construction on the Clark Road Specials Studio is currently underway, with completion anticipated in early 2027.
