Design Reveal: New North Ridgeville High SchoolAfter hundreds of hours of collaborative effort between the district administration, staff, students, community members and design and construction professionals, the designs for the new North Ridgeville High School are shaping up. For an inside look at the new space, we’re thrilled to share this design reveal of the new North Ridgeville High School.
Design Reveal: New North Ridgeville High School
The vision for North Ridgeville’s new high school is taking shape thanks to hundreds of hours of dedicated design work since early 2024. This collaborative effort incorporated feedback from district administration, staff, students, community members, and design and construction professionals. This ensures the new facility will serve the community for years.
“Our community is so strong. I am very proud to be a Ranger, and to be able to go to that school.”
Sophia
Incoming 10th Grade Student
During design, architects utilized 3D modeling software to visualize the interior spaces and materials. This meticulous process ensures every detail, from classrooms to common areas, is thoughtfully considered for the student’s experience.
Spanning 340,000 SF, the new high school is more than double the size of the current building, marking a significant leap forward for the district’s educational future. It features state-of-the-art academic spaces, a competition gymnasium, an auxiliary gym with an elevated walking track, a performing arts center, and a natatorium with a competition pool. This expansion allows for enhanced learning environments and a wider range of extracurricular activities, directly benefiting student engagement and well-being.
To capture the essence of this exciting project from a student’s perspective, we spoke with Cole, Sophia, Omar, and Amaya to capture their impressions. We’re thrilled to share this design reveal of the new North Ridgeville High School.
“Everyone is going to love the difference that this school is going to make.”
Amaya
North Ridgeville Graduate, Class 2025
View the Slideshow to the Board of Education on July 15th below:
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
Design Reveal: New North Ridgeville High SchoolAfter hundreds of hours of collaborative effort between the district administration, staff, students, community members and design and construction professionals, the designs for the new North Ridgeville High School are shaping up. For an inside look at the new space, we’re thrilled to share this design reveal of the new North Ridgeville High School.
Design Reveal: New North Ridgeville High School
The vision for North Ridgeville’s new high school is taking shape thanks to hundreds of hours of dedicated design work since early 2024. This collaborative effort incorporated feedback from district administration, staff, students, community members, and design and construction professionals. This ensures the new facility will serve the community for years.
“Our community is so strong. I am very proud to be a Ranger, and to be able to go to that school.”
Sophia
Incoming 10th Grade Student
During design, architects utilized 3D modeling software to visualize the interior spaces and materials. This meticulous process ensures every detail, from classrooms to common areas, is thoughtfully considered for the student’s experience.
Spanning 340,000 SF, the new high school is more than double the size of the current building, marking a significant leap forward for the district’s educational future. It features state-of-the-art academic spaces, a competition gymnasium, an auxiliary gym with an elevated walking track, a performing arts center, and a natatorium with a competition pool. This expansion allows for enhanced learning environments and a wider range of extracurricular activities, directly benefiting student engagement and well-being.
To capture the essence of this exciting project from a student’s perspective, we spoke with Cole, Sophia, Omar, and Amaya to capture their impressions. We’re thrilled to share this design reveal of the new North Ridgeville High School.
“Everyone is going to love the difference that this school is going to make.”
Amaya
North Ridgeville Graduate, Class 2025
View the Slideshow to the Board of Education on July 15th below:
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
Lakeland Community College Veterans Center RenovationThe Lakeland Community College Veterans Center renovation brought thoughtful design, abundant natural light, and comfortable furniture to the spaces where veterans gather and relax. The center is situated near the balcony of the second floor, where a 3D United States flag graphic identifies the space while expressing appreciation for veterans’ service. Including a conference area, computer lab, kitchenette, and offices, the new Veterans Center is a bright place for service members to socialize.
Lakeland Community College Veterans Center Renovation
As part of the Master Plan project for Lakeland Community College, the expansion and renovation of the Engineering Technology Building necessitated the relocation of the school’s Veterans Center. After finding the optimal location in a more centralized area of the campus, the Veterans Center opened its doors with a ribbon cutting celebration.
The Lakeland Community College Veterans Center is “committed to helping active duty personnel, veterans, reservists, and dependents attain their personal and professional goals.” It also “supports the path of educational success and personal development for veterans and military-connected students.”
The renovation created an opportunity to tailor the design of the center to best suit the needs of Lakeland students and veterans. The move to a more central area makes the Veterans’ services more accessible and easier to find.
Lakeland Community College Veterans Center Renovation
A New Location, A New Look
“The college didn’t want to give up any classrooms, so we looked at about five different locations,” noted ThenDesign Architecture Project Manager Brad Gellert. “There was an open area on the second floor of the dining and study facility,” Brad recalled. “When we started the project, the school was still implementing COVID-19 social distancing, and they were actually storing tables and chairs along the wall next to the balcony.”
The second floor of Building S was ideal for placing the new Veterans Center because it was well-lit with abundant natural light and located adjacent to the Student Service Center. “We captured the natural light from the atrium and brought it into the space,” Brad said. “The frosted glass allows light in but adds some privacy so people don’t feel like they’re in a fishbowl.”
ThenDesign Architecture Interior Designer Rhonda Franklin commented on the team effort of the project. “Brad and I helped them realize their vision. We presented ideas for how open or closed the space would feel by showing them different samples of frosted glass. It was absolutely a group process.”
To balance brightness with privacy, the computer lab has opaque glass walls, but the top sections are clear.
“It was a good location, but we had the potential to make it even better.”
Brad Gellert
Project Manager
Lakeland Community College Veterans Center Renovation
Working Together to Benefit the Veterans
“They had some very grand ideas in mind when we started collaborating on designing the space,” said Rhonda. “They wanted to do a lot of different things in one place, which was a challenge. But, we all shared the same goal: to make the center look very professional and show respect for the veterans.”
Meeting with college and veteran center administrators, the design team worked together on creating a computer lab for quiet study, a conference table meeting area, a kitchenette, a space to watch TV or play video games, and two offices. Adjacent to the Veterans Center is a multi-use student affairs meeting room that is available to the broader student population and large enough to host banquets or student conferences.
“They wanted a place for students and veterans to relax,” Rhonda mentioned. “They didn’t want it to feel super academic. It’s a beautiful space, and I think we gave them more than they expected.”
The sprawling United States flag graphic is the signature iconography of the exterior. It acts as a wayfinding element that is easily visible from the dining area on the lower level. Brad explained, “The flag was meant to be cheery and patriotic as a ‘Thank you for your service’ welcome to visitors.” He added, “It salutes the veterans and gives them a notable presence in the building.”
Rhonda described how the theme of red, white, and blue was carried inside the center. “The paint color, carpeting, furniture choices, and finishes reflect the flag idea. The vibrant colors and comfortable furniture keep everything feeling light. They really liked how it turned out.”
“The college made some really good decisions about keeping the space functional but also quite beautiful.”
Rhonda Franklin
Interior Designer
Design Details of the Lakeland Community College Veterans Center Renovation
Designing an Inviting, Relaxing Space
Due to the high ceiling, sound baffles extend over the conference table, and tiles inside the computer lab made the spaces feel more intimate by reducing echo to increase vocal privacy.
Curved blue acoustically absorbent sound baffles reminiscent of a flag waving in the breeze were installed above the conference table to help define the area. “This is one of my favorite finishes here,” Rhonda remarked. “There are light fixtures between the sheets, but the acoustic material is made of recycled soda bottles. So, that’s pretty awesome.”
Other environmental considerations for the renovation included using high-quality products from reputable commercial companies, including low volatile organic compounds (VOCs), sustainable fabrics, and zero-VOC paints. The flooring had no off-gassing, and the carpet is recyclable.
Brad noted that the Veterans Center utilized the existing environmental footprint, “We took advantage of the embodied carbon that was already expended when it was constructed. We didn’t increase the building’s heating or air conditioning load.”
Lakeland Community College Veterans Center Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
The Lakeland Veterans Center Ribbon Cutting
Brad commented on the partnership with Marous Brothers Construction during the project, “You could tell it was a labor of love on their part. They wanted to do an excellent job and had a wonderful project manager. We were very pleased with their performance and collaborating with them.”
The Lakeland Community College Veterans Center held a well-attended ribbon cutting ceremony on November 7, 2023, for veterans and their families, students, local government officials, and guest speakers. Veterans Center Manager S. Rhonda Osagie-Erese, MSSA, LSW, was presented with a Certificate of Congressional Recognition and Achievement honoring Lakeland Community College.
Rhonda Franklin reflected on the project’s outcome, “I think they couldn’t have known just how lovely it would turn out. I’m proud of how it all came together.”
“It’s a great addition to the college and respectfully honors the veterans,” Brad Gellert added. “We hope they enjoy it for years to come.”
“This project helped strengthen our relationship with the school district.”
Brad Gellert
Project Manager
Lakeland Community College Veterans Center Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
Lakeland Community College Veterans Center RenovationThe Lakeland Community College Veterans Center renovation brought thoughtful design, abundant natural light, and comfortable furniture to the spaces where veterans gather and relax. The center is situated near the balcony of the second floor, where a 3D United States flag graphic identifies the space while expressing appreciation for veterans’ service. Including a conference area, computer lab, kitchenette, and offices, the new Veterans Center is a bright place for service members to socialize.
Lakeland Community College Veterans Center Renovation
As part of the Master Plan project for Lakeland Community College, the expansion and renovation of the Engineering Technology Building necessitated the relocation of the school’s Veterans Center. After finding the optimal location in a more centralized area of the campus, the Veterans Center opened its doors with a ribbon cutting celebration.
The Lakeland Community College Veterans Center is “committed to helping active duty personnel, veterans, reservists, and dependents attain their personal and professional goals.” It also “supports the path of educational success and personal development for veterans and military-connected students.”
The renovation created an opportunity to tailor the design of the center to best suit the needs of Lakeland students and veterans. The move to a more central area makes the Veterans’ services more accessible and easier to find.
Lakeland Community College Veterans Center Renovation
A New Location, A New Look
“The college didn’t want to give up any classrooms, so we looked at about five different locations,” noted ThenDesign Architecture Project Manager Brad Gellert. “There was an open area on the second floor of the dining and study facility,” Brad recalled. “When we started the project, the school was still implementing COVID-19 social distancing, and they were actually storing tables and chairs along the wall next to the balcony.”
The second floor of Building S was ideal for placing the new Veterans Center because it was well-lit with abundant natural light and located adjacent to the Student Service Center. “We captured the natural light from the atrium and brought it into the space,” Brad said. “The frosted glass allows light in but adds some privacy so people don’t feel like they’re in a fishbowl.”
ThenDesign Architecture Interior Designer Rhonda Franklin commented on the team effort of the project. “Brad and I helped them realize their vision. We presented ideas for how open or closed the space would feel by showing them different samples of frosted glass. It was absolutely a group process.”
To balance brightness with privacy, the computer lab has opaque glass walls, but the top sections are clear.
“It was a good location, but we had the potential to make it even better.”
Brad Gellert
Project Manager
Lakeland Community College Veterans Center Renovation
Working Together to Benefit the Veterans
“They had some very grand ideas in mind when we started collaborating on designing the space,” said Rhonda. “They wanted to do a lot of different things in one place, which was a challenge. But, we all shared the same goal: to make the center look very professional and show respect for the veterans.”
Meeting with college and veteran center administrators, the design team worked together on creating a computer lab for quiet study, a conference table meeting area, a kitchenette, a space to watch TV or play video games, and two offices. Adjacent to the Veterans Center is a multi-use student affairs meeting room that is available to the broader student population and large enough to host banquets or student conferences.
“They wanted a place for students and veterans to relax,” Rhonda mentioned. “They didn’t want it to feel super academic. It’s a beautiful space, and I think we gave them more than they expected.”
The sprawling United States flag graphic is the signature iconography of the exterior. It acts as a wayfinding element that is easily visible from the dining area on the lower level. Brad explained, “The flag was meant to be cheery and patriotic as a ‘Thank you for your service’ welcome to visitors.” He added, “It salutes the veterans and gives them a notable presence in the building.”
Rhonda described how the theme of red, white, and blue was carried inside the center. “The paint color, carpeting, furniture choices, and finishes reflect the flag idea. The vibrant colors and comfortable furniture keep everything feeling light. They really liked how it turned out.”
“The college made some really good decisions about keeping the space functional but also quite beautiful.”
Rhonda Franklin
Interior Designer
Design Details of the Lakeland Community College Veterans Center Renovation
Designing an Inviting, Relaxing Space
Due to the high ceiling, sound baffles extend over the conference table, and tiles inside the computer lab made the spaces feel more intimate by reducing echo to increase vocal privacy.
Curved blue acoustically absorbent sound baffles reminiscent of a flag waving in the breeze were installed above the conference table to help define the area. “This is one of my favorite finishes here,” Rhonda remarked. “There are light fixtures between the sheets, but the acoustic material is made of recycled soda bottles. So, that’s pretty awesome.”
Other environmental considerations for the renovation included using high-quality products from reputable commercial companies, including low volatile organic compounds (VOCs), sustainable fabrics, and zero-VOC paints. The flooring had no off-gassing, and the carpet is recyclable.
Brad noted that the Veterans Center utilized the existing environmental footprint, “We took advantage of the embodied carbon that was already expended when it was constructed. We didn’t increase the building’s heating or air conditioning load.”
Lakeland Community College Veterans Center Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
The Lakeland Veterans Center Ribbon Cutting
Brad commented on the partnership with Marous Brothers Construction during the project, “You could tell it was a labor of love on their part. They wanted to do an excellent job and had a wonderful project manager. We were very pleased with their performance and collaborating with them.”
The Lakeland Community College Veterans Center held a well-attended ribbon cutting ceremony on November 7, 2023, for veterans and their families, students, local government officials, and guest speakers. Veterans Center Manager S. Rhonda Osagie-Erese, MSSA, LSW, was presented with a Certificate of Congressional Recognition and Achievement honoring Lakeland Community College.
Rhonda Franklin reflected on the project’s outcome, “I think they couldn’t have known just how lovely it would turn out. I’m proud of how it all came together.”
“It’s a great addition to the college and respectfully honors the veterans,” Brad Gellert added. “We hope they enjoy it for years to come.”
“This project helped strengthen our relationship with the school district.”
Brad Gellert
Project Manager
Lakeland Community College Veterans Center Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
North Ridgeville Maintenance and Transportation Facility GroundbreakingIn a major step in constructing the new 9-12 North Ridgeville High School, local officials and community members came together to celebrate the North Ridgeville Maintenance and Transportation Facility groundbreaking. The new construction will enhance efficiency and offer modern, comfortable spaces to support the staff. The expansive facility aims to create an optimal working environment by housing both departments under one roof.
North Ridgeville Maintenance and Transportation Facility Groundbreaking
Marking a significant milestone in the construction process of the new high school, North Ridgeville City Schools celebrated a groundbreaking for the new Maintenance and Transportation Facility. The relocation of these district departments in the new facility will help create room for the new high school. The new building will enhance the capabilities of the support departments and enable greater efficiency by providing a larger parking lot with automatic gates, more expansive maintenance bays for buses, dedicated administration offices, and a meeting area to accommodate the entire staff.
People who attended, despite the cold weather, included local officials, school board members, teachers, parents, students, and staff. Hosted by Hammond Construction, the groundbreaking ceremony was kicked off with grateful comments by Superintendent Roxann Ramsey-Caserio. “I can’t believe we’re here right now,” she said. “What an awesome moment and event for our schools and city.”
School Board President Frank Vacha thanked the community and staff for their continued support of the school district construction projects. “Thank you to all the men and women who work in our transportation and maintenance departments. Guys, we’re almost there. You’re finally going to have the facility you deserved all along.”
“On behalf of the members of the Senate of the 136th General Assembly of Ohio, we are pleased to extend special recognition to North Ridgeville City Schools on breaking ground for its new maintenance and transportation facility… This new space convincingly demonstrates how very much can be accomplished by a group of conscientious people with clear objectives and firm resolve. And we applaud them on their tremendous work… As they celebrate the groundbreaking for this new building, they have the unique opportunity to reflect with pride on their accomplishments while looking forward to a brighter future full of promise.”
Maintenance Supervisor Seth Perry expressed his enthusiasm for the new facility, “We’ll be able to be more organized and make repairs in a better environment. I’m looking forward to our staff having dedicated workspaces to support the new high school as best we can,” he said. “I’m really excited to have all our equipment and fleet under one roof.”
The new North Ridgeville Maintenance and Transportation Facility is a collaborative effort of ThenDesign Architecture partnering with Hammond Construction. Kim Adams is the Director of Communication and Engagement for Hammond Construction. She reflected on the project’s magnitude, requiring the support and collaboration of the school district, city, and community. “This groundbreaking is an important first step in transforming the campus. This facility will improve services for the district’s operational needs and pave the way for the construction of the new North Ridgeville High School.”
Kim added, “We are excited to be a part of this dynamic team that will help build the future for North Ridgeville City Schools.”
The new Maintenance and Transportation Facility is scheduled to hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony and grand opening in February 2026.
North Ridgeville Maintenance and Transportation Facility GroundbreakingIn a major step in constructing the new 9-12 North Ridgeville High School, local officials and community members came together to celebrate the North Ridgeville Maintenance and Transportation Facility groundbreaking. The new construction will enhance efficiency and offer modern, comfortable spaces to support the staff. The expansive facility aims to create an optimal working environment by housing both departments under one roof.
North Ridgeville Maintenance and Transportation Facility Groundbreaking
Marking a significant milestone in the construction process of the new high school, North Ridgeville City Schools celebrated a groundbreaking for the new Maintenance and Transportation Facility. The relocation of these district departments in the new facility will help create room for the new high school. The new building will enhance the capabilities of the support departments and enable greater efficiency by providing a larger parking lot with automatic gates, more expansive maintenance bays for buses, dedicated administration offices, and a meeting area to accommodate the entire staff.
People who attended, despite the cold weather, included local officials, school board members, teachers, parents, students, and staff. Hosted by Hammond Construction, the groundbreaking ceremony was kicked off with grateful comments by Superintendent Roxann Ramsey-Caserio. “I can’t believe we’re here right now,” she said. “What an awesome moment and event for our schools and city.”
School Board President Frank Vacha thanked the community and staff for their continued support of the school district construction projects. “Thank you to all the men and women who work in our transportation and maintenance departments. Guys, we’re almost there. You’re finally going to have the facility you deserved all along.”
“On behalf of the members of the Senate of the 136th General Assembly of Ohio, we are pleased to extend special recognition to North Ridgeville City Schools on breaking ground for its new maintenance and transportation facility… This new space convincingly demonstrates how very much can be accomplished by a group of conscientious people with clear objectives and firm resolve. And we applaud them on their tremendous work… As they celebrate the groundbreaking for this new building, they have the unique opportunity to reflect with pride on their accomplishments while looking forward to a brighter future full of promise.”
Maintenance Supervisor Seth Perry expressed his enthusiasm for the new facility, “We’ll be able to be more organized and make repairs in a better environment. I’m looking forward to our staff having dedicated workspaces to support the new high school as best we can,” he said. “I’m really excited to have all our equipment and fleet under one roof.”
The new North Ridgeville Maintenance and Transportation Facility is a collaborative effort of ThenDesign Architecture partnering with Hammond Construction. Kim Adams is the Director of Communication and Engagement for Hammond Construction. She reflected on the project’s magnitude, requiring the support and collaboration of the school district, city, and community. “This groundbreaking is an important first step in transforming the campus. This facility will improve services for the district’s operational needs and pave the way for the construction of the new North Ridgeville High School.”
Kim added, “We are excited to be a part of this dynamic team that will help build the future for North Ridgeville City Schools.”
The new Maintenance and Transportation Facility is scheduled to hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony and grand opening in February 2026.
The Geauga County Courthouse is Where History Meets the FutureThe Geauga County Courthouse in Chardon Square is undergoing a renovation and addition project, which will increase its space by approximately 30,800 square feet. The new construction will enhance the courthouse’s operational functions by incorporating advanced technology and modern security features. The original building was not intended to serve the purpose for which it is used today. The upgrades and redesign bring contemporary elegance with a deep respect for the historic aesthetic. The Geauga County Courthouse is where history meets the future.
The Geauga County Courthouse is Where History Meets the Future
The Geauga County Courthouse is where history meets the future. The prestigious landmark has stood proudly at the edge of Chardon Square for over 150 years. The significant expansion and renovation of this approximately 21,500 SF 1869 courthouse in Chardon, Ohio, aims to modernize the facility, ensuring that community services remain efficient and incorporate the latest technology.
While preserving the distinguished stature for which the existing building is known, the addition provides approximately 30,800 SF of new space. The project will help improve court operations and provide a more secure environment for staff, judges, jurors, and visitors. The three-story addition and improvement project is about two-thirds complete and has been carried out without significantly disrupting essential services.
ThenDesign Architecture Project Manager Brad Gellert, AIA, explained how the building is being updated while maintaining its legacy aesthetic. “Most of the historical elements of the existing building will remain. Stones for the addition were sourced from the same quarry that provided the original materials,” he said. “This stone is used in the building’s base and the new windowsills and lintels.”
The cornice of the addition aligns with the existing one, creating a seamless transition. Molds were made from the original cornice to ensure accurate fabrication of the new elements. The new windows are tall and narrow, reflecting the prominent Italianate architectural style of the square.
“Geauga County is where history meets the future. That is exactly what this project is all about.”
James Dvorak
Geauga County Commissioner
The Geauga County Courthouse is Where History Meets the Future
Designed for Tomorrow While Respecting the Past
The renovation project will enhance various aspects of the building’s functionality and security. The original courthouse building lacked a separate circulation path for judges and defendants, and prisoners brought to court had to pass through public areas. It was not planned and built to function the way it does today.
The two most active departments are the Probation Department, currently located in the basement, and the Clerk of Courts on the third floor. When visiting the Probation Department, people walk through the common areas and down the stairwell to the basement, where drug testing is conducted in public restrooms.
After the project is completed, both departments will relocate to the first floor at ground level, where visitors will pass through an advanced security lobby. Probation Department drug testing will be conducted in separate bathrooms inside the secured office. Individuals in custody will be escorted through an isolated, restricted sally port located on the opposite side of the building from the public entrance.
A new at-grade main entrance will make access much easier and lead into a spacious security area, where sheriff’s deputies will screen visitors and scan their belongings before they enter further into the courthouse.
The addition of the new courthouse will feature secure parking with a rolling gate and covered parking for judges, surrounded by a wall on the east and north sides. To incorporate it visually, the approximately 9′ wall’s sandstone veneer will match the rest of the building. The larger courtrooms will feature technology that maximizes the efficiency of court processes.
“The project is welcoming the new while preserving the old,” said Geauga County Commissioner James Dvorak. “It maintains great respect for the community’s heritage while providing vital upgrades that benefit everyone who works there.”
TDA Project Architect Lee Hribar, RA, noted that the updated and expanded courthouse will refresh Chardon Square while maintaining the historic feel. “We’ve worked very hard to blend the vintage elements the community treasures while adding a new architectural element to the downtown area. The new courthouse will make the square feel fresh while preserving its prestige.”
“Respecting the community’s legacy is important to the entire design team.”
Brad Gellert, AIA
Project Manager
Geauga County Courthouse Construction in August 2024
The Beam Signing Milestone
Noting a milestone in construction progress, Infinity Construction hosted a beam signing event on August 30, 2024. Local government officials, court officers, and building employees were invited to sign a steel beam that would be placed in the new addition.
Among those attending was Court of Common Pleas Judge Carolyn Pashcke. She commented, “This beam signing represents what’s most important to me. It’s not the building people work in. It’s the people who work in the building. I am personally grateful to all of you who put your time and effort into serving the public.”
Judge Pashcke added, “And thank you for being a really good sport about the construction process and parking woes.”
County Commissioner James Dvorak said he was in the building trades for over 50 years and found beam signing to be a fun and exciting part of the construction process. “The people who sign this beam will be a permanent part of the building. Everybody who touched a beam, brick, stone, nail, electrical wiring, or pipe became a part of the history of this courthouse.”
“They won’t have to make do anymore,” noted ThenDesign Architecture Project Manager Brad Gellert, AIA. “I’m looking forward to everyone working in a building that was actually designed for its intended use.”
The Geauga County Courthouse is planned to take occupancy in the fall of 2025.
“I’m excited to see the work we can do with the new addition to our building.”
The Honorable Carolyn Paschke
Court of Common Pleas Judge
The Geauga County Courthouse Beam Signing Event
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The Geauga County Courthouse is Where History Meets the FutureThe Geauga County Courthouse in Chardon Square is undergoing a renovation and addition project, which will increase its space by approximately 30,800 square feet. The new construction will enhance the courthouse’s operational functions by incorporating advanced technology and modern security features. The original building was not intended to serve the purpose for which it is used today. The upgrades and redesign bring contemporary elegance with a deep respect for the historic aesthetic. The Geauga County Courthouse is where history meets the future.
The Geauga County Courthouse is Where History Meets the Future
The Geauga County Courthouse is where history meets the future. The prestigious landmark has stood proudly at the edge of Chardon Square for over 150 years. The significant expansion and renovation of this approximately 21,500 SF 1869 courthouse in Chardon, Ohio, aims to modernize the facility, ensuring that community services remain efficient and incorporate the latest technology.
While preserving the distinguished stature for which the existing building is known, the addition provides approximately 30,800 SF of new space. The project will help improve court operations and provide a more secure environment for staff, judges, jurors, and visitors. The three-story addition and improvement project is about two-thirds complete and has been carried out without significantly disrupting essential services.
ThenDesign Architecture Project Manager Brad Gellert, AIA, explained how the building is being updated while maintaining its legacy aesthetic. “Most of the historical elements of the existing building will remain. Stones for the addition were sourced from the same quarry that provided the original materials,” he said. “This stone is used in the building’s base and the new windowsills and lintels.”
The cornice of the addition aligns with the existing one, creating a seamless transition. Molds were made from the original cornice to ensure accurate fabrication of the new elements. The new windows are tall and narrow, reflecting the prominent Italianate architectural style of the square.
“Geauga County is where history meets the future. That is exactly what this project is all about.”
James Dvorak
Geauga County Commissioner
The Geauga County Courthouse is Where History Meets the Future
Designed for Tomorrow While Respecting the Past
The renovation project will enhance various aspects of the building’s functionality and security. The original courthouse building lacked a separate circulation path for judges and defendants, and prisoners brought to court had to pass through public areas. It was not planned and built to function the way it does today.
The two most active departments are the Probation Department, currently located in the basement, and the Clerk of Courts on the third floor. When visiting the Probation Department, people walk through the common areas and down the stairwell to the basement, where drug testing is conducted in public restrooms.
After the project is completed, both departments will relocate to the first floor at ground level, where visitors will pass through an advanced security lobby. Probation Department drug testing will be conducted in separate bathrooms inside the secured office. Individuals in custody will be escorted through an isolated, restricted sally port located on the opposite side of the building from the public entrance.
A new at-grade main entrance will make access much easier and lead into a spacious security area, where sheriff’s deputies will screen visitors and scan their belongings before they enter further into the courthouse.
The addition of the new courthouse will feature secure parking with a rolling gate and covered parking for judges, surrounded by a wall on the east and north sides. To incorporate it visually, the approximately 9′ wall’s sandstone veneer will match the rest of the building. The larger courtrooms will feature technology that maximizes the efficiency of court processes.
“The project is welcoming the new while preserving the old,” said Geauga County Commissioner James Dvorak. “It maintains great respect for the community’s heritage while providing vital upgrades that benefit everyone who works there.”
TDA Project Architect Lee Hribar, RA, noted that the updated and expanded courthouse will refresh Chardon Square while maintaining the historic feel. “We’ve worked very hard to blend the vintage elements the community treasures while adding a new architectural element to the downtown area. The new courthouse will make the square feel fresh while preserving its prestige.”
“Respecting the community’s legacy is important to the entire design team.”
Brad Gellert, AIA
Project Manager
Geauga County Courthouse Construction in August 2024
The Beam Signing Milestone
Noting a milestone in construction progress, Infinity Construction hosted a beam signing event on August 30, 2024. Local government officials, court officers, and building employees were invited to sign a steel beam that would be placed in the new addition.
Among those attending was Court of Common Pleas Judge Carolyn Pashcke. She commented, “This beam signing represents what’s most important to me. It’s not the building people work in. It’s the people who work in the building. I am personally grateful to all of you who put your time and effort into serving the public.”
Judge Pashcke added, “And thank you for being a really good sport about the construction process and parking woes.”
County Commissioner James Dvorak said he was in the building trades for over 50 years and found beam signing to be a fun and exciting part of the construction process. “The people who sign this beam will be a permanent part of the building. Everybody who touched a beam, brick, stone, nail, electrical wiring, or pipe became a part of the history of this courthouse.”
“They won’t have to make do anymore,” noted ThenDesign Architecture Project Manager Brad Gellert, AIA. “I’m looking forward to everyone working in a building that was actually designed for its intended use.”
The Geauga County Courthouse is planned to take occupancy in the fall of 2025.
“I’m excited to see the work we can do with the new addition to our building.”
The Honorable Carolyn Paschke
Court of Common Pleas Judge
The Geauga County Courthouse Beam Signing Event
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Perry High School Unveils a State-of-the-Art Welding LabIn Lake County, Perry High School unveils a state-of-the-art welding lab that advances career technical training for students. The renovation included an advanced ventilation systems and ten new welding machines. Technical and aesthetic updates modernized the space, further expanding the capabilities of students interested in metalwork. The project was partially funded by an Ohio Workforce Improvement Program (IWIP) grant. It will prepare Perry High School students to be competitive members in the in-demand job market after graduation.
Perry High School Unveils a State-of-the-Art Welding Lab
Perry Local Schools in Lake County opened its newly renovated 2,400 SF welding lab in the fall of 2024. This $600,000 upgrade is partially funded by an Ohio Workforce Improvement Program (IWIP) grant and dramatically expands the school’s Career Technical Education welding space, providing students with access to modern equipment, advanced ventilation systems, and ten new welding machines, a fivefold increase from the previous space. The space also features a plasma cutter and a range of other metalworking tools, enabling students to earn valuable industry accreditations in materials manufacturing.
Considering the demand for CTE education across Ohio, this lab encourages students to explore the trades and connects them to professionals in the industry.
Perry High School Unveils a State-of-the-Art Welding Lab
Improving the Existing Perry Welding Lab
The project revitalized the existing space, transforming it into a cutting-edge welding facility. Modern welding systems were installed in partnership with Lincoln Electric, complete with spark protection and draft control. A new, advanced ventilation and extraction system was installed, including an enclosure, tank yard, and comprehensive controls to keep students safe while working and filtering particulates from the air.
Ryan Schmit, Project Manager for ThenDesign Architecture, reflected on the changes in the space, “This was an excellent modernization of the existing space. We took something 25 years old, with antiquated equipment, and brought it to a completely new level.”
The school’s forge was enhanced when the former CAD Lab, adjacent to the workshop, was transformed into a form prep room. Students could now prepare castings while maintaining a visual connection with the workspace. The process of using the forge first requires students to pack boxes with specialized sand while placing a mold within. They then pour molten metal into the resulting form, which cools and solidifies into their object.
Additional renovations to the workspace included a fresh coat of paint, and the existing epoxy floor was ground into a smooth surface and polished to ensure durability and functionality. In addition to incorporating existing metalworking tools into the space, a large plasma cutter was added. Lincoln Electric provided the welding equipment and extraction system.
The Welding Lab Before the Renovation
Extraction and Ventilation Systems
An advanced ventilation system was installed to eliminate dust from the interior environment, trapping particulates safely within drum systems. The ductwork is designed to prevent this accumulation, while a spark arrestor in the ceiling safely catches these sparks to prevent fires. The system filters out hazardous dust, ensuring environmental safety.
Design Schedule Challenges
As an architect who frequently designs CTE spaces, Ryan sees an expanded desire for these programs. “Career Technical Education is growing across the country. If you talk to the school districts in Northeast Ohio, there are huge waiting lines to get into these programs.”
“We took their existing space, modernized it, and allowed them to greatly expand a program they had a lot of demand for,” Ryan said.
Since an IWIP grant partially funded the project, there were restrictions on when money could be spent on the project. This fact, coupled with supply chain issues, necessitated a very tight design timeline. To mitigate these issues, the team procured electrical components almost a year in advance and compressed the design timeline to comply with Ohio grant requirements. The construction was completed over the summer in two and a half months to minimize disruption to building occupants.
After completing this, the district could expand its welding program, partner with Lake Erie College to offer college credit and welding certifications and enroll more students in the program’s history in a healthier, well-ventilated environment.
The Welding Lab in Action
Successful Project
The project’s success stemmed from the design team’s ability to leverage grant funding, expedite the design process, and proactively address supply chain challenges. The collaboration between the district’s vision, contractors, and suppliers ensured the project’s successful completion.
“It’s a big deal, and when you see before and after pictures. It’s staggering.”
Ryan Schmit
Project Manager
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Perry High School Unveils a State-of-the-Art Welding LabIn Lake County, Perry High School unveils a state-of-the-art welding lab that advances career technical training for students. The renovation included an advanced ventilation systems and ten new welding machines. Technical and aesthetic updates modernized the space, further expanding the capabilities of students interested in metalwork. The project was partially funded by an Ohio Workforce Improvement Program (IWIP) grant. It will prepare Perry High School students to be competitive members in the in-demand job market after graduation.
Perry High School Unveils a State-of-the-Art Welding Lab
Perry Local Schools in Lake County opened its newly renovated 2,400 SF welding lab in the fall of 2024. This $600,000 upgrade is partially funded by an Ohio Workforce Improvement Program (IWIP) grant and dramatically expands the school’s Career Technical Education welding space, providing students with access to modern equipment, advanced ventilation systems, and ten new welding machines, a fivefold increase from the previous space. The space also features a plasma cutter and a range of other metalworking tools, enabling students to earn valuable industry accreditations in materials manufacturing.
Considering the demand for CTE education across Ohio, this lab encourages students to explore the trades and connects them to professionals in the industry.
Perry High School Unveils a State-of-the-Art Welding Lab
Improving the Existing Perry Welding Lab
The project revitalized the existing space, transforming it into a cutting-edge welding facility. Modern welding systems were installed in partnership with Lincoln Electric, complete with spark protection and draft control. A new, advanced ventilation and extraction system was installed, including an enclosure, tank yard, and comprehensive controls to keep students safe while working and filtering particulates from the air.
Ryan Schmit, Project Manager for ThenDesign Architecture, reflected on the changes in the space, “This was an excellent modernization of the existing space. We took something 25 years old, with antiquated equipment, and brought it to a completely new level.”
The school’s forge was enhanced when the former CAD Lab, adjacent to the workshop, was transformed into a form prep room. Students could now prepare castings while maintaining a visual connection with the workspace. The process of using the forge first requires students to pack boxes with specialized sand while placing a mold within. They then pour molten metal into the resulting form, which cools and solidifies into their object.
Additional renovations to the workspace included a fresh coat of paint, and the existing epoxy floor was ground into a smooth surface and polished to ensure durability and functionality. In addition to incorporating existing metalworking tools into the space, a large plasma cutter was added. Lincoln Electric provided the welding equipment and extraction system.
The Welding Lab Before the Renovation
Extraction and Ventilation Systems
An advanced ventilation system was installed to eliminate dust from the interior environment, trapping particulates safely within drum systems. The ductwork is designed to prevent this accumulation, while a spark arrestor in the ceiling safely catches these sparks to prevent fires. The system filters out hazardous dust, ensuring environmental safety.
Design Schedule Challenges
As an architect who frequently designs CTE spaces, Ryan sees an expanded desire for these programs. “Career Technical Education is growing across the country. If you talk to the school districts in Northeast Ohio, there are huge waiting lines to get into these programs.”
“We took their existing space, modernized it, and allowed them to greatly expand a program they had a lot of demand for,” Ryan said.
Since an IWIP grant partially funded the project, there were restrictions on when money could be spent on the project. This fact, coupled with supply chain issues, necessitated a very tight design timeline. To mitigate these issues, the team procured electrical components almost a year in advance and compressed the design timeline to comply with Ohio grant requirements. The construction was completed over the summer in two and a half months to minimize disruption to building occupants.
After completing this, the district could expand its welding program, partner with Lake Erie College to offer college credit and welding certifications and enroll more students in the program’s history in a healthier, well-ventilated environment.
The Welding Lab in Action
Successful Project
The project’s success stemmed from the design team’s ability to leverage grant funding, expedite the design process, and proactively address supply chain challenges. The collaboration between the district’s vision, contractors, and suppliers ensured the project’s successful completion.
“It’s a big deal, and when you see before and after pictures. It’s staggering.”
Ryan Schmit
Project Manager
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Rocky River’s Transformative RenovationThe Rocky River City School District takes pride in its school maintenance program that maximizes its existing resources. However, it was time for a substantial upgrade. Rocky River’s transformative renovation of the kitchen, servery, and dining spaces opened for the 2024-2025 school year to provide nutritious hot meals served in a pleasing, technologically advanced environment. To best use the existing spaces and materials, the design team implemented creative solutions to seamlessly blend new elements with legacy features.
Rocky River’s Transformative Renovation
The Rocky River City School District takes pride in its robust school maintenance program that maximizes the longevity of its current resources. However, with declining participation in the high school’s meal program, the district decided it was time for a substantial upgrade. Preserving some of the existing finishes, the design team implemented creative solutions to work within the existing space and blend new touches with legacy features. The newly renovated kitchen, servery, and dining spaces opened for the 2024-2025 school year to provide nutritious, hot meals served in a pleasing, technologically advanced environment.
Partnering with ThenDesign Architecture and RFC Contracting, the school district invested $1.9 million to renovate its 5,448 square-foot kitchen, servery, and student dining facilities at Rocky River High School. Built in 1949, some of the original elements continued to endure, but the original layout of the space lacked the appeal and functionality of a contemporary educational environment.
“TDA has enjoyed a long-term relationship with the Rocky River City School District since the 2017 Beach School renovation,” Project Manager Brad Gellert, AIA, NCARB, recalled. “It was practically an abandoned building, but we restored it to its former pre-K program glory. We started conversations about the kitchen right after that.”
“We did a whole lot with very little. The existing space was completely transformed.”
Brad Gellert
Project Manager
Rocky River’s Transformative Renovation of the Kitchen, Servery, and Dining Area
Durability, Openness, and Blending Finishes
Brad understood the school wanted to increase lunch participation with a greatly expanded menu and create an inviting space for students to relax and socialize. Since the school district has a reputation for making mindful decisions geared toward long-term benefits, great efforts were made to select durable but easy-to-maintain upgrades, such as the non-slip welded-seam flooring.
“They wanted a servery floor that would last the next forty years,” noted Interior Designer Jeanne Kleckner. “The school district took the extra steps to think through how the space might be used in the future and chose materials and finishes that are equal in quality and durability to the long-lasting finishes that were previously installed. They made some really smart decisions.”
One of the more notable changes to the kitchen was addressing the 75-year-old wall tiles. “Those yellow tiles from the original construction were built to last, and they did,” noted Brad, “But the aesthetic looked like the era it came from. It had a more institutional feel rather than a welcoming timeless space.”
The team agreed that stripping away the tiles was unnecessary, so they were overlaid with high-quality white kitchen sheet vinyl wall protection. This material was installed with heat welds between panels connecting to the floor for a watertight installation. This practical choice helped minimize construction time and the budget without sacrificing durability.
“The columns in the dining area had dark wooden wainscots that had been beaten up over the years,” Brad said. He and Jeanne sat in the dining space to feel out what worked and what did not. They realized the ceiling felt low, and the room seemed cramped. The cause was not the size of the space but the darker colors and materials.
To solve this perception, the columns in the center of the space were covered with a vertically striped white and gray Corian to give the impression of taller ceilings. The columns along the north wall leading to the student commons were covered in woodgrain laminated panels to blend with existing high school building finishes. New lights and an updated ceiling material with a better acoustical value were also installed. An optical illusion gives the impression that the updated ceiling was raised.
Brad commented, “The whole space looks very bright, clean, and open now.”
Jeanne recalled how the design elements blended together. “Clarissa Schroeder on our interiors team found the column material. We realized that if we picked the right colorway, we could seize an opportunity to connect it with existing finishes. The gray stripe pattern in the Corian columns now ties to the metal tile at the concession stand. We added aluminum reveals to the perimeter woodgrain panels, and that finish matches the door hardware throughout the building.”
“My kids go to school here, so I was personally invested in the project’s success.”
Jeanne Kleckner
Interior Designer
Design Details Blend the Old with the New
Preservation, Creativity, and Low Carbon Impact
Some of the project’s key challenges were that no new square footage would be created and some historical design finishes would be respected. The district conveyed that there were elements from a 2011 renovation that matched the finishes of the building that they wanted to keep. Among those elements in the student dining area were the brushed metal tile on the concession stand and the terrazzo flooring.
“Burt Hill installed the imported European brushed metal tile when they renovated the school in 2011, and the district made a significant effort to maintain it,” Brad noted. ” The existing terrazzo flooring is an expensive material, and most schools cannot afford it now. These features were in good condition, so we preserved them. Our new design elements blended well, and most people should not be able to tell the difference between what is new and what was already there.”
Since no new interior space was available for expansion, a creative solution was needed to accommodate a new walk-in freezer and a separate walk-in cooler. Brad explained the thoughtful solution, “To make the space more efficient, we turned the old freezer into the walk-in cooler and placed the new freezer outside in an existing area already behind a garden gate. We poured a concrete frost slab and attached the freezer to the building so it is accessible from the outside for deliveries and from the inside for the staff.”
The new configuration makes deliveries much easier because vendors no longer need to enter the school or wheel carts down hallways and through the kitchen. Brad added, “I heard the delivery folks love it.”
Whenever possible, TDA prides itself on implementing environmentally conscious practices. “This renovation was a low-carbon, low-impact renovation because the embodied carbon was already there,” Brad said. “There was minimal demolition, so we didn’t add a lot to landfills or use a lot of electricity to generate new materials. Most of the steel, concrete, and other materials were preexisting in the space. So, the project was environmentally sustainable from that point of view.”
“The biggest feature of this project is that we reused the existing space.”
Brad Gellert
Project Manager
The Updated Rocky River Kitchen, Servery, and Dining Area
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Opening
On August 13, 2024, the Rocky River City School District held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new high school kitchen, servery, and student dining areas. Invited guests toured the new spaces and were shown the state-of-the-art cooking equipment, digital servery monitors, and updated finishes. The spaces were also brought up to modern building codes and made ADA accessible.
Brad and Jeanne attended the ribbon cutting ceremony to experience the culmination of their successful partnership with the Rocky River City School District. The school district and staff were pleased with the outcome, especially since the kitchen can now serve hot pizza. One staff member described the new space as a ray of sunshine.
“The most interesting thing about this space is that it is so completely different from what it was but used in the same space,” Brad said. “It now has a beautiful, inviting servery and a kitchen with fuller menu choices. The dining area was freshened up with new materials and is now a pleasing place to hang out.”
Jeanne expressed her special fondness for the project. “The best part of these projects is always the collaboration. Brad and I put equal thought into how to improve the space. Blending original materials with modern touches was an exciting challenge,” she said. “The district had a lot of respect for what came before them, and they recognized our commitment to the integrity of the project because we also cared about the historical elements.”
“Everyone is happy with the outcome because it was a true collaboration,” Jeanne said. “The bonus was gaining their trust, and that made the completion even more enjoyable.”
Rocky River’s transformative renovation of the high school kitchen, servery, and dining spaces opened for the 2024-2025 school year and was designed for future expansion and will serve the district for decades to come.
“This project helped strengthen our relationship with the school district.”
Jeanne Kleckner
Interior Designer
Rocky River Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Tour
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Rocky River’s Transformative RenovationThe Rocky River City School District takes pride in its school maintenance program that maximizes its existing resources. However, it was time for a substantial upgrade. Rocky River’s transformative renovation of the kitchen, servery, and dining spaces opened for the 2024-2025 school year to provide nutritious hot meals served in a pleasing, technologically advanced environment. To best use the existing spaces and materials, the design team implemented creative solutions to seamlessly blend new elements with legacy features.
Rocky River’s Transformative Renovation
The Rocky River City School District takes pride in its robust school maintenance program that maximizes the longevity of its current resources. However, with declining participation in the high school’s meal program, the district decided it was time for a substantial upgrade. Preserving some of the existing finishes, the design team implemented creative solutions to work within the existing space and blend new touches with legacy features. The newly renovated kitchen, servery, and dining spaces opened for the 2024-2025 school year to provide nutritious, hot meals served in a pleasing, technologically advanced environment.
Partnering with ThenDesign Architecture and RFC Contracting, the school district invested $1.9 million to renovate its 5,448 square-foot kitchen, servery, and student dining facilities at Rocky River High School. Built in 1949, some of the original elements continued to endure, but the original layout of the space lacked the appeal and functionality of a contemporary educational environment.
“TDA has enjoyed a long-term relationship with the Rocky River City School District since the 2017 Beach School renovation,” Project Manager Brad Gellert, AIA, NCARB, recalled. “It was practically an abandoned building, but we restored it to its former pre-K program glory. We started conversations about the kitchen right after that.”
“We did a whole lot with very little. The existing space was completely transformed.”
Brad Gellert
Project Manager
Rocky River’s Transformative Renovation of the Kitchen, Servery, and Dining Area
Durability, Openness, and Blending Finishes
Brad understood the school wanted to increase lunch participation with a greatly expanded menu and create an inviting space for students to relax and socialize. Since the school district has a reputation for making mindful decisions geared toward long-term benefits, great efforts were made to select durable but easy-to-maintain upgrades, such as the non-slip welded-seam flooring.
“They wanted a servery floor that would last the next forty years,” noted Interior Designer Jeanne Kleckner. “The school district took the extra steps to think through how the space might be used in the future and chose materials and finishes that are equal in quality and durability to the long-lasting finishes that were previously installed. They made some really smart decisions.”
One of the more notable changes to the kitchen was addressing the 75-year-old wall tiles. “Those yellow tiles from the original construction were built to last, and they did,” noted Brad, “But the aesthetic looked like the era it came from. It had a more institutional feel rather than a welcoming timeless space.”
The team agreed that stripping away the tiles was unnecessary, so they were overlaid with high-quality white kitchen sheet vinyl wall protection. This material was installed with heat welds between panels connecting to the floor for a watertight installation. This practical choice helped minimize construction time and the budget without sacrificing durability.
“The columns in the dining area had dark wooden wainscots that had been beaten up over the years,” Brad said. He and Jeanne sat in the dining space to feel out what worked and what did not. They realized the ceiling felt low, and the room seemed cramped. The cause was not the size of the space but the darker colors and materials.
To solve this perception, the columns in the center of the space were covered with a vertically striped white and gray Corian to give the impression of taller ceilings. The columns along the north wall leading to the student commons were covered in woodgrain laminated panels to blend with existing high school building finishes. New lights and an updated ceiling material with a better acoustical value were also installed. An optical illusion gives the impression that the updated ceiling was raised.
Brad commented, “The whole space looks very bright, clean, and open now.”
Jeanne recalled how the design elements blended together. “Clarissa Schroeder on our interiors team found the column material. We realized that if we picked the right colorway, we could seize an opportunity to connect it with existing finishes. The gray stripe pattern in the Corian columns now ties to the metal tile at the concession stand. We added aluminum reveals to the perimeter woodgrain panels, and that finish matches the door hardware throughout the building.”
“My kids go to school here, so I was personally invested in the project’s success.”
Jeanne Kleckner
Interior Designer
Design Details Blend the Old with the New
Preservation, Creativity, and Low Carbon Impact
Some of the project’s key challenges were that no new square footage would be created and some historical design finishes would be respected. The district conveyed that there were elements from a 2011 renovation that matched the finishes of the building that they wanted to keep. Among those elements in the student dining area were the brushed metal tile on the concession stand and the terrazzo flooring.
“Burt Hill installed the imported European brushed metal tile when they renovated the school in 2011, and the district made a significant effort to maintain it,” Brad noted. ” The existing terrazzo flooring is an expensive material, and most schools cannot afford it now. These features were in good condition, so we preserved them. Our new design elements blended well, and most people should not be able to tell the difference between what is new and what was already there.”
Since no new interior space was available for expansion, a creative solution was needed to accommodate a new walk-in freezer and a separate walk-in cooler. Brad explained the thoughtful solution, “To make the space more efficient, we turned the old freezer into the walk-in cooler and placed the new freezer outside in an existing area already behind a garden gate. We poured a concrete frost slab and attached the freezer to the building so it is accessible from the outside for deliveries and from the inside for the staff.”
The new configuration makes deliveries much easier because vendors no longer need to enter the school or wheel carts down hallways and through the kitchen. Brad added, “I heard the delivery folks love it.”
Whenever possible, TDA prides itself on implementing environmentally conscious practices. “This renovation was a low-carbon, low-impact renovation because the embodied carbon was already there,” Brad said. “There was minimal demolition, so we didn’t add a lot to landfills or use a lot of electricity to generate new materials. Most of the steel, concrete, and other materials were preexisting in the space. So, the project was environmentally sustainable from that point of view.”
“The biggest feature of this project is that we reused the existing space.”
Brad Gellert
Project Manager
The Updated Rocky River Kitchen, Servery, and Dining Area
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Opening
On August 13, 2024, the Rocky River City School District held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new high school kitchen, servery, and student dining areas. Invited guests toured the new spaces and were shown the state-of-the-art cooking equipment, digital servery monitors, and updated finishes. The spaces were also brought up to modern building codes and made ADA accessible.
Brad and Jeanne attended the ribbon cutting ceremony to experience the culmination of their successful partnership with the Rocky River City School District. The school district and staff were pleased with the outcome, especially since the kitchen can now serve hot pizza. One staff member described the new space as a ray of sunshine.
“The most interesting thing about this space is that it is so completely different from what it was but used in the same space,” Brad said. “It now has a beautiful, inviting servery and a kitchen with fuller menu choices. The dining area was freshened up with new materials and is now a pleasing place to hang out.”
Jeanne expressed her special fondness for the project. “The best part of these projects is always the collaboration. Brad and I put equal thought into how to improve the space. Blending original materials with modern touches was an exciting challenge,” she said. “The district had a lot of respect for what came before them, and they recognized our commitment to the integrity of the project because we also cared about the historical elements.”
“Everyone is happy with the outcome because it was a true collaboration,” Jeanne said. “The bonus was gaining their trust, and that made the completion even more enjoyable.”
Rocky River’s transformative renovation of the high school kitchen, servery, and dining spaces opened for the 2024-2025 school year and was designed for future expansion and will serve the district for decades to come.
“This project helped strengthen our relationship with the school district.”
Jeanne Kleckner
Interior Designer
Rocky River Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Tour
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Design and Construction Plans Unveiled for North Ridgeville City School’s New High SchoolIn the early autumn, plans were unveiled for the design and construction of North Ridgeville City School’s new high school and maintenance transportation facility. The new 340,000 SF 9-12 high school is more than double the size of the existing school and signals a bold new chapter for the district’s educational future.
Design and Construction Plans Unveiled for North Ridgeville City School’s New High School
In the early autumn, team members from ThenDesign Architecture, the North Ridgeville City School District, and Hammond Construction unveiled the design and construction plans for the district’s new high school and maintenance transportation facility. The new 340,000 SF 9-12 high school is more than double the size of the existing school and signals a bold new chapter for the district’s educational future.
The new school includes a performing arts center, competition gymnasium, natatorium, and flexible, modern educational spaces for students.
Community Members Attended the Update Meeting in North Ridgeville
Gathering Feedback from Stakeholders
The project incorporates feedback from various groups involved early in the design process. It includes ideas gathered from an educational visioning session, a visual preference community survey, and regular staff engagement meetings. The more than 75 academic spaces will have a collegiate feel by incorporating collaborative and flexible spaces that give students more autonomy. They are designed to foster relationships between students, their peers, and district staff.
Based on feedback the district gathered, they are prioritizing four key aspects of the new school:
“Collegiate Environment” – Developing spaces that promote student autonomy, preparing them for life after high school.
“Future Thinking” – Develop spaces that are adaptable for future learning opportunities and will still be relevant 20 years from now.
“Collaborative” – School designs that encourage student interaction and collaboration.
“Relationships” – A school that fosters partnerships with business and community initiatives.
Community Members Attended the Update Meeting in North Ridgeville
Features of the New North Ridgeville High School
In addition to providing a modern educational environment that incorporates daylighting into classrooms and offices, the school also prioritizes sustainability features and environmental controls to regulate temperatures in the building and promote a healthy indoor environment.
Two main entrances separate the functions of the school. One is dedicated to academic entry, while the other event entry provides access to athletic and art spaces.
There is one clear main entrance for visitors throughout the school day. This entry will also serve as the athletic entry after hours for the main gymnasium. A separate, dedicated entrance is designed for the performing arts center. The large spaces that can be open for events after hours are easily separated from the rest of the school.
Just inside the academic entrance is a central dining hub connecting the school’s various areas and creating a large common space for students.
Other notable spaces include a performing arts center that provides the necessary space to support the district’s growing arts program and a competition gymnasium to host large athletic events. Also included is a state-of-the-art natatorium to support the district’s swim team. The inclusion of the swimming pool is a significant feature of the school. It provides training and competition space along with a potential revenue stream for the district through rental opportunities for other swim teams in the area.
Various student groups have also been involved in the new school’s design
Timing and Schedule Explained in the Design and Construction Plans
Hammond Construction also provided a timeline for the project, laying out the key construction phases. The project is aligned with current budget and schedule estimates and is planned to be completed by the 2028-2029 school year. Once the new building is complete, the current high school will be demolished, and the area will be transformed into new practice fields.
Community members who attended were very supportive of the plans for the new school. The designs result from hundreds of hours of input from the school district, community, students, and design professionals. The school plans reflect the educational priorities for the district by solving the challenges of overcrowding at the existing school and creating spaces for new educational opportunities for future generations of North Ridgeville students.
View the Presentation from the Design and Construction Meeting for North Ridgeville City School’s New High School
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
Design and Construction Plans Unveiled for North Ridgeville City School’s New High SchoolIn the early autumn, plans were unveiled for the design and construction of North Ridgeville City School’s new high school and maintenance transportation facility. The new 340,000 SF 9-12 high school is more than double the size of the existing school and signals a bold new chapter for the district’s educational future.
Design and Construction Plans Unveiled for North Ridgeville City School’s New High School
In the early autumn, team members from ThenDesign Architecture, the North Ridgeville City School District, and Hammond Construction unveiled the design and construction plans for the district’s new high school and maintenance transportation facility. The new 340,000 SF 9-12 high school is more than double the size of the existing school and signals a bold new chapter for the district’s educational future.
The new school includes a performing arts center, competition gymnasium, natatorium, and flexible, modern educational spaces for students.
Community Members Attended the Update Meeting in North Ridgeville
Gathering Feedback from Stakeholders
The project incorporates feedback from various groups involved early in the design process. It includes ideas gathered from an educational visioning session, a visual preference community survey, and regular staff engagement meetings. The more than 75 academic spaces will have a collegiate feel by incorporating collaborative and flexible spaces that give students more autonomy. They are designed to foster relationships between students, their peers, and district staff.
Based on feedback the district gathered, they are prioritizing four key aspects of the new school:
“Collegiate Environment” – Developing spaces that promote student autonomy, preparing them for life after high school.
“Future Thinking” – Develop spaces that are adaptable for future learning opportunities and will still be relevant 20 years from now.
“Collaborative” – School designs that encourage student interaction and collaboration.
“Relationships” – A school that fosters partnerships with business and community initiatives.
Community Members Attended the Update Meeting in North Ridgeville
Features of the New North Ridgeville High School
In addition to providing a modern educational environment that incorporates daylighting into classrooms and offices, the school also prioritizes sustainability features and environmental controls to regulate temperatures in the building and promote a healthy indoor environment.
Two main entrances separate the functions of the school. One is dedicated to academic entry, while the other event entry provides access to athletic and art spaces.
There is one clear main entrance for visitors throughout the school day. This entry will also serve as the athletic entry after hours for the main gymnasium. A separate, dedicated entrance is designed for the performing arts center. The large spaces that can be open for events after hours are easily separated from the rest of the school.
Just inside the academic entrance is a central dining hub connecting the school’s various areas and creating a large common space for students.
Other notable spaces include a performing arts center that provides the necessary space to support the district’s growing arts program and a competition gymnasium to host large athletic events. Also included is a state-of-the-art natatorium to support the district’s swim team. The inclusion of the swimming pool is a significant feature of the school. It provides training and competition space along with a potential revenue stream for the district through rental opportunities for other swim teams in the area.
Various student groups have also been involved in the new school’s design
Timing and Schedule Explained in the Design and Construction Plans
Hammond Construction also provided a timeline for the project, laying out the key construction phases. The project is aligned with current budget and schedule estimates and is planned to be completed by the 2028-2029 school year. Once the new building is complete, the current high school will be demolished, and the area will be transformed into new practice fields.
Community members who attended were very supportive of the plans for the new school. The designs result from hundreds of hours of input from the school district, community, students, and design professionals. The school plans reflect the educational priorities for the district by solving the challenges of overcrowding at the existing school and creating spaces for new educational opportunities for future generations of North Ridgeville students.
View the Presentation from the Design and Construction Meeting for North Ridgeville City School’s New High School
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
New High School Design Reveal Community MeetingThenDesign Architecture, Brunswick City Schools, and Hammond Construction held a community focused “Design Reveal” Meeting to provide a vision for the district’s new 9-12 high school.
New High School Design Reveal Community Meeting
In early autumn, ThenDesign Architecture, Brunswick City Schools, and Hammond Construction held a “Design Reveal” Community Meeting to lay out the vision for the district’s new 302,000 SF high school and provide an update on progress for the overall project. With many different components as part of the total project, it was an opportunity to present a holistic view of all the accomplished milestones.
Brunswick CSD’s Design Reveal Animation
Design Reveal Animation
Additionally, an animated walkthrough of the new school was revealed to provide community members with an inside view of the various planned spaces for the new high school. Narrated by Brunswick High School students Anderson and Addison, they brought the vision to life by providing context for how the new spaces could be used in the school. These students are two of the many voices who have helped shape this project from the start.
Since September 2023, the construction team (Brunswick City School District, the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission, ThenDesign Architecture, and Hammond Construction) has transformed ideas and concepts from district staff, administrators, and the community into an extraordinary learning environment that will inspire generations of Brunswick students. The Ohio Facilities Construction Commission is partnering with BCSD, funding 39% of the new high school construction.
Community Members Participate in the Meeting
The overall construction project includes:
A new two-story 302,000 SF high school with a performing arts center, competition gymnasium, and state-of-the-art classrooms and learning spaces
A multipurpose athletic field with synthetic turf, tennis courts, and a full-sized baseball practice field
A new maintenance facility and board of education office at the site of the current Willetts Middle School
Additional classrooms and site improvements at Applewood and Kidder Elementary schools
Demolition of the current Willetts Middle School, Towslee Elementary School, and ultimately, the existing Brunswick High School
Early site work is currently underway on the location of the new high school, and the project is on schedule and within budget. Additionally, new classrooms and site improvements are taking place at the Applewood and Kidder elementary schools while the new maintenance facility and board of education office are progressing.
Site work at Applewood Elementary wraps up this month, and the new maintenance facility breaks ground in the winter.
View the Full Presentation Below
Next Steps in the Process
The input process from district staff, students, and the community helps inform the new school’s overall design. It is reflected in the exterior design, color palette, interior arrangement of space, and the building’s features. These early crucial steps allow for the delivery of a better school that is completed on schedule and within budget and maximizes the learning opportunities for future generations of Brunswick City School students.
New High School Design Reveal Community MeetingThenDesign Architecture, Brunswick City Schools, and Hammond Construction held a community focused “Design Reveal” Meeting to provide a vision for the district’s new 9-12 high school.
New High School Design Reveal Community Meeting
In early autumn, ThenDesign Architecture, Brunswick City Schools, and Hammond Construction held a “Design Reveal” Community Meeting to lay out the vision for the district’s new 302,000 SF high school and provide an update on progress for the overall project. With many different components as part of the total project, it was an opportunity to present a holistic view of all the accomplished milestones.
Brunswick CSD’s Design Reveal Animation
Design Reveal Animation
Additionally, an animated walkthrough of the new school was revealed to provide community members with an inside view of the various planned spaces for the new high school. Narrated by Brunswick High School students Anderson and Addison, they brought the vision to life by providing context for how the new spaces could be used in the school. These students are two of the many voices who have helped shape this project from the start.
Since September 2023, the construction team (Brunswick City School District, the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission, ThenDesign Architecture, and Hammond Construction) has transformed ideas and concepts from district staff, administrators, and the community into an extraordinary learning environment that will inspire generations of Brunswick students. The Ohio Facilities Construction Commission is partnering with BCSD, funding 39% of the new high school construction.
Community Members Participate in the Meeting
The overall construction project includes:
A new two-story 302,000 SF high school with a performing arts center, competition gymnasium, and state-of-the-art classrooms and learning spaces
A multipurpose athletic field with synthetic turf, tennis courts, and a full-sized baseball practice field
A new maintenance facility and board of education office at the site of the current Willetts Middle School
Additional classrooms and site improvements at Applewood and Kidder Elementary schools
Demolition of the current Willetts Middle School, Towslee Elementary School, and ultimately, the existing Brunswick High School
Early site work is currently underway on the location of the new high school, and the project is on schedule and within budget. Additionally, new classrooms and site improvements are taking place at the Applewood and Kidder elementary schools while the new maintenance facility and board of education office are progressing.
Site work at Applewood Elementary wraps up this month, and the new maintenance facility breaks ground in the winter.
View the Full Presentation Below
Next Steps in the Process
The input process from district staff, students, and the community helps inform the new school’s overall design. It is reflected in the exterior design, color palette, interior arrangement of space, and the building’s features. These early crucial steps allow for the delivery of a better school that is completed on schedule and within budget and maximizes the learning opportunities for future generations of Brunswick City School students.
Gilmour Academy Howley Commons Grand OpeningFour years ago, a “think big” conversation with founding members of the Howley Foundation led to the renovation and expansion of the Student Commons at Gilmour Academy. As attendance continued to increase, the school had to host eight lunch periods in two separate campus areas. The new, approximately 16,000 SF Howley Commons now serves the same student body in three lunch periods and provides an inviting, flexible space for food service and social gatherings. The Gilmour Academy Howley Commons Grand Opening and ribbon cutting ceremony officially welcomed the 2024-2025 school year.
Gilmour Academy Howley Commons Grand Opening
Hosting coed and international students from 18 months to 18 years, Gilmour Academy is an accredited independent Catholic school in Gates Mills, Ohio. Founded in 1946 by the Brothers of Holy Cross, “Gilmour empowers students of all faiths to ask tough questions, think critically, and grow spiritually.”
The school’s attendance continued to increase, expanding beyond the capacity of the existing Student Commons to comfortably serve the academy’s population. The growth necessitated eight lunch periods in two different places on campus where students could no longer intermingle or eat alongside their teachers.
The altruistic efforts of the Howley family changed that. The existing building gained an additional 8,800 SF of new space, making the state-of-the-art Howley Commons approximately 16,000 SF.
“Gilmour Academy has a fierce and zealous dedication to educate the minds and hearts of its kids.”
Kathleen Kenny
Head of School
Gilmour Academy Howley Commons Grand Opening
Mindful Generosity for Education
Howley Foundation Founder Nick Howley attended the grand opening with his family. “We run a foundation that primarily focuses on giving high-quality educational opportunities to those who can’t afford it,” Nick said, “We look for schools that have very strong credentials and an element of character development. Gilmour is unique in that.”
After already contributing to a student scholarship program, the generosity of the Howley Foundation enabled the building of the Howley Commons at Gilmour Academy. After a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by Trustees and the entire Middle and Upper School student body, the Howley Commons officially opened on the first day of the 2024-2025 school year.
“The Commons is at the heart of the hustle and bustle of everyday life at Gilmour,” said Head of School Kathleen Kenny. “It was designed to be multipurpose. We’ll be able to do all kinds of student programming in this space because it is so flexible. We will be able to do Socratic seminars, exhibitions, student presentations, alumni events, and cultural celebrations.”
“We feel very strongly that many younger people who need it the most are the least able to afford it. And that’s why we decided to focus on education”
Nick Howley
The Howley Foundation Founder & Chairman
The Completed Gilmour Academy Howley Commons
A Celebration with Food and Excitement
The Howley Commons was buzzing with excitement as students discovered the inviting, flexible space for the first time. The building became a place for social interactions, as students from multiple grades sat with each other and embraced the spirit of community while enjoying a variety of food from stations throughout the building.
Teachers and students shared conversations and laughs in the boisterous first-day environment.
Howley Foundation Founder Lorie Howley noted the significance of a comfortable area to share meals and memories, “We like to get students to sit down to eat and to talk. Food is a common denominator that always gets people together. The Commons is a great hangout space.”
Mike Howley ’01 agreed with his mother’s sentiments. “You’re a Lancer for life. Through this project, I can’t tell you how many Lancer alums have reached out and said how excited they are to see the new Commons. The fact that we’re able to do this is awesome.”
“The new Howley Commons goes beyond being a dining hall. It is a gathering place where students and visitors connect and collaborate. This enhanced space is reminiscent of a small college, giving students a taste of that college feel.”
Robert Fiala ’71, AIA
ThenDesign Architecture Founding Partner
A Lively First Day at the Howley Commons
The Legacy Lives On
ThenDesign Architecture founding partner Robert Fiala, AIA, is a Gilmour Academy graduate from the class of 1971. “The relationships that you build here last a lifetime. I still regularly see friends that I met 50 years ago.” He noted significant changes to the campus since he was a student.
“When I attended here, the performing arts center used to be in the basement of the old gym. It is good to see the many improvements and expansions Gilmour has done over the years for the benefit of the students,” he said. “Having TDA be a part of this project is especially meaningful for me. It has been a wonderful experience to be working with the school I graduated from.”
Gilmour Academy Chairman of the Board Fred Botek ’85 gave inspirational comments during the ribbon cutting ceremony, “This is a place that brings us together. You can work here, chat here, and break bread here all together. This place is very important for Gilmour as a community, as family, as home.”
With the expanded capacity and programming opportunities Howley Commons affords, generations of students will gain a unique education while forming cherished memories at the social center of Gilmour Academy.
“The mingling of identities, respect, and good citizenship here will foster a greater sense of community.”
Kathleen Kenny
Head of School
Howley Commons Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
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Gilmour Academy Howley Commons Grand OpeningFour years ago, a “think big” conversation with founding members of the Howley Foundation led to the renovation and expansion of the Student Commons at Gilmour Academy. As attendance continued to increase, the school had to host eight lunch periods in two separate campus areas. The new, approximately 16,000 SF Howley Commons now serves the same student body in three lunch periods and provides an inviting, flexible space for food service and social gatherings. The Gilmour Academy Howley Commons Grand Opening and ribbon cutting ceremony officially welcomed the 2024-2025 school year.
Gilmour Academy Howley Commons Grand Opening
Hosting coed and international students from 18 months to 18 years, Gilmour Academy is an accredited independent Catholic school in Gates Mills, Ohio. Founded in 1946 by the Brothers of Holy Cross, “Gilmour empowers students of all faiths to ask tough questions, think critically, and grow spiritually.”
The school’s attendance continued to increase, expanding beyond the capacity of the existing Student Commons to comfortably serve the academy’s population. The growth necessitated eight lunch periods in two different places on campus where students could no longer intermingle or eat alongside their teachers.
The altruistic efforts of the Howley family changed that. The existing building gained an additional 8,800 SF of new space, making the state-of-the-art Howley Commons approximately 16,000 SF.
“Gilmour Academy has a fierce and zealous dedication to educate the minds and hearts of its kids.”
Kathleen Kenny
Head of School
Gilmour Academy Howley Commons Grand Opening
Mindful Generosity for Education
Howley Foundation Founder Nick Howley attended the grand opening with his family. “We run a foundation that primarily focuses on giving high-quality educational opportunities to those who can’t afford it,” Nick said, “We look for schools that have very strong credentials and an element of character development. Gilmour is unique in that.”
After already contributing to a student scholarship program, the generosity of the Howley Foundation enabled the building of the Howley Commons at Gilmour Academy. After a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by Trustees and the entire Middle and Upper School student body, the Howley Commons officially opened on the first day of the 2024-2025 school year.
“The Commons is at the heart of the hustle and bustle of everyday life at Gilmour,” said Head of School Kathleen Kenny. “It was designed to be multipurpose. We’ll be able to do all kinds of student programming in this space because it is so flexible. We will be able to do Socratic seminars, exhibitions, student presentations, alumni events, and cultural celebrations.”
“We feel very strongly that many younger people who need it the most are the least able to afford it. And that’s why we decided to focus on education”
Nick Howley
The Howley Foundation Founder & Chairman
The Completed Gilmour Academy Howley Commons
A Celebration with Food and Excitement
The Howley Commons was buzzing with excitement as students discovered the inviting, flexible space for the first time. The building became a place for social interactions, as students from multiple grades sat with each other and embraced the spirit of community while enjoying a variety of food from stations throughout the building.
Teachers and students shared conversations and laughs in the boisterous first-day environment.
Howley Foundation Founder Lorie Howley noted the significance of a comfortable area to share meals and memories, “We like to get students to sit down to eat and to talk. Food is a common denominator that always gets people together. The Commons is a great hangout space.”
Mike Howley ’01 agreed with his mother’s sentiments. “You’re a Lancer for life. Through this project, I can’t tell you how many Lancer alums have reached out and said how excited they are to see the new Commons. The fact that we’re able to do this is awesome.”
“The new Howley Commons goes beyond being a dining hall. It is a gathering place where students and visitors connect and collaborate. This enhanced space is reminiscent of a small college, giving students a taste of that college feel.”
Robert Fiala ’71, AIA
ThenDesign Architecture Founding Partner
A Lively First Day at the Howley Commons
The Legacy Lives On
ThenDesign Architecture founding partner Robert Fiala, AIA, is a Gilmour Academy graduate from the class of 1971. “The relationships that you build here last a lifetime. I still regularly see friends that I met 50 years ago.” He noted significant changes to the campus since he was a student.
“When I attended here, the performing arts center used to be in the basement of the old gym. It is good to see the many improvements and expansions Gilmour has done over the years for the benefit of the students,” he said. “Having TDA be a part of this project is especially meaningful for me. It has been a wonderful experience to be working with the school I graduated from.”
Gilmour Academy Chairman of the Board Fred Botek ’85 gave inspirational comments during the ribbon cutting ceremony, “This is a place that brings us together. You can work here, chat here, and break bread here all together. This place is very important for Gilmour as a community, as family, as home.”
With the expanded capacity and programming opportunities Howley Commons affords, generations of students will gain a unique education while forming cherished memories at the social center of Gilmour Academy.
“The mingling of identities, respect, and good citizenship here will foster a greater sense of community.”
Kathleen Kenny
Head of School
Howley Commons Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
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3D Printing in Architecture3D printing is a technology with growing benefits and expanding applications in architectural design. Clients can more easily understand spatial relations when seeing a physical miniature. Moving furniture around or changing the angle of elements can be quickly communicated with printed models. 3D printing in architecture is a versatile tool in the design process.
3D Printing in Architecture
“Some architectural drawings can be difficult to read and understand,” commented Archie Liptow, an emerging professional at TDA, “3D printing takes architectural visualization one step further, bridging the gap between designers and clients.”
Embracing the use of flourishing technologies in the design process, TDA explores ways that new tools can be used alongside traditional sketching methods and computer-aided design (CAD) in architecture. One newer tool, 3D printing, has become an essential asset for many challenging visualization problems.
Archie has been experimenting with large and small-scale models. “This opens the door to a higher level of design experimentation. With this new tool, designers can quickly visualize their ideas and iterations before finalizing the design. 3D printing is also a powerful part of the communication process.”
Knowing how important communication is throughout the design phase, this is one more way that concepts can be explored and quickly adjusted based on tactile, real-world feedback.
Archie continued, “Scale models of furniture and building segments are being used with our clients to tie them into the design process by determining their needs early on. When a design is in progress, physical models are the most effective way to visualize and understand a building before construction.”
While not everyone can understand architectural drawings, models are permanent objects that can be easily understood, arranged, and displayed. It is one way our design teams find new solutions to spatial challenges.
Let’s work together to make education better. If you would like more information on our open positions or internship programs, please visit our Careers page.
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
3D Printing in Architecture3D printing is a technology with growing benefits and expanding applications in architectural design. Clients can more easily understand spatial relations when seeing a physical miniature. Moving furniture around or changing the angle of elements can be quickly communicated with printed models. 3D printing in architecture is a versatile tool in the design process.
3D Printing in Architecture
“Some architectural drawings can be difficult to read and understand,” commented Archie Liptow, an emerging professional at TDA, “3D printing takes architectural visualization one step further, bridging the gap between designers and clients.”
Embracing the use of flourishing technologies in the design process, TDA explores ways that new tools can be used alongside traditional sketching methods and computer-aided design (CAD) in architecture. One newer tool, 3D printing, has become an essential asset for many challenging visualization problems.
Archie has been experimenting with large and small-scale models. “This opens the door to a higher level of design experimentation. With this new tool, designers can quickly visualize their ideas and iterations before finalizing the design. 3D printing is also a powerful part of the communication process.”
Knowing how important communication is throughout the design phase, this is one more way that concepts can be explored and quickly adjusted based on tactile, real-world feedback.
Archie continued, “Scale models of furniture and building segments are being used with our clients to tie them into the design process by determining their needs early on. When a design is in progress, physical models are the most effective way to visualize and understand a building before construction.”
While not everyone can understand architectural drawings, models are permanent objects that can be easily understood, arranged, and displayed. It is one way our design teams find new solutions to spatial challenges.
Let’s work together to make education better. If you would like more information on our open positions or internship programs, please visit our Careers page.
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
Lexington’s New 7-12 Facility Brings Two Schools Under One RoofLexington Local Schools wanted to consolidate their junior high and high schools into a modern educational facility. Lexington’s new 7-12 facility brings two schools under one roof with two academic wings, a performing arts center, three gymnasiums, collaborative media centers, centralized student dining, and an athletics complex.
Lexington’s New 7-12 Facility Brings Two Schools Under One Roof
Lexington Local Schools opened their new 7-12 grade educational facility, combining Lexington Junior High and Lexington High School under a single roof. The new $56 million school building opened as scheduled on September 6 for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district and local community began a journey to consolidate and improve their scholastic programs after passing a bond issue in 2018. After extensive educational planning, they started designs for the new 200,000 SF Lexington 7-12 school. The modernized structure hosts grades 7-12 divided into two academic wings, 7-8 and 9-12. This state-of-the-art facility incorporates various student-centered design principles, including open collaborative and flexible spaces, alongside more traditional academic and classroom areas.
Lexington Local Schools’ passion for the arts and sports prioritized the need for a 750-seat performing arts center, three gymnasiums, and an athletics complex that provides academic and extracurricular opportunities for its 1,200 students.
Lexington’s New 7-12 Facility
History Looks Forward
With pride in its rich history in education, the Lexington, Ohio, community maintained its aging schools with a series of construction and renovation projects over the decades in an effort to preserve the buildings. The Lexington Junior High School was part of the oldest building in the district, built in the 1890s, with a bulk of it added on in 1930. That construction assimilated the forty-year-old school and became the history department.
The high school was built in the 1960s, and renovations to the junior high school in 1970 were the last significant improvements. The school district has since recognized the need to take action as the infrastructure continued to age. Showing great respect for Lexington’s heritage, relics from the oldest structure were salvaged to incorporate into notable spaces of the new 7-12 school.
During the planning process, the existing high school site was identified as the best location for the new school, requiring the district and design team to plan their spatial plans efficiently. Considering the new construction would be 30 feet away from the existing structure, safety became a paramount consideration. The project became a real-time lesson in architecture for the students to watch from their classroom windows.
Lexington’s New 7-12 Facility Under Construction & Completed
Visioning and Collaboration
In November 2018, district voters approved an 8.6-mill bond issue for $55.95 million for construction costs associated with the project. Working with the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission through the Expedited Local Partnership Program (ELPP), the district would consolidate its five existing school buildings into two: a 7-12 school and a PreK-6 school. They began design for the 7-12 building first.
With funding secured, design began in earnest with educational visioning in 2019. The Lexington Local School District met with educators, community members, and local leaders to determine their educational priorities for their new facilities. While feedback came from various stakeholders, the district identified that following a “junior high school model” was a key priority.
This model organizes student education around curricular departments such as math, science, and English language arts. This contrasts with a “middle school model” where education is organized around small teams of educators from each core subject. Visioning combined with touring local schools allowed the administrators and designers to craft a layout that would suit the district’s educational needs.
Project Manager Scott Alleman commented, “It’s a traditional community, and they wanted to establish a forward-thinking model for education.” He continues, “They knew they didn’t simply want ‘double-loaded corridors,’ so we worked through various layouts. It became clear what strategies would work best.”
The timing of design completion in December 2022 coincided with the COVID-19 global pandemic. The last two phases, including Design Development (DD) and Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) / Construction Documents (CD), were finished during the early months of the global shutdown and were conducted almost 100% virtually.
Lexington’s New 7-12 Facility Visioning Session & School in Use
Advancing Lexington’s Arts and Athletics Programs
“The district was adamant that academics were the number one focus,” Scott recalled. “They pride themselves on athletics and the arts.”
In addition to the new 7-12 school building, Lexington Local Schools commissioned a $3 million athletics complex with baseball and softball fields, two practice soccer fields, a concession building, bleachers, press boxes, dugouts, mesh backstops, and scoreboards.
The enhanced ball fields are located at the base of a steep 15′ grade and anchored by a concessions and storage building centered between them, on an axis with the school. Each field features mesh backdrops, beautiful new scoreboards with field backstops, and fencing highlighted in the school’s purple and gold colors.
The ADA-accessible athletics complex offers a streamlined and engaging visitor experience. It is connected to the junior high school parking lot via a stairway and processional ramp, providing breathtaking field views. These “collegiate-level” fields visible from the junior high school’s second floor provide added athletic opportunities to the school’s sports program.
During the educational visioning session, many in the community voiced enthusiastic support for Lexington’s arts and athletics programs. Lexington’s 7-12 school features three expanded gymnasiums: a high school competition gym, an auxiliary gym, and a junior high school gym. The competition gym has a seating capacity of 2,400 and a mezzanine that can be used for wrestling practices and other activities.
The crown jewel of the 7-12 school is the 750-seat performing arts center, which serves as a notable focal point and joins the student dining space. “This is one of the spaces that gets me really excited, especially when you are up on the stage looking out at all those chairs,” Scott said.
Lexington’s 7-12 Performing Arts Center & Athletics Facilities
Dramatic Centralized Student Dining
An elongated student dining collaborative joins the northern high school portion to the southern junior high with a flooring material that transitions between the separate academic spaces. A view of the courtyard from this two-story area creates a dramatic visitor entrance.
Up to 400 students per lunch period are supported in this centralized space. It also serves as a lobby for the performing arts center and gymnasiums, allowing the school administrators to program the dining area to support different functions, creating greater flexibility. Lexington 7-12’s student dining was designed to create a logical buffer separating the academic-focused and public areas from each other.
While both academic wings are organized around collaborative spaces with media centers, the high school wing features a two-story open, collaborative space. Math and science are on the second floor, and English, world languages, and social studies are on the first.
Since opening in September 2022, the Lexington 7-12 school has established a modernized educational facility that supports the local community and its students.
Lexington’s 7-12 Dining Area & Courtyard
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Lexington’s New 7-12 Facility Brings Two Schools Under One RoofLexington Local Schools wanted to consolidate their junior high and high schools into a modern educational facility. Lexington’s new 7-12 facility brings two schools under one roof with two academic wings, a performing arts center, three gymnasiums, collaborative media centers, centralized student dining, and an athletics complex.
Lexington’s New 7-12 Facility Brings Two Schools Under One Roof
Lexington Local Schools opened their new 7-12 grade educational facility, combining Lexington Junior High and Lexington High School under a single roof. The new $56 million school building opened as scheduled on September 6 for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district and local community began a journey to consolidate and improve their scholastic programs after passing a bond issue in 2018. After extensive educational planning, they started designs for the new 200,000 SF Lexington 7-12 school. The modernized structure hosts grades 7-12 divided into two academic wings, 7-8 and 9-12. This state-of-the-art facility incorporates various student-centered design principles, including open collaborative and flexible spaces, alongside more traditional academic and classroom areas.
Lexington Local Schools’ passion for the arts and sports prioritized the need for a 750-seat performing arts center, three gymnasiums, and an athletics complex that provides academic and extracurricular opportunities for its 1,200 students.
Lexington’s New 7-12 Facility
History Looks Forward
With pride in its rich history in education, the Lexington, Ohio, community maintained its aging schools with a series of construction and renovation projects over the decades in an effort to preserve the buildings. The Lexington Junior High School was part of the oldest building in the district, built in the 1890s, with a bulk of it added on in 1930. That construction assimilated the forty-year-old school and became the history department.
The high school was built in the 1960s, and renovations to the junior high school in 1970 were the last significant improvements. The school district has since recognized the need to take action as the infrastructure continued to age. Showing great respect for Lexington’s heritage, relics from the oldest structure were salvaged to incorporate into notable spaces of the new 7-12 school.
During the planning process, the existing high school site was identified as the best location for the new school, requiring the district and design team to plan their spatial plans efficiently. Considering the new construction would be 30 feet away from the existing structure, safety became a paramount consideration. The project became a real-time lesson in architecture for the students to watch from their classroom windows.
Lexington’s New 7-12 Facility Under Construction & Completed
Visioning and Collaboration
In November 2018, district voters approved an 8.6-mill bond issue for $55.95 million for construction costs associated with the project. Working with the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission through the Expedited Local Partnership Program (ELPP), the district would consolidate its five existing school buildings into two: a 7-12 school and a PreK-6 school. They began design for the 7-12 building first.
With funding secured, design began in earnest with educational visioning in 2019. The Lexington Local School District met with educators, community members, and local leaders to determine their educational priorities for their new facilities. While feedback came from various stakeholders, the district identified that following a “junior high school model” was a key priority.
This model organizes student education around curricular departments such as math, science, and English language arts. This contrasts with a “middle school model” where education is organized around small teams of educators from each core subject. Visioning combined with touring local schools allowed the administrators and designers to craft a layout that would suit the district’s educational needs.
Project Manager Scott Alleman commented, “It’s a traditional community, and they wanted to establish a forward-thinking model for education.” He continues, “They knew they didn’t simply want ‘double-loaded corridors,’ so we worked through various layouts. It became clear what strategies would work best.”
The timing of design completion in December 2022 coincided with the COVID-19 global pandemic. The last two phases, including Design Development (DD) and Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) / Construction Documents (CD), were finished during the early months of the global shutdown and were conducted almost 100% virtually.
Lexington’s New 7-12 Facility Visioning Session & School in Use
Advancing Lexington’s Arts and Athletics Programs
“The district was adamant that academics were the number one focus,” Scott recalled. “They pride themselves on athletics and the arts.”
In addition to the new 7-12 school building, Lexington Local Schools commissioned a $3 million athletics complex with baseball and softball fields, two practice soccer fields, a concession building, bleachers, press boxes, dugouts, mesh backstops, and scoreboards.
The enhanced ball fields are located at the base of a steep 15′ grade and anchored by a concessions and storage building centered between them, on an axis with the school. Each field features mesh backdrops, beautiful new scoreboards with field backstops, and fencing highlighted in the school’s purple and gold colors.
The ADA-accessible athletics complex offers a streamlined and engaging visitor experience. It is connected to the junior high school parking lot via a stairway and processional ramp, providing breathtaking field views. These “collegiate-level” fields visible from the junior high school’s second floor provide added athletic opportunities to the school’s sports program.
During the educational visioning session, many in the community voiced enthusiastic support for Lexington’s arts and athletics programs. Lexington’s 7-12 school features three expanded gymnasiums: a high school competition gym, an auxiliary gym, and a junior high school gym. The competition gym has a seating capacity of 2,400 and a mezzanine that can be used for wrestling practices and other activities.
The crown jewel of the 7-12 school is the 750-seat performing arts center, which serves as a notable focal point and joins the student dining space. “This is one of the spaces that gets me really excited, especially when you are up on the stage looking out at all those chairs,” Scott said.
Lexington’s 7-12 Performing Arts Center & Athletics Facilities
Dramatic Centralized Student Dining
An elongated student dining collaborative joins the northern high school portion to the southern junior high with a flooring material that transitions between the separate academic spaces. A view of the courtyard from this two-story area creates a dramatic visitor entrance.
Up to 400 students per lunch period are supported in this centralized space. It also serves as a lobby for the performing arts center and gymnasiums, allowing the school administrators to program the dining area to support different functions, creating greater flexibility. Lexington 7-12’s student dining was designed to create a logical buffer separating the academic-focused and public areas from each other.
While both academic wings are organized around collaborative spaces with media centers, the high school wing features a two-story open, collaborative space. Math and science are on the second floor, and English, world languages, and social studies are on the first.
Since opening in September 2022, the Lexington 7-12 school has established a modernized educational facility that supports the local community and its students.
Lexington’s 7-12 Dining Area & Courtyard
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TDA Hosts a Student Shadow DayDuring the summer school break, ThenDesign Architecture hosted a Student Shadow Day, inviting high school and college students interested in the design fields to participate in learning sessions and hands-on activities. The group spent the day shadowing TDA teams, engaging with designers who offered insights and career advice.
TDA Hosts a Student Shadow Day
ThenDesign Architecture’s summer Student Shadow Day provided a unique opportunity for local high school and college students interested in the architecture, interior design, and construction administration fields. The staff hosted nearly twenty students, with around one-third of the attendees still in high school and the remainder attending college. For some, it was their first time in an architecture office.
“We were genuinely thrilled about the event and couldn’t wait to share our passion for architecture, interior design, and construction administration with the students,” commented Dr. Christina Moran, the Director of People Operations at TDA. Christina helped organize the event alongside several staff members to create a schedule of interactive discussions and learning sessions to provide valuable insights and experiences to these potential designers.
Students who met with TDA through local career fairs, previously interviewed for a position, or were in association with a partnering school district were among the pool of attendees. Christina said, “Their enthusiasm was palpable, and seeing their eager responses to the invites heightened our excitement for the day.”
After everyone arrived, TDA partner Robert Fiala summarized the firm’s history and gave an overview of what has made the company successful.
“The unique value of Student Shadow Day lies in the opportunity it offers students: a chance to step into an architect’s office, witness our work, understand our methods, and be immersed in the culture of design through a hands-on learning experience.”
Robert Fiala, AIA
Partner
TDA Hosts a Student Shadow Day
Designing Schools From Inside a School
The students found the building tour particularly interesting because TDA’s offices are located in the renovated Memorial Junior High School in Willoughby, Ohio. This historic school was originally constructed in the 1920s, and many original features, such as the lockers and original doors, are still intact. Christina said, “The students enjoyed that our teams design schools and much of our work is done from inside a former school building.”
A question-and-answer session on architecture, interior design, and construction administration and a one-on-one speed networking activity drew out the energy of the group and allowed them to quickly introduce themselves to each other, emphasizing the importance of building professional relationships with their peers.
The interiors team led an artistic activity where students created their own palette of materials, including fabrics, flooring, paint colors, surfaces, and wall coverings, and presented their choices to the group, fostering a sense of collaboration and creativity.
“TDA is mindful of the surrounding community and those we serve. The Student Shadow Day event is a thread between our work, our mission, and who we are as people.”
Dr. Christina Moran
Students Interact with the Design Teams
Imparting Core Values
“The Student Shadow Day aligns with our core values of leadership, teamwork, and creativity,” noted Christina. “Whether they come to work at TDA or not, we hope to inspire the next generation of designers by infusing them with a sense of serving the community. We know they will go on to do great things in the world and feel honored to be a part of their early professional experience.”
By the end of the day, students were engaging boldly, exploring their curiosity, and asking honest questions, which always makes for better conversations.
Reflecting after the event, Christina recalls, “Seeing them leave with a little more confidence, ready to embark on their design career journey, is gratifying. It would be amazing for TDA to be a part of their story.”
“Student Shadow Day is a chance for us to share our story of architecture and design and ignite students’ passion for pursuing this as a career choice.”
Robert Fiala, AIA
Partner
Let’s work together to make education better. If you would like more information on our open positions or internship programs, please visit our Careers page.
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TDA Hosts a Student Shadow DayDuring the summer school break, ThenDesign Architecture hosted a Student Shadow Day, inviting high school and college students interested in the design fields to participate in learning sessions and hands-on activities. The group spent the day shadowing TDA teams, engaging with designers who offered insights and career advice.
TDA Hosts a Student Shadow Day
ThenDesign Architecture’s summer Student Shadow Day provided a unique opportunity for local high school and college students interested in the architecture, interior design, and construction administration fields. The staff hosted nearly twenty students, with around one-third of the attendees still in high school and the remainder attending college. For some, it was their first time in an architecture office.
“We were genuinely thrilled about the event and couldn’t wait to share our passion for architecture, interior design, and construction administration with the students,” commented Dr. Christina Moran, the Director of People Operations at TDA. Christina helped organize the event alongside several staff members to create a schedule of interactive discussions and learning sessions to provide valuable insights and experiences to these potential designers.
Students who met with TDA through local career fairs, previously interviewed for a position, or were in association with a partnering school district were among the pool of attendees. Christina said, “Their enthusiasm was palpable, and seeing their eager responses to the invites heightened our excitement for the day.”
After everyone arrived, TDA partner Robert Fiala summarized the firm’s history and gave an overview of what has made the company successful.
“The unique value of Student Shadow Day lies in the opportunity it offers students: a chance to step into an architect’s office, witness our work, understand our methods, and be immersed in the culture of design through a hands-on learning experience.”
Robert Fiala, AIA
Partner
TDA Hosts a Student Shadow Day
Designing Schools From Inside a School
The students found the building tour particularly interesting because TDA’s offices are located in the renovated Memorial Junior High School in Willoughby, Ohio. This historic school was originally constructed in the 1920s, and many original features, such as the lockers and original doors, are still intact. Christina said, “The students enjoyed that our teams design schools and much of our work is done from inside a former school building.”
A question-and-answer session on architecture, interior design, and construction administration and a one-on-one speed networking activity drew out the energy of the group and allowed them to quickly introduce themselves to each other, emphasizing the importance of building professional relationships with their peers.
The interiors team led an artistic activity where students created their own palette of materials, including fabrics, flooring, paint colors, surfaces, and wall coverings, and presented their choices to the group, fostering a sense of collaboration and creativity.
“TDA is mindful of the surrounding community and those we serve. The Student Shadow Day event is a thread between our work, our mission, and who we are as people.”
Dr. Christina Moran
Students Interact with the Design Teams
Imparting Core Values
“The Student Shadow Day aligns with our core values of leadership, teamwork, and creativity,” noted Christina. “Whether they come to work at TDA or not, we hope to inspire the next generation of designers by infusing them with a sense of serving the community. We know they will go on to do great things in the world and feel honored to be a part of their early professional experience.”
By the end of the day, students were engaging boldly, exploring their curiosity, and asking honest questions, which always makes for better conversations.
Reflecting after the event, Christina recalls, “Seeing them leave with a little more confidence, ready to embark on their design career journey, is gratifying. It would be amazing for TDA to be a part of their story.”
“Student Shadow Day is a chance for us to share our story of architecture and design and ignite students’ passion for pursuing this as a career choice.”
Robert Fiala, AIA
Partner
Let’s work together to make education better. If you would like more information on our open positions or internship programs, please visit our Careers page.
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
Brunswick CSD’s Community Construction UpdateCommunity members gathered to participate in Brunswick CSD’s Community Construction Update Meeting. Residents, students, and educators listened to a presentation by ThenDesign Architecture and Hammond Construction representatives to gain valuable insight into the status of the design and construction timeline for the new high school.
Brunswick CSD’s Community Construction Update
On May 1, the Brunswick City School District hosted a highly successful Community Construction Update event, presenting the status of the design progress for the new high school. About 70 people, including students, educators, and local community members, attended the engagement to learn more details about the design and construction project.
Superintendent Jason Niedermeyer, ThenDesign Architecture, and Hammond Construction provided a comprehensive overview of the project’s current goals and accomplishments. They described the development site plan, including the school layout and a brief summary of the construction timeline.
Brunswick CSD’s Community Construction Update
The Visual Preference Activity
Attendees were invited and encouraged to participate in a visual preference exercise. Several poster boards, each displaying two different aesthetic designs, were shown. They selected their preferences for the new high school by placing green stickers to designate their choice.
Their opinions about the future school’s exterior are invaluable, as they will shape the design and reflect the sensibilities of the Brunswick community. Continued public involvement is essential. Their feedback empowers them to influence the outcome directly.
Community Members Participate in the Update Meeting
Schematic Design Takes Shape
In an early April Community Construction Update meeting, ThenDesign Architecture presented the preliminary schematic design for the new Brunswick High School. The 302,000 SF school will contain academic space designed for 21st-century education, a 1,000-seat auditorium, and a competition gymnasium that holds 2,000 spectators.
“Tonight, we are really excited to share with you the journey we have been on and the process we have been through to create a building that this community can be proud of,” commented Superintendent Jason Niedermeyer.
The schematic design results from hundreds of hours working with BCSD staff, architects, engineers, and construction professionals. The interior layout is tailored to the district’s operations and how it can suit the needs of Brunswick City School students.
The building has three points of entry: the North, West, and South. Bus traffic will be routed to the west lot, with those students entering there, while visitors and parents can drop off students to the south, while the north lot will be used for students who drive. This lot will also be used as the event entry for the athletic and performance facilities.
The front of the building, which faces Center Road, is a two-story academic wing and is anchored by student services at its center. The compact nature of the structure allows students to travel more easily between classes and shared spaces. They will be taking advantage of this new modern educational environment, which is tailored to the needs of the district and the challenges they will face after high school.
The New Brunswick High School’s Site Plans
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Brunswick CSD’s Community Construction UpdateCommunity members gathered to participate in Brunswick CSD’s Community Construction Update Meeting. Residents, students, and educators listened to a presentation by ThenDesign Architecture and Hammond Construction representatives to gain valuable insight into the status of the design and construction timeline for the new high school.
Brunswick CSD’s Community Construction Update
On May 1, the Brunswick City School District hosted a highly successful Community Construction Update event, presenting the status of the design progress for the new high school. About 70 people, including students, educators, and local community members, attended the engagement to learn more details about the design and construction project.
Superintendent Jason Niedermeyer, ThenDesign Architecture, and Hammond Construction provided a comprehensive overview of the project’s current goals and accomplishments. They described the development site plan, including the school layout and a brief summary of the construction timeline.
Brunswick CSD’s Community Construction Update
The Visual Preference Activity
Attendees were invited and encouraged to participate in a visual preference exercise. Several poster boards, each displaying two different aesthetic designs, were shown. They selected their preferences for the new high school by placing green stickers to designate their choice.
Their opinions about the future school’s exterior are invaluable, as they will shape the design and reflect the sensibilities of the Brunswick community. Continued public involvement is essential. Their feedback empowers them to influence the outcome directly.
Community Members Participate in the Update Meeting
Schematic Design Takes Shape
In an early April Community Construction Update meeting, ThenDesign Architecture presented the preliminary schematic design for the new Brunswick High School. The 302,000 SF school will contain academic space designed for 21st-century education, a 1,000-seat auditorium, and a competition gymnasium that holds 2,000 spectators.
“Tonight, we are really excited to share with you the journey we have been on and the process we have been through to create a building that this community can be proud of,” commented Superintendent Jason Niedermeyer.
The schematic design results from hundreds of hours working with BCSD staff, architects, engineers, and construction professionals. The interior layout is tailored to the district’s operations and how it can suit the needs of Brunswick City School students.
The building has three points of entry: the North, West, and South. Bus traffic will be routed to the west lot, with those students entering there, while visitors and parents can drop off students to the south, while the north lot will be used for students who drive. This lot will also be used as the event entry for the athletic and performance facilities.
The front of the building, which faces Center Road, is a two-story academic wing and is anchored by student services at its center. The compact nature of the structure allows students to travel more easily between classes and shared spaces. They will be taking advantage of this new modern educational environment, which is tailored to the needs of the district and the challenges they will face after high school.
The New Brunswick High School’s Site Plans
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Bryden and Hilltop Celebrate Their GroundbreakingsThe Beachwood community gathered on May 7 to watch groundbreakings for the new Bryden and Hilltop elementary schools. These events marked significant milestones for the construction project. These new elementary schools will offer better facilities for future Beachwood students.
Bryden and Hilltop Celebrate Their Groundbreakings
Beachwood City Schools reached a significant milestone on May 7, 2024. With great pride, students, staff, and community members came together to commemorate the groundbreaking ceremonies for the new Bryden and Hilltop Elementary Schools. This momentous occasion symbolizes the evolution of education as the original schools, built in 1956, will be transformed into state-of-the-art facilities.
Amidst the backdrop of construction equipment and architectural renderings of the future schools, the groundbreaking ceremonies were a testament to the strong community spirit of the Beachwood community. The atmosphere was enlivened by student musical performances, special comments by dignitaries, and a symbolic turning of the soil ceremonies. These underscored the community’s collective effort and shared achievement.
Bryden and Hilltop Celebrate Their Groundbreakings
Two Schools. Two Groundbreaking Ceremonies
Superintendent Dr. Robert Hardis gave opening comments, “All of you deserve a new building with modern classrooms that are safe and secure, energy-efficient, and filled with light and color to inspire our youngest students.”
President of the Board of Education Megan Walsh emphasized the importance of the relationships they will build in the new schools, “[In our elementary schools,] they feel like a welcoming and happy place. They feel like you belong here because you do! I promise that this same feeling will follow you to the new buildings.”
“I’m super excited for our new school. We can bring in more love to our community.”
Maya
2nd Grade Student
Bryden and Hilltop Celebrate Their Groundbreakings
School Design with Students in Mind
ThenDesign Architecture Project Manager Ryan Schmit noted the project’s importance, “It takes vision to build a school. It takes the commitment of hundreds of hours from many people, including the Board of Education, administration, teachers, students, parents, city officials, and community members, to achieve such a worthy cause.”
Being a Hilltop alumnus, Beachwood Mayor Justin Berns had a personal connection to the occasion. “A new school signifies a fresh start,” he noted, “A renewed commitment to education, a place to discover new and exciting ways to learn, and a place where you will build friendships that last a lifetime.”
The Beachwood community supported the new schools initiative in May 2023 by approving a 3.95-mill bond issue. Ongoing community involvement is key to the project’s design and construction phases. The schools are being designed by ThenDesign Architecture, with Hammond Construction operating as the Construction Manager At Risk.
“Anybody can build a building. But it takes a strong community to build a school.”
Ryan Schmit
Project Manager
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Bryden and Hilltop Celebrate Their GroundbreakingsThe Beachwood community gathered on May 7 to watch groundbreakings for the new Bryden and Hilltop elementary schools. These events marked significant milestones for the construction project. These new elementary schools will offer better facilities for future Beachwood students.
Bryden and Hilltop Celebrate Their Groundbreakings
Beachwood City Schools reached a significant milestone on May 7, 2024. With great pride, students, staff, and community members came together to commemorate the groundbreaking ceremonies for the new Bryden and Hilltop Elementary Schools. This momentous occasion symbolizes the evolution of education as the original schools, built in 1956, will be transformed into state-of-the-art facilities.
Amidst the backdrop of construction equipment and architectural renderings of the future schools, the groundbreaking ceremonies were a testament to the strong community spirit of the Beachwood community. The atmosphere was enlivened by student musical performances, special comments by dignitaries, and a symbolic turning of the soil ceremonies. These underscored the community’s collective effort and shared achievement.
Bryden and Hilltop Celebrate Their Groundbreakings
Two Schools. Two Groundbreaking Ceremonies
Superintendent Dr. Robert Hardis gave opening comments, “All of you deserve a new building with modern classrooms that are safe and secure, energy-efficient, and filled with light and color to inspire our youngest students.”
President of the Board of Education Megan Walsh emphasized the importance of the relationships they will build in the new schools, “[In our elementary schools,] they feel like a welcoming and happy place. They feel like you belong here because you do! I promise that this same feeling will follow you to the new buildings.”
“I’m super excited for our new school. We can bring in more love to our community.”
Maya
2nd Grade Student
Bryden and Hilltop Celebrate Their Groundbreakings
School Design with Students in Mind
ThenDesign Architecture Project Manager Ryan Schmit noted the project’s importance, “It takes vision to build a school. It takes the commitment of hundreds of hours from many people, including the Board of Education, administration, teachers, students, parents, city officials, and community members, to achieve such a worthy cause.”
Being a Hilltop alumnus, Beachwood Mayor Justin Berns had a personal connection to the occasion. “A new school signifies a fresh start,” he noted, “A renewed commitment to education, a place to discover new and exciting ways to learn, and a place where you will build friendships that last a lifetime.”
The Beachwood community supported the new schools initiative in May 2023 by approving a 3.95-mill bond issue. Ongoing community involvement is key to the project’s design and construction phases. The schools are being designed by ThenDesign Architecture, with Hammond Construction operating as the Construction Manager At Risk.
“Anybody can build a building. But it takes a strong community to build a school.”
Ryan Schmit
Project Manager
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Thiel College Academic Center GroundbreakingDistinguished guests celebrated a transformative renovation project that began with the Thiel College Academic Center Groundbreaking ceremony. The multi-phased project starts in 2024 with focused efforts to enhance multiple entryways, the main lobby, and the lower level. Future improvements are scheduled to modernize labs, classrooms, and the entrance of the Langenheim Memorial Library.
Thiel College Academic Center Groundbreaking
Distinguished guests celebrated the new renovation project that began with the Thiel College Academic Center Groundbreaking ceremony.
“This project is a reflection of the academic priorities of Thiel College,” commented Thiel College President Dr. Susan Traverso during a groundbreaking ceremony for a renovation project at Thiel College’s Daniel and Dorothy Spence Academic Center.
The ThenDesign Architecture team is thrilled to continue working with Thiel College to bring this new renovation to life!
According to a press release, the $4 million project includes enhancements to the building’s entrance, updated technology, and space for collaboration and represents a “significant investment” in the Nursing program.
Thiel College Academic Center Groundbreaking
A Transformative Renovation
Speakers at the ceremony included Rod Wilt, executive director of Penn-Northwest Development Corp. and chair of the college board of trustees, Dr. Greg Butcher, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college, and Audra Franley, coordinator of campus ministries.
Future enhancements are set to modernize labs, classrooms, and the entrance to Langenheim Memorial Library.
Initially dedicated in April 1971, the Academic Center is a multi-level educational complex that features 11 classrooms, the 300-seat Bly Lecture Hall, five seminar rooms, 24 laboratories, a computer center, five specialized teaching facilities, and 55 faculty offices.
Thiel College is an independent liberal arts, sciences, and professional studies institution committed to providing quality undergraduate education. Promoting educational excellence, innovation, and ethical leadership, the College offers distinctive learning opportunities for students and serves as an asset for the region’s social, economic, and educational development.
Renovation of the Daniel and Dorothy Spence Academic Center is a multi-phased project that will continue over the next several years.
Thiel College Exterior Rendering
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Thiel College Academic Center GroundbreakingDistinguished guests celebrated a transformative renovation project that began with the Thiel College Academic Center Groundbreaking ceremony. The multi-phased project starts in 2024 with focused efforts to enhance multiple entryways, the main lobby, and the lower level. Future improvements are scheduled to modernize labs, classrooms, and the entrance of the Langenheim Memorial Library.
Thiel College Academic Center Groundbreaking
Distinguished guests celebrated the new renovation project that began with the Thiel College Academic Center Groundbreaking ceremony.
“This project is a reflection of the academic priorities of Thiel College,” commented Thiel College President Dr. Susan Traverso during a groundbreaking ceremony for a renovation project at Thiel College’s Daniel and Dorothy Spence Academic Center.
The ThenDesign Architecture team is thrilled to continue working with Thiel College to bring this new renovation to life!
According to a press release, the $4 million project includes enhancements to the building’s entrance, updated technology, and space for collaboration and represents a “significant investment” in the Nursing program.
Thiel College Academic Center Groundbreaking
A Transformative Renovation
Speakers at the ceremony included Rod Wilt, executive director of Penn-Northwest Development Corp. and chair of the college board of trustees, Dr. Greg Butcher, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college, and Audra Franley, coordinator of campus ministries.
Future enhancements are set to modernize labs, classrooms, and the entrance to Langenheim Memorial Library.
Initially dedicated in April 1971, the Academic Center is a multi-level educational complex that features 11 classrooms, the 300-seat Bly Lecture Hall, five seminar rooms, 24 laboratories, a computer center, five specialized teaching facilities, and 55 faculty offices.
Thiel College is an independent liberal arts, sciences, and professional studies institution committed to providing quality undergraduate education. Promoting educational excellence, innovation, and ethical leadership, the College offers distinctive learning opportunities for students and serves as an asset for the region’s social, economic, and educational development.
Renovation of the Daniel and Dorothy Spence Academic Center is a multi-phased project that will continue over the next several years.
Thiel College Exterior Rendering
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Brunswick High School Senior Seminar PresentationsThe Brunswick High School Senior Seminar Presentations provided an opportunity for students to design educational spaces that could be incorporated into the new high school. As part of their class project, they conducted research, built physical and digital models of their ideal spaces, and shared their experiences with members of TDA and BCSD. Their suggestions could benefit the next generation of Brunswick students.
Brunswick High School Senior Seminar Presentations
Seniors at Brunswick High School presented their design ideas for the new high school to administrators at BCSD and representatives at ThenDesign Architecture as part of their Senior Seminar class project.
The 12th-grade students chose which areas they wanted to create, including how to best convey those ideas. Some students created physical dioramas made of cardboard, wood, and lights, while others utilized software tools to create a computer-animated presentation.
“We are designing this building for them, so hearing their feedback is crucial.”
Jeanne Kleckner
Interior Designer
The New Brunswick High School in Progress
The over 300,000 SF, 9-12 high school will include an auditorium and replace the existing school. It will provide a modern educational environment better positioned to accommodate personalized student needs and foster learning and collaboration.
“It’s fun to hear what the young people are thinking about and what is important to them.”
Scott Alleman
Project Manager
The Brunswick High School Senior Seminar Presentations
Senior Seminar Teachers Facilitate Participation
Senior Seminar teacher Mark Belkofer focused on the benefits of student involvement, “The most important thing we can do is put this in their hands,” he said. “Their collective ideas could help shape what they believe a 21st-century educational space should be.”
The Senior Seminar class has three co-teachers, including Michelle Raglow and Colin Smith. Colin said his focus was to allow students to express their ideas, “My job is to make sure their voices are heard, not to make changes to their designs. They did a great job talking to teachers to find out what they wanted for the new high school.”
“These talented students came up with their concepts based on their experiences and research,” said Senior Seminar teacher Michelle Raglow. “Now, they have an authentic audience in TDA and the administration. What an incredible experience it was for them to be able to present and really be listened to.”
“Even though these students won’t be attending the new school, this was an opportunity for them to leave their mark for the next generation.”
Colin Smith
Senior Seminar Teacher
The Brunswick High School Senior Seminar Presentations
The Senior Seminar Presentation is part of TDA’s information-gathering efforts to engage with students, teachers, and community members to include their valuable insight to influence the design process. Ideas conveyed during visioning sessions, visual preference exercises, and the Senior Seminar will directly impact the design decisions of the new high school.
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
Brunswick High School Senior Seminar PresentationsThe Brunswick High School Senior Seminar Presentations provided an opportunity for students to design educational spaces that could be incorporated into the new high school. As part of their class project, they conducted research, built physical and digital models of their ideal spaces, and shared their experiences with members of TDA and BCSD. Their suggestions could benefit the next generation of Brunswick students.
Brunswick High School Senior Seminar Presentations
Seniors at Brunswick High School presented their design ideas for the new high school to administrators at BCSD and representatives at ThenDesign Architecture as part of their Senior Seminar class project.
The 12th-grade students chose which areas they wanted to create, including how to best convey those ideas. Some students created physical dioramas made of cardboard, wood, and lights, while others utilized software tools to create a computer-animated presentation.
“We are designing this building for them, so hearing their feedback is crucial.”
Jeanne Kleckner
Interior Designer
The New Brunswick High School in Progress
The over 300,000 SF, 9-12 high school will include an auditorium and replace the existing school. It will provide a modern educational environment better positioned to accommodate personalized student needs and foster learning and collaboration.
“It’s fun to hear what the young people are thinking about and what is important to them.”
Scott Alleman
Project Manager
The Brunswick High School Senior Seminar Presentations
Senior Seminar Teachers Facilitate Participation
Senior Seminar teacher Mark Belkofer focused on the benefits of student involvement, “The most important thing we can do is put this in their hands,” he said. “Their collective ideas could help shape what they believe a 21st-century educational space should be.”
The Senior Seminar class has three co-teachers, including Michelle Raglow and Colin Smith. Colin said his focus was to allow students to express their ideas, “My job is to make sure their voices are heard, not to make changes to their designs. They did a great job talking to teachers to find out what they wanted for the new high school.”
“These talented students came up with their concepts based on their experiences and research,” said Senior Seminar teacher Michelle Raglow. “Now, they have an authentic audience in TDA and the administration. What an incredible experience it was for them to be able to present and really be listened to.”
“Even though these students won’t be attending the new school, this was an opportunity for them to leave their mark for the next generation.”
Colin Smith
Senior Seminar Teacher
The Brunswick High School Senior Seminar Presentations
The Senior Seminar Presentation is part of TDA’s information-gathering efforts to engage with students, teachers, and community members to include their valuable insight to influence the design process. Ideas conveyed during visioning sessions, visual preference exercises, and the Senior Seminar will directly impact the design decisions of the new high school.
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
North Ridgeville Visual Preference ExerciseHosted at the North Ridgeville Academic Center, teachers, students, and community members participated in a Visual Preference Exercise to help determine the design aesthetics for the exterior of the new North Ridgeville High School. The continued participation of local community members is vital to the success of the design process.
North Ridgeville Visual Preference Exercise
The new North Ridgeville High School project took a significant step forward with a dynamic community engagement on April 10. ThenDesign Architecture hosted the pivotal “Meet the Architect” event at the North Ridgeville Academic Center, drawing a crowd of over seventy residents. This event provided a platform for the community to hear an update on the construction project, meet the design team, and ask questions. Importantly, it also allowed residents to voice their preferences for the school’s exterior, underscoring their role in shaping the project.
Central to the evening was the Visual Preference Exercise, a key tool in the decision-making process. This development technique is designed to gather valuable community input on physical design alternatives, ensuring that the preferences of the North Ridgeville community are considered during the design process.
Important Community Feedback
Several boards were staged with options for attendees to choose which aesthetic style best fits North Ridgeville. By placing green stickers to designate their visual preference, participants informed the design team which side-by-side options were most appealing. They could then add details regarding why they chose this option.
TDA Project Architect Claire Bank values this critical feedback from teachers, students, and residents. The information influences the development of architectural decisions. Working closely with Superintendent Roxann Ramsey-Caserio and the school district, TDA designers will continue to advance the look and feel of the new North Ridgeville High School based on the opinions of the local community.
Visual Preference Exercise with North Ridgeville City Schools & TDA
Community Feedback Still Needed
For interested North Ridgeville residents who could not participate in the Visual Preference Exercise, there is still time to voice your opinions by visiting this survey link. Your continued involvement is essential for making the new North Ridgeville High School successful.
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
North Ridgeville Visual Preference ExerciseHosted at the North Ridgeville Academic Center, teachers, students, and community members participated in a Visual Preference Exercise to help determine the design aesthetics for the exterior of the new North Ridgeville High School. The continued participation of local community members is vital to the success of the design process.
North Ridgeville Visual Preference Exercise
The new North Ridgeville High School project took a significant step forward with a dynamic community engagement on April 10. ThenDesign Architecture hosted the pivotal “Meet the Architect” event at the North Ridgeville Academic Center, drawing a crowd of over seventy residents. This event provided a platform for the community to hear an update on the construction project, meet the design team, and ask questions. Importantly, it also allowed residents to voice their preferences for the school’s exterior, underscoring their role in shaping the project.
Central to the evening was the Visual Preference Exercise, a key tool in the decision-making process. This development technique is designed to gather valuable community input on physical design alternatives, ensuring that the preferences of the North Ridgeville community are considered during the design process.
Important Community Feedback
Several boards were staged with options for attendees to choose which aesthetic style best fits North Ridgeville. By placing green stickers to designate their visual preference, participants informed the design team which side-by-side options were most appealing. They could then add details regarding why they chose this option.
TDA Project Architect Claire Bank values this critical feedback from teachers, students, and residents. The information influences the development of architectural decisions. Working closely with Superintendent Roxann Ramsey-Caserio and the school district, TDA designers will continue to advance the look and feel of the new North Ridgeville High School based on the opinions of the local community.
Visual Preference Exercise with North Ridgeville City Schools & TDA
Community Feedback Still Needed
For interested North Ridgeville residents who could not participate in the Visual Preference Exercise, there is still time to voice your opinions by visiting this survey link. Your continued involvement is essential for making the new North Ridgeville High School successful.
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
North Ridgeville City Schools Conducted Educational Visioning for Their New High SchoolOn February 20th, students, community members, district administrators, city officials, and teachers attended an all-day Educational Visioning Session hosted by ThenDesign Architecture at North Ridgeville’s Academic Center. This session focused on group collaboration as attendees brainstormed how the district’s new high school would improve every student’s educational experience for generations to come.
North Ridgeville City Schools – Educational Visioning for the New High School
On February 20th, students, community members, district administrators, city officials, and teachers attended an all-day Educational Visioning Session hosted by ThenDesign Architecture at North Ridgeville’s Academic Center. This session focused on group collaboration as attendees brainstormed how the district’s new high school would improve every student’s educational experience for generations to come.
As the day commenced, Superintendent Roxann Ramsey-Caserio welcomed everyone, “This is a huge representation of the North Ridgeville community, and I am grateful you took the time to be here today.”
Guests participated in activities designed to garner input on the new school. “You will truly help shape the future of North Ridgeville. We are building a new high school, and the ideas you develop today will be the roadmap to make this a reality.”
With over 80 in attendance, everyone had a say in the activities. The new, +300,000 SF, 9-12 high school includes state-of-the-art academic spaces, an auditorium, and enhanced athletic spaces, replacing the existing 1960s high school. This new building enhances student safety and security while accommodating growth in the community and provides a modern educational environment that fosters student learning and collaboration.
Many current North Ridgeville students attended. One student, Angel, felt the school would make a significant impact on his peers, “Students have a voice, and it’s great that we can provide feedback.” He was glad to provide input. “It’s great to have the administration listen. It shows that we are heard. I’m very happy I got this opportunity and could share it with my teachers and friends.”
Divided into small groups, the attendees developed a vision for the high school. They prioritized goals, analyzed learning environments, and explored options for a building layout.
https://youtu.be/EogiwYCZfBg
“Hearing from our students was an incredible experience. Their perspective on the needs for their new school was very powerful. The excitement from our students and staff can energize our community as a whole.”
Roxann Ramsey-Caserio
Superintendent of North Ridgeville City Schools
Educational Visioning – Imagining Opportunities for the New School
The session was divided into activities throughout the day. Architects then use this broad feedback during the early phases of design and incorporate feedback between groups to establish common goals and needs.
The major activities included:
Where Are We Now and Where Are We Headed? – This portion of the session focused on defining the overall project and site, hearing from district staff about challenges with the existing school, and then imagining the educational opportunities the new building could bring. This culminated in reviewing four new high schools and how those buildings were organized to maximize educational opportunities.
How Are Schools Organized? – This activity involved small groups working together to determine the relationships between major spaces in the new school. Each group had to define a core component of the school district’s “Ranger STRONG” mindset that included Creativity, Inclusivity, Safety, Service, and Teamwork. They explained how their relationship diagram enhanced one of those core values.
Identifying Our Needs – Participants defined priorities for 20 different building segments. These ranged from the core academic spaces, visual arts, performing arts, athletics, and many other areas.
Putting It All Together – Based on all the ideas developed during this session, groups could use blocks to lay out their ideal solutions for the new high school.
Each activity built on one another and formed a complete picture of the building project by the end of the day.
Educational Visioning with North Ridgeville City Schools
“Our vision is to empower our students with the help of their family, our staff, and the community to design their preferred future. Our mission is to educate the whole person, caring for the social and emotional development of every person. Those are the ideas we are building into this new school.”
Joseph Mueller
High School Principal
Where Are We Now?
“Our vision is to empower our students with the help of their family, our staff, and the community to design their preferred future,” commented High School Principal Joseph Mueller. “Our mission is to educate the whole person, caring for the social and emotional development of every single student. Those are the ideas we are building into this new school.”
While teachers and staff carry out this mission daily, the current school faces hardships in meeting these goals.
A few of the biggest challenges he referenced were:
The overall school size. The existing building is 147,000 SF and cannot support the growing student enrollment.
Science Labs are not adequately sized, lack natural gas for lab use, and do not have space to host equipment that students will use after high school.
Many interior classrooms lack access to natural light, and the exposed utilities throughout the school take away from the educational environment and are difficult to maintain and repair.
The outdated heating and cooling systems do not regulate temperatures in many classrooms, making the learning environment adverse for many students.
There are difficulties with distracting noise, overcrowding, and a burdensome distance to the trailers.
Despite the current environment, Principal Mueller is optimistic about the new building.
“One of my mantras is to ‘Get better every day.’ That’s what we expect from each of us, and this is where the ‘rubber meets the road.’ It’s time to design a physical space to help us further those goals and overcome the challenges we face now.”
Educational Visioning with North Ridgeville City Schools:
School planning is firmly rooted in the academic and curricular goals of the district. Spaces in the new school will reflect current teaching practices but allow for adaptability in the future.
The district plans to use this new building as a catalyst for new educational opportunities for students.
“What makes a new high school work? That is an incredibly difficult question to answer. What will education look like next year, or in five years, or ten years, or fifty years from now?” commented Assistant Superintendent David Pritt. “The reality is that if our new high school will last as long as our current school, it needs to be relevant 60 years from now.”
Developing the structure isn’t as easy as it seems.
“So we are brainstorming, incorporating feedback, and designing a building that will last for a long time into the future.”
ThenDesign Architecture Project Manager Claire Bank commented, “What I found really impressive was how forward-thinking this community is. They consider this an opportunity to offer more to their students and educators. That is an awesome place to be at the beginning of a project.”
The design team highlighted recent case studies of how different districts approached flexible spaces in their buildings.
The “putting it all together” activity highlights priorities from the community. Claire continues, “During the last activity, we see how people lay out adjacencies, and those are relationships we sometimes haven’t even thought about yet and wouldn’t unless we heard it from them.”
“Students have a voice. So I think it’s very important that the students who are going to be in the school provide their feedback on what they think and help future generations of students.”
Angel
High School Student
Understanding Our Learning Environment
Superintendent Ramsey-Caserio added perspective on the decisions the groups were making. “We need to think about learning differently than we are used to. We need our students to be the source of their own learning. A building can provide space for that, but good teaching is good teaching, and we will keep that in mind for all our students.”
Gathering feedback from the students who use the building most was very important to the district.
“Hearing from our students was an incredible experience. Their perspective on the needs for their new school was very powerful. This excitement from our students and staff can energize our entire community.”
Using both digital and written materials, community members prioritized their wishes for components of the new high school.
The top three priorities for this group included:
More options for flexible learning spaces
Better building organization
Enhanced technology
Each individual recorded their thoughts on the crucial components of the building, which will be examined and incorporated as the design progresses.
When Constructing a New High School What Are Your Prioritized List of Considerations?
The final activity tasked groups with laying out their preferred site plan for the new school. Incorporating the necessary square footage for different interior academic and support spaces, as well as parking and athletics, the groups grappled with the building’s site entry, access, and traffic flow. They then reported their decisions to the whole group, answered questions, and provided insight into the significant discussion points.
Common themes developed across the groups included:
Many groups preferred organizing the school by department rather than grade level.
Acoustic barriers for events and sound separated the auditorium and gymnasium.
Administrative offices were near the main entrance, with the entry facing west.
There is a separate community entrance for events and a clearly defined primary school entry.
Separate parking for performing arts and athletic events.
The media center connects to the academic wings to serve as additional collaborative space.
The use of courtyards separates academic spaces and provides additional daylighting.
Student Dining is centralized and near the entrance to the school.
“What I found impressive was how forward-thinking this community is. They are really considering it an opportunity to offer more to their students and educators. They’re not limited to what they’re imagining, which is an awesome place to be at the beginning of a project.”
Claire Bank
Project Manager
Next Steps
With Educational Visioning complete, the design team is compiling a summary of the day’s activities with an outcome report to be shared with the community. The conclusions of these activities help inform the new school’s design.
Frank Toth, a former city councilman and longtime resident, looks forward to the project’s impact. “The opportunity to weigh in on how this school will function in the community is a great opportunity.”
He looks forward to how this new building will be used.
“There were some great ideas exchanged. It’s going to be wonderful to see how the community embraces these ideas as we move forward with this project.”
Architects will work through the schematic design phase during the spring and summer. During this phase, initial plans are developed, which will be used for initial cost estimation. Currently, the design team is engaging with district staff to better understand their individual needs for inclusion in the new plans.
North Ridgeville City Schools Conducted Educational Visioning for Their New High SchoolOn February 20th, students, community members, district administrators, city officials, and teachers attended an all-day Educational Visioning Session hosted by ThenDesign Architecture at North Ridgeville’s Academic Center. This session focused on group collaboration as attendees brainstormed how the district’s new high school would improve every student’s educational experience for generations to come.
North Ridgeville City Schools – Educational Visioning for the New High School
On February 20th, students, community members, district administrators, city officials, and teachers attended an all-day Educational Visioning Session hosted by ThenDesign Architecture at North Ridgeville’s Academic Center. This session focused on group collaboration as attendees brainstormed how the district’s new high school would improve every student’s educational experience for generations to come.
As the day commenced, Superintendent Roxann Ramsey-Caserio welcomed everyone, “This is a huge representation of the North Ridgeville community, and I am grateful you took the time to be here today.”
Guests participated in activities designed to garner input on the new school. “You will truly help shape the future of North Ridgeville. We are building a new high school, and the ideas you develop today will be the roadmap to make this a reality.”
With over 80 in attendance, everyone had a say in the activities. The new, +300,000 SF, 9-12 high school includes state-of-the-art academic spaces, an auditorium, and enhanced athletic spaces, replacing the existing 1960s high school. This new building enhances student safety and security while accommodating growth in the community and provides a modern educational environment that fosters student learning and collaboration.
Many current North Ridgeville students attended. One student, Angel, felt the school would make a significant impact on his peers, “Students have a voice, and it’s great that we can provide feedback.” He was glad to provide input. “It’s great to have the administration listen. It shows that we are heard. I’m very happy I got this opportunity and could share it with my teachers and friends.”
Divided into small groups, the attendees developed a vision for the high school. They prioritized goals, analyzed learning environments, and explored options for a building layout.
https://youtu.be/EogiwYCZfBg
“Hearing from our students was an incredible experience. Their perspective on the needs for their new school was very powerful. The excitement from our students and staff can energize our community as a whole.”
Roxann Ramsey-Caserio
Superintendent of North Ridgeville City Schools
Educational Visioning – Imagining Opportunities for the New School
The session was divided into activities throughout the day. Architects then use this broad feedback during the early phases of design and incorporate feedback between groups to establish common goals and needs.
The major activities included:
Where Are We Now and Where Are We Headed? – This portion of the session focused on defining the overall project and site, hearing from district staff about challenges with the existing school, and then imagining the educational opportunities the new building could bring. This culminated in reviewing four new high schools and how those buildings were organized to maximize educational opportunities.
How Are Schools Organized? – This activity involved small groups working together to determine the relationships between major spaces in the new school. Each group had to define a core component of the school district’s “Ranger STRONG” mindset that included Creativity, Inclusivity, Safety, Service, and Teamwork. They explained how their relationship diagram enhanced one of those core values.
Identifying Our Needs – Participants defined priorities for 20 different building segments. These ranged from the core academic spaces, visual arts, performing arts, athletics, and many other areas.
Putting It All Together – Based on all the ideas developed during this session, groups could use blocks to lay out their ideal solutions for the new high school.
Each activity built on one another and formed a complete picture of the building project by the end of the day.
Educational Visioning with North Ridgeville City Schools
“Our vision is to empower our students with the help of their family, our staff, and the community to design their preferred future. Our mission is to educate the whole person, caring for the social and emotional development of every person. Those are the ideas we are building into this new school.”
Joseph Mueller
High School Principal
Where Are We Now?
“Our vision is to empower our students with the help of their family, our staff, and the community to design their preferred future,” commented High School Principal Joseph Mueller. “Our mission is to educate the whole person, caring for the social and emotional development of every single student. Those are the ideas we are building into this new school.”
While teachers and staff carry out this mission daily, the current school faces hardships in meeting these goals.
A few of the biggest challenges he referenced were:
The overall school size. The existing building is 147,000 SF and cannot support the growing student enrollment.
Science Labs are not adequately sized, lack natural gas for lab use, and do not have space to host equipment that students will use after high school.
Many interior classrooms lack access to natural light, and the exposed utilities throughout the school take away from the educational environment and are difficult to maintain and repair.
The outdated heating and cooling systems do not regulate temperatures in many classrooms, making the learning environment adverse for many students.
There are difficulties with distracting noise, overcrowding, and a burdensome distance to the trailers.
Despite the current environment, Principal Mueller is optimistic about the new building.
“One of my mantras is to ‘Get better every day.’ That’s what we expect from each of us, and this is where the ‘rubber meets the road.’ It’s time to design a physical space to help us further those goals and overcome the challenges we face now.”
Educational Visioning with North Ridgeville City Schools:
School planning is firmly rooted in the academic and curricular goals of the district. Spaces in the new school will reflect current teaching practices but allow for adaptability in the future.
The district plans to use this new building as a catalyst for new educational opportunities for students.
“What makes a new high school work? That is an incredibly difficult question to answer. What will education look like next year, or in five years, or ten years, or fifty years from now?” commented Assistant Superintendent David Pritt. “The reality is that if our new high school will last as long as our current school, it needs to be relevant 60 years from now.”
Developing the structure isn’t as easy as it seems.
“So we are brainstorming, incorporating feedback, and designing a building that will last for a long time into the future.”
ThenDesign Architecture Project Manager Claire Bank commented, “What I found really impressive was how forward-thinking this community is. They consider this an opportunity to offer more to their students and educators. That is an awesome place to be at the beginning of a project.”
The design team highlighted recent case studies of how different districts approached flexible spaces in their buildings.
The “putting it all together” activity highlights priorities from the community. Claire continues, “During the last activity, we see how people lay out adjacencies, and those are relationships we sometimes haven’t even thought about yet and wouldn’t unless we heard it from them.”
“Students have a voice. So I think it’s very important that the students who are going to be in the school provide their feedback on what they think and help future generations of students.”
Angel
High School Student
Understanding Our Learning Environment
Superintendent Ramsey-Caserio added perspective on the decisions the groups were making. “We need to think about learning differently than we are used to. We need our students to be the source of their own learning. A building can provide space for that, but good teaching is good teaching, and we will keep that in mind for all our students.”
Gathering feedback from the students who use the building most was very important to the district.
“Hearing from our students was an incredible experience. Their perspective on the needs for their new school was very powerful. This excitement from our students and staff can energize our entire community.”
Using both digital and written materials, community members prioritized their wishes for components of the new high school.
The top three priorities for this group included:
More options for flexible learning spaces
Better building organization
Enhanced technology
Each individual recorded their thoughts on the crucial components of the building, which will be examined and incorporated as the design progresses.
When Constructing a New High School What Are Your Prioritized List of Considerations?
The final activity tasked groups with laying out their preferred site plan for the new school. Incorporating the necessary square footage for different interior academic and support spaces, as well as parking and athletics, the groups grappled with the building’s site entry, access, and traffic flow. They then reported their decisions to the whole group, answered questions, and provided insight into the significant discussion points.
Common themes developed across the groups included:
Many groups preferred organizing the school by department rather than grade level.
