National Register of Historic Places

Out of Door School

Sarasota, Sarasota County, Florida
Listed
October 28, 1994
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
94001276

About this property

The Out-of-Door Academy is a college preparatory school in Sarasota, Florida. It serves students in pre-kindergarten through grade 12 on three campuses in the Sarasota area, one on Siesta Key, one off of Clark Road, and one in Lakewood Ranch, the Upper School Uihlein Campus. The Out-of-Door School was established in 1924 by Fanneal Harrison and Catherine Gavin, followers of Belgian progressive education pioneer Ovide Decroly. Classes and free time were spent outside on the school's 20-acre (81,000 m2) campus on Siesta Key. Wooden cabins were used as classrooms during inclement weather and as dormitories. Over time, the classes were held indoors. In 1977, the school was purchased by 120 school families and transformed into a nonprofit organization, renaming it Out-of-Door Academy. The Lakewood Ranch campus was established in 1996. The Uihlein family donated the land that would later become the Upper School campus. Seventh and 8th grades were moved to the new campus in 2000, and in 2008 the campus became known as the Uihlein Campus at Lakewood Ranch. The 6th grade was later moved to the Uihlein Campus in 2012. The Out-of-Door Academy is accredited by the Florida Council of Independent Schools and the Florida Kindergarten Council. The school is a member of the Cum Laude Society, the National Association of Independent Schools, the Council for Spiritual and Ethical Education, and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. The 5-acre Siesta Key Lower School Campus is on the National Register of Historic Places as Out-of-Door School. Located on Siesta Key in Sarasota County, FL, the Lower Campus is located on a barrier island. The 90-acre (360,000 m2) Uihlein Campus, home to the Middle and Upper Schools is located in Lakewood Ranch. In 2017, the School partnered with Mote Marine Laboratory to create a Marine Biology classroom equipped with six oversized aquariums and an interactive touch tank for students. ODA has installed more than 550 solar panels throughout the Historic Siesta Key Campus, one of the biggest solar projects in the region. Siesta Key Campus was renovated between 2008 and 2021, which included construction of a three-story academic building and covered athletic pavilion. The 90-acre (360,000 m2) Uihlein Campus is located at Lakewood Ranch. The Uihlein Campus is home to the Middle and Upper Schools, serving grades 6-12. The Uihlein Campus consists of 12 main buildings which include a performing arts center which houses The Black Box Theater, the Savidge/Bowers Library, two Dart STEM labs, an augmented reality lab, makerspace labs, the Dick Vitale Family Student Center, Petrik Family Commons, in addition to classrooms. Athletics facilities include the Petrik Thunderdome, Gelbman Family Wellness Center, Uihlein Sports Complex, the Dietrich Family Sports Complex and Taylor Emmons Memorial Baseball Field, Malisoff Tennis Center, Thunder Athletic Complex, and Fox Field House.

Location

444 Reid St.
Sarasota, Sarasota County, Florida
27.28607, -82.56026

Categories

ARCHITECTUREEDUCATION
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Revere Quality Institute House
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1.1 mi
Field Estate
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1.3 mi
Bispham-Wilson Historic District
Listed
1.8 mi
Keith, Edson, Estate
Listed
2 mi
Leigh, Charles E., House
Industrial
2.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Out of Door School listed on the National Register?

Out of Door School was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 28, 1994.

What type of historic resource is Out of Door School?

Out of Door School is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Out of Door School?

The period of significance for Out of Door School is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Out of Door School?

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