A small mining town in Eastern Kentucky, Harlan has a population under 2,000 people and a median household income of only $17,270per year. In spite of its size, the Harlan Independent school district offers an excellent education to its students and was recognized by US News and World Report as having one of the best high schools in the country. For their new Humanities building nomi worked closely with the district to develop a formal design approach that expresses the identity of the music department and to rethink traditional programming expectations for K-12 arts spaces. Owner: Harlan Independent Board of Education New Construction: 7,895 square feet Existing: 28,840 square feet Final Construction Cost: $2,129,985 General Contractor: Green Construction