Strada Education Network Moves National Headquarters to Downtown Indianapolis

New offices and convening space overlooking Indy’s Monument Circle serve as an innovation and collaboration hub to advance Strada’s “Completion With a Purpose” mission
November 5, 2018

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INDIANAPOLIS – Strada Education Network® (Strada), a national nonprofit dedicated to strengthening America’s pathways between education and employment, has moved into its new headquarters in downtown Indianapolis.

Now located in the heart of the Circle City at 10 West Market Street in Market Tower, Strada’s new headquarters features offices for its 80 Indy-based employees, as well as convening space to host partners engaged in Strada’s “Completion With a Purpose” mission – helping learners navigate to and through postsecondary pathways and on to meaningful careers and fulfilling lives. An official ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house with Strada Trustees, state and local leaders and community partners is scheduled for Thursday, December 6.

As a social impact organization, Strada is galvanizing a diverse network of partners committed to bridging the divide between education and employment, with a specific focus on serving students from the lowest income quartile and the 95 million Americans who don’t have a degree post high school.

“Network is the most important part of our name – it is the collective relationships, partnerships and solutions across Strada that drive our mission forward,” said William D. Hansen, Strada’s President and CEO. “We designed our new space to enable the vision, collaboration, innovation and transparency that is essential to our work. Proximity to the airport was also a high priority, as was being part of a vibrant and thriving business, civic and cultural center. We are thrilled to call downtown Indianapolis home.”

Positioning “Completion With a Purpose” as its North Star, Strada organizes its work around five areas of activity to help individuals translate their educational experiences into economic opportunity:

  1. Research and Insights, including the “Strada Institute for the Future of Work” think tank and innovation lab, and Strada’s Consumer Insights practice which is establishing the nation’s largest database of consumer insights on educational experiences after high school in partnership with Gallup.
  2. Strategic Philanthropy – Since 2014, Strada has awarded more than $125 million in grants to organizations helping students find the postsecondary path that’s right for them and make purposeful connections between their education and career opportunities. This includes more than $19 million in grants in Indiana and nearly 6,000 local employee volunteer hours.
  3. Mission-Aligned Affiliates provide direct services and enable Strada to accelerate and scale innovative solutions from the ground up including: Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL), College Confidential, DXtera Institute, Education At Work, Emsi, InsideTrack and Roadtrip Nation.
  4. Mission-Aligned Investments in startups and emerging solutions provided by nonprofits and companies that show promise for impacting student success in learning, work outcomes and overall well-being.
  5. National Engagement, including partnerships with national associations and direct work with states and metro areas to strengthen and scale programs and policies central to advancing “Completion With a Purpose.”

Indianapolis-based architectural firm, DkGr (pronounced, “dark gray”), served as Strada’s design partner. “Strada operates through a unique social impact model, and we wanted their new space to reflect their innovative and forward-thinking approach,” said John Albrecht, lead architect for the project and principal at DkGr. “Every design element was thoughtfully considered to help advance the organization’s mission and culture.”

Highlights of key design elements reflecting Strada’s mission, vision and values include:

  • Glass is prominent throughout the design to maximize natural light, promote transparency and connect with the inspiring city views.
  • All workspaces are open, featuring engaging collaboration spaces of various sizes and configurations to accommodate diverse work styles and preferences.
  • A convening center on the 12th floor supports Strada’s national engagement efforts, with large flexible space to bring together thought leaders, practitioners, policymakers and other experts engaged in strengthening education-to-employment pathways. Strada also intends to make the convening space available to local community organizations.

“We are grateful to the talented team of designers, construction experts and Strada staff who worked so hard to make our vision for this space a reality,” said Hansen. “We’re eager to share our new home with our full network of partners as we continue our work together to transform postsecondary education to meet the needs of a new generation of learners in today’s rapidly changing world of work.”

For more information about Strada Education Network, visit www.stradaeducation.org.