Acoustic barriers for events and sound separated the auditorium and gymnasium.
Administrative offices were near the main entrance, with the entry facing west.
There is a separate community entrance for events and a clearly defined primary school entry.
Separate parking for performing arts and athletic events.
The media center connects to the academic wings to serve as additional collaborative space.
The use of courtyards separates academic spaces and provides additional daylighting.
Student Dining is centralized and near the entrance to the school.
“What I found impressive was how forward-thinking this community is. They are really considering it an opportunity to offer more to their students and educators. They’re not limited to what they’re imagining, which is an awesome place to be at the beginning of a project.”
Claire Bank
Project Manager
Next Steps
With Educational Visioning complete, the design team is compiling a summary of the day’s activities with an outcome report to be shared with the community. The conclusions of these activities help inform the new school’s design.
Frank Toth, a former city councilman and longtime resident, looks forward to the project’s impact. “The opportunity to weigh in on how this school will function in the community is a great opportunity.”
He looks forward to how this new building will be used.
“There were some great ideas exchanged. It’s going to be wonderful to see how the community embraces these ideas as we move forward with this project.”
Architects will work through the schematic design phase during the spring and summer. During this phase, initial plans are developed, which will be used for initial cost estimation. Currently, the design team is engaging with district staff to better understand their individual needs for inclusion in the new plans.
Gilmour Academy Student Commons RenovationThe Gilmour Academy Student Commons renovation project will bring contemporary amenities and delight to future generations of students. Beyond its primary function of providing meal distribution, the modernized Student Commons building will be a hub of student socializing and collaboration. Its inviting aesthetic and state-of-the-art kitchen will create a pleasant environment for students to enjoy healthful meals that can be savored in the 300-seat dining room or outside on the patio area.
Gilmour Academy Student Commons Renovation
The Gilmour Academy’s mission is “To develop the competence to see and the courage to act in creating a more human and just society.” Focusing on academics, arts, faith, and athletics, the campus is an independent, Catholic, coed day and residential school in Gates Mills, Ohio.
Robert Orovets, RA, helped create the 18,000-square-foot Floyd E. Stefanski Ice Center more than twenty years ago and has worked on over a dozen projects for Gilmour Academy since. As a seasoned professional with ThenDesign Architecture, he is the Project Manager for the ongoing renovation of the Student Commons building. His expertise and dedication are instrumental in supporting the close relationship between Gilmour Academy and TDA.
“Gilmour Academy is a great client to work with,” Robert said. “They get it. They understand the process of developing an idea and transforming it into a budget-friendly plan with renderings and sketches. It’s wonderful to work with people who appreciate good design.”
“They have a clear idea of what they want to provide for their students.
It is rewarding to help them develop that vision.”
Robert Orovets, RA
ThenDesign Architecture Project Manager
Gilmour Academy Student Commons Renovation Update – March 2024
Preserving a Cherished Past
Beyond its primary function as an area for student dining, the modernized Student Commons building will be a hub of student socializing and collaboration. Its inviting aesthetic and state-of-the-art kitchen will create a pleasant environment for students to enjoy healthful meals that can be savored in the 300-seat dining room or outside on the patio area.
Out of respect for the original 1970s design, the signature half-octagonal space at the center of the room was intentionally preserved and converted into a half wall, making the intimate space ideal for flexible learning and speaking events. The renovation maintains the previous structure but brings a contemporary refresh to all the services and amenities.
Bob commented on the construction progress and how the space was taking shape, “Now that the cabinets are going in, the scale is coming down, and the room feels much more personal,” he continued, “Instead of being a big, empty room, you can start to see that students belong here.”
Gilmour Academy Student Commons Renovation Update – February 2024
Anticipating a Hopeful Future
Students from all over the world attend Gilmour Academy, housed at the campus dormitory. They will enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the updated Student Commons, which will have more seating and menu options available to relax and recharge than ever before. To accommodate this, the hallway connecting to the existing school will have double-wide doors, making traversal for the over four hundred students more comfortable during high-traffic times.
The space was designed for variety to encourage more fun and meaningful mealtimes. There are opportunities for evening events, club meetings, and other extracurricular student engagements. The Student Commons can be a centralized location for activities and enjoyment at Gilmour Academy.
Significant strides have already been achieved, marking the successful completion of various construction milestones. This progress is a testament to the project’s steady advancement and a reassurance to the Gilmour Academy community that the project is on track and promises a bright future for the Student Commons.
“I am very excited to see the students and staff reaction to the new space. I hope it is not just a place for the kids to eat but to hang out creating memories together.”
Robert Orovets, RA
ThenDesign Architecture Project Manager
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
Gilmour Academy Student Commons RenovationThe Gilmour Academy Student Commons renovation project will bring contemporary amenities and delight to future generations of students. Beyond its primary function of providing meal distribution, the modernized Student Commons building will be a hub of student socializing and collaboration. Its inviting aesthetic and state-of-the-art kitchen will create a pleasant environment for students to enjoy healthful meals that can be savored in the 300-seat dining room or outside on the patio area.
Gilmour Academy Student Commons Renovation
The Gilmour Academy’s mission is “To develop the competence to see and the courage to act in creating a more human and just society.” Focusing on academics, arts, faith, and athletics, the campus is an independent, Catholic, coed day and residential school in Gates Mills, Ohio.
Robert Orovets, RA, helped create the 18,000-square-foot Floyd E. Stefanski Ice Center more than twenty years ago and has worked on over a dozen projects for Gilmour Academy since. As a seasoned professional with ThenDesign Architecture, he is the Project Manager for the ongoing renovation of the Student Commons building. His expertise and dedication are instrumental in supporting the close relationship between Gilmour Academy and TDA.
“Gilmour Academy is a great client to work with,” Robert said. “They get it. They understand the process of developing an idea and transforming it into a budget-friendly plan with renderings and sketches. It’s wonderful to work with people who appreciate good design.”
“They have a clear idea of what they want to provide for their students.
It is rewarding to help them develop that vision.”
Robert Orovets, RA
ThenDesign Architecture Project Manager
Gilmour Academy Student Commons Renovation Update – March 2024
Preserving a Cherished Past
Beyond its primary function as an area for student dining, the modernized Student Commons building will be a hub of student socializing and collaboration. Its inviting aesthetic and state-of-the-art kitchen will create a pleasant environment for students to enjoy healthful meals that can be savored in the 300-seat dining room or outside on the patio area.
Out of respect for the original 1970s design, the signature half-octagonal space at the center of the room was intentionally preserved and converted into a half wall, making the intimate space ideal for flexible learning and speaking events. The renovation maintains the previous structure but brings a contemporary refresh to all the services and amenities.
Bob commented on the construction progress and how the space was taking shape, “Now that the cabinets are going in, the scale is coming down, and the room feels much more personal,” he continued, “Instead of being a big, empty room, you can start to see that students belong here.”
Gilmour Academy Student Commons Renovation Update – February 2024
Anticipating a Hopeful Future
Students from all over the world attend Gilmour Academy, housed at the campus dormitory. They will enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the updated Student Commons, which will have more seating and menu options available to relax and recharge than ever before. To accommodate this, the hallway connecting to the existing school will have double-wide doors, making traversal for the over four hundred students more comfortable during high-traffic times.
The space was designed for variety to encourage more fun and meaningful mealtimes. There are opportunities for evening events, club meetings, and other extracurricular student engagements. The Student Commons can be a centralized location for activities and enjoyment at Gilmour Academy.
Significant strides have already been achieved, marking the successful completion of various construction milestones. This progress is a testament to the project’s steady advancement and a reassurance to the Gilmour Academy community that the project is on track and promises a bright future for the Student Commons.
“I am very excited to see the students and staff reaction to the new space. I hope it is not just a place for the kids to eat but to hang out creating memories together.”
Robert Orovets, RA
ThenDesign Architecture Project Manager
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
A Comprehensive Update to the Ohio School Design Manual (OSDM)Throughout 2023, the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) planning team and ThenDesign Architecture (TDA) met with school districts, architects, the career technical community, engineers, and construction managers in Ohio to get their feedback and contributions to the comprehensive update to the Ohio School Design Manual. Specifically, during October 2023, the OFCC hosted a series of in-person and virtual meetings to gather feedback from these stakeholders. Known as the “OSDM Roadshow,” a group of planners visited North Ridgeville CSD to give local educators and design professionals a preview of the new manual.
A Comprehensive Update to the Ohio School Design
Manual (OSDM)
The Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) participates in capital projects undertaken by schools, state agencies, and state-supported higher education institutions. Part of their function is to manage Ohio’s school facility programs, which support the construction and renovation of public K-12 schools, and administer the funding for community-based cultural and sports facilities projects.
Initially created in 1997, the Ohio School Design Manual (OSDM) is a comprehensive set of standard guidelines for the design of school facilities. The OSDM was created to address the need to provide positive learning environments for students, reduce design time, and ensure parity in the design options provided to school districts.
Educational practices and school design have evolved over the past 25 years, requiring a comprehensive update to the OSDM’s content and presentation. The OFCC selected ThenDesign Architecture (TDA) to assist with rebuilding the OSDM to make the technical guidelines for designing new educational facilities easier to use and more accessible for school districts and architects. The process involved rewriting, consolidating, and expanding the material to be converted into a searchable, web-based format alongside refreshed visual materials like 3D renderings, diagrams, and photographs.
Watch the OSDM Roadshow that took place in North Ridgeville, Ohio.
“We are excited. This is the right thing to do.”
Bill Prenosil
Former OFCC Senior Planning Manager
A Long-Standing Relationship
Claire Bank, who is a licensed architect (AIA, NCARB), is the TDA Project Manager responsible for coordinating content development for the new manual. She commented, “This was a natural partnership between our firm and the OFCC because we have such a long history of collaborating together.”
TDA is uniquely qualified for the project, having worked on over $3 billion in K-12 projects over the past ten years. Since the vast majority of those projects used the original OSDM as a guide, designers have experienced the benefits and shortcomings of the OSDM. Operating as the largest architectural firm dedicated to K-12 architecture north of Columbus, TDA has worked with over 120 districts in northeast Ohio, and much of that work is done in conjunction with the OFCC.
This long-standing relationship adds to the extensive experience with OFCC programs, such as the Expedited Local Partnership Program (ELPP) and the Classroom Facilities Assistance Program (CFAP). This experience is significant when navigating the design and construction process for school facilities.
The OSDM Roadshow Comes to North Ridgeville
As part of the OSDM unveiling, the OFCC conducted in-person engagements across Ohio to give designers and educators a preview of the changes coming this year. In October 2023, the OSDM Roadshow came to North Ridgeville, Ohio, where the senior planning team presented a preview of the new design manual, answered questions, and solicited input.
Former OFCC Senior Planning Manager Bill Prenosil explained the purpose of the Roadshow, “The OSDM is far enough along that we can provide a preview of what’s in it and how it might be used, but also to get some feedback.” He added, “Some of the content will be a big relief to designers.”
Among the attendees was North Ridgeville City School District Superintendent Roxann Ramsey-Caserio, “The updated OSDM will be a huge benefit to school districts across Ohio. The OFCC has been working hand-in-hand with the school districts and architects to improve the elements contained in the design manual.”
“The OSDM update includes many new tools specifically designed to make it more approachable to school districts.”
Claire Bank, AIA
ThenDesign Architecture
An Updated Manual Required an Updated Presentation
OFCC Planning Manager Dean Clouse explained the reason for moving away from a print document format, “The OSDM was previously available only as a PDF document on the OFCC website. We are now moving to a digital format that is itself a website. It will be more interactive, searchable, and accessible. Being web-based allows for future updates to be implemented much easier without the need for continuous addendums.”
Throughout October, the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission participated in several in-person engagements and virtual events, speaking directly with those who would use it. With guidance and support from ThenDesign Architecture staff, the updated Ohio School Design Manual will reflect the changing educational landscape by staying current with standards, practices, and state-of-the-art technologies to further support educational design across Ohio.
A Comprehensive Update to the Ohio School Design Manual (OSDM)Throughout 2023, the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) planning team and ThenDesign Architecture (TDA) met with school districts, architects, the career technical community, engineers, and construction managers in Ohio to get their feedback and contributions to the comprehensive update to the Ohio School Design Manual. Specifically, during October 2023, the OFCC hosted a series of in-person and virtual meetings to gather feedback from these stakeholders. Known as the “OSDM Roadshow,” a group of planners visited North Ridgeville CSD to give local educators and design professionals a preview of the new manual.
A Comprehensive Update to the Ohio School Design
Manual (OSDM)
The Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) participates in capital projects undertaken by schools, state agencies, and state-supported higher education institutions. Part of their function is to manage Ohio’s school facility programs, which support the construction and renovation of public K-12 schools, and administer the funding for community-based cultural and sports facilities projects.
Initially created in 1997, the Ohio School Design Manual (OSDM) is a comprehensive set of standard guidelines for the design of school facilities. The OSDM was created to address the need to provide positive learning environments for students, reduce design time, and ensure parity in the design options provided to school districts.
Educational practices and school design have evolved over the past 25 years, requiring a comprehensive update to the OSDM’s content and presentation. The OFCC selected ThenDesign Architecture (TDA) to assist with rebuilding the OSDM to make the technical guidelines for designing new educational facilities easier to use and more accessible for school districts and architects. The process involved rewriting, consolidating, and expanding the material to be converted into a searchable, web-based format alongside refreshed visual materials like 3D renderings, diagrams, and photographs.
Watch the OSDM Roadshow that took place in North Ridgeville, Ohio.
“We are excited. This is the right thing to do.”
Bill Prenosil
Former OFCC Senior Planning Manager
A Long-Standing Relationship
Claire Bank, who is a licensed architect (AIA, NCARB), is the TDA Project Manager responsible for coordinating content development for the new manual. She commented, “This was a natural partnership between our firm and the OFCC because we have such a long history of collaborating together.”
TDA is uniquely qualified for the project, having worked on over $3 billion in K-12 projects over the past ten years. Since the vast majority of those projects used the original OSDM as a guide, designers have experienced the benefits and shortcomings of the OSDM. Operating as the largest architectural firm dedicated to K-12 architecture north of Columbus, TDA has worked with over 120 districts in northeast Ohio, and much of that work is done in conjunction with the OFCC.
This long-standing relationship adds to the extensive experience with OFCC programs, such as the Expedited Local Partnership Program (ELPP) and the Classroom Facilities Assistance Program (CFAP). This experience is significant when navigating the design and construction process for school facilities.
The OSDM Roadshow Comes to North Ridgeville
As part of the OSDM unveiling, the OFCC conducted in-person engagements across Ohio to give designers and educators a preview of the changes coming this year. In October 2023, the OSDM Roadshow came to North Ridgeville, Ohio, where the senior planning team presented a preview of the new design manual, answered questions, and solicited input.
Former OFCC Senior Planning Manager Bill Prenosil explained the purpose of the Roadshow, “The OSDM is far enough along that we can provide a preview of what’s in it and how it might be used, but also to get some feedback.” He added, “Some of the content will be a big relief to designers.”
Among the attendees was North Ridgeville City School District Superintendent Roxann Ramsey-Caserio, “The updated OSDM will be a huge benefit to school districts across Ohio. The OFCC has been working hand-in-hand with the school districts and architects to improve the elements contained in the design manual.”
“The OSDM update includes many new tools specifically designed to make it more approachable to school districts.”
Claire Bank, AIA
ThenDesign Architecture
An Updated Manual Required an Updated Presentation
OFCC Planning Manager Dean Clouse explained the reason for moving away from a print document format, “The OSDM was previously available only as a PDF document on the OFCC website. We are now moving to a digital format that is itself a website. It will be more interactive, searchable, and accessible. Being web-based allows for future updates to be implemented much easier without the need for continuous addendums.”
Throughout October, the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission participated in several in-person engagements and virtual events, speaking directly with those who would use it. With guidance and support from ThenDesign Architecture staff, the updated Ohio School Design Manual will reflect the changing educational landscape by staying current with standards, practices, and state-of-the-art technologies to further support educational design across Ohio.
Geauga County Courthouse Groundbreaking CeremonyThe Groundbreaking Ceremony for the historic Geauga County Courthouse brought together local government officials, members of the Geauga Bar Association, and residents. The current courthouse, built over 150 years ago, is the iconic anchor of downtown Chardon. This crucial update and expansion of the notable landmark will further enhance the presence of Chardon Square.
Geauga County Courthouse Groundbreaking Ceremony
Geauga County celebrated its much-anticipated Groundbreaking Ceremony for the expansion and renovation of the Geauga County Courthouse. On December 12th, local community members and government officials gathered on a brisk afternoon in Chardon Square to recognize this unique occasion.
The three-story, nearly 22,000 SF addition and improvement project will retain the stature and viability of the courthouse to ensure that it continues to provide essential services to the residents of Geauga County.
Opening comments by Commissioner Dvorak set the tone, “I’m from the building trades. After high school, I followed in my dad’s footsteps. I went from building buildings to building relationships.” He added, “This project will incorporate the latest in sustainability, operational excellence, state-of-the-art security, and communication technology. This courthouse will continue to be a lasting treasure.”
A Groundbreaking Ceremony in Chardon Square
“Our courthouse is an icon of Geauga County in the State of Ohio and is devoted to the pursuit of justice.”
Jim Dvorak
Geauga County Commissioner
Gathered In Solidarity
“With this new expansion, Geauga County Common Pleas Courts and associated services will be secure, better serve local citizens, and continue to provide the iconic centerpiece for the county,” remarked Geauga County Administrator Gerry Morgan.
Since becoming incorporated in 1812, Chardon has enjoyed a distinct identity and vibrant history, which is a source of pride for the community. Court of Common Pleas Judge Carolyn Pashcke commented, “I love this beautiful, historic building. It serves as a reminder of our longstanding, rich history of administering justice and legal services here in Geauga County. The project will provide necessary, functional, well-designed space for the courts to continue to serve our community.”
The need to update the courthouse grew as the community expanded and technology evolved. Respect for the traditional was blended with the requirements of advancing modernization.
Geauga County Courthouse Artist Renderings
“The new addition will provide efficient operations and a safe experience that will bring our Geauga County courthouse into the 21st century.”
Gerry Morgan
Geauga County Administrator
A Design Respectful of the Local Heritage
Communities can be brought together through good architectural design.
TDA Project Manager Brad Gellert understands that the Geauga County Courthouse is a beloved architectural landmark, and the renovation needed to be approached with a deep respect for its cherished legacy and cultural significance. “Creating a compatible expansion that matched the Italianate Architecture