Ameresco, Matchbook Launch The Match School & Career Center
Ameresco, Inc., a leading energy solutions provider supporting the global energy transition, and Matchbook Learning Schools of Indiana, Inc. have officially celebrated the grand opening of The Match High School and Career Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held on Thursday, April 3, 2025. This milestone event marks the completion of a transformative project exceeding $20 million in value.
After a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process, Matchbook Learning selected Ameresco to lead the full scope of the project—from design and engineering to construction. The newly completed educational campus includes two modernized buildings, repurposed from industrial warehouse spaces: the main high school located at 1401 Indiana Avenue and the adjoining career center situated at 1141 W 16th Street in Indianapolis. Renowned local firm DKGR Architects collaborated with Ameresco as the lead design partner, bringing innovative educational architecture to life.
In a strategic effort to meet the school’s timeline, Ameresco fast-tracked the construction of the career center, completing it by summer 2024. This allowed the first cohort of over 50 students to begin their academic journey for the 2024 school year. The main school building followed with a March 2025 completion, enabling a seamless transition for students to occupy the new facilities for the remainder of the academic year.
“Ameresco and DKGR have helped us create something truly special: a space that reflects the promise and potential of every student we serve and one that inspires our students to learn and realize their career dreams,” said Sajan George, Founder of Matchbook Learning Schools of Indiana, Inc. “This belief was evident to everyone at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. It was an inspiring event in a beautiful space.”
James Hill, Principal at Matchbook Learning, echoed these sentiments: “We’ve worked to develop a space where students can really envision all of the future paths laid out in front of them. It is incredibly gratifying to work with partners who not only helped us achieve that space but also drove that vision far past what we could have initially hoped.”
The completed campus features state-of-the-art educational facilities designed with a strong focus on sustainability and energy efficiency. Key energy efficiency measures implemented by Ameresco include:
- Advanced building automation systems to optimize energy usage
- Building envelope upgrades for improved insulation and reduced heat loss
- Installation of insulated thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) roofing
- Comprehensive interior and exterior LED lighting systems
- Energy-efficient HVAC systems
- Heat pump-based hot water heating systems
These upgrades not only ensure the comfort and productivity of students and staff but also significantly reduce operational costs through lower energy consumption.
In addition to these improvements, the school is scheduled to install a 165-kilowatt photovoltaic (PV) solar energy system with integrated battery energy storage later in 2025. This system will provide clean, renewable backup power, enhancing the campus’ resilience and ensuring that school operations can continue uninterrupted in the event of power outages.
“We’re happy to have equipped The Match High School and Career Center with resilient systems and secure energy to support student learning for years to come,” stated Lou Maltezos, President of Central & Western USA and Canada Regions at Ameresco. “Our continued work with K-12 educational institutions like Matchbook helps foster the next generation of energy innovators and community leaders.”
The Match High School and Career Center is more than a traditional learning environment—it is a forward-looking institution designed to bridge the gap between secondary education and real-world career readiness. The campus supports a robust and technologically advanced curriculum aligned with Matchbook’s mission to provide every student with a clear, personalized pathway to post-secondary success.
The new career center is particularly noteworthy, as it will offer hands-on vocational training and apprenticeships in high-demand fields such as construction trades, welding, engineering, and entrepreneurship. These programs are designed to equip students with industry-relevant skills and certifications, giving them a competitive edge in the job market or preparing them for further technical education.
By blending classroom instruction with applied learning in energy-efficient and sustainably designed facilities, the Match High School and Career Center exemplifies the evolving landscape of education. It reflects a growing recognition that educational environments must be responsive to both the career aspirations of students and the environmental challenges of the future.
As Ameresco and Matchbook Learning continue to celebrate this achievement, the new campus stands as a shining example of what public-private collaboration can accomplish. It showcases the power of visionary design, sustainable construction practices, and educational innovation to transform not just buildings, but lives and communities.
This project serves as a model for how energy-efficient infrastructure can be seamlessly integrated with a mission-driven educational approach—fostering both academic excellence and environmental responsibility. With the school year underway and the facilities now open, The Match High School and Career Center is set to become a cornerstone of educational opportunity and community development in Indianapolis for generations to come.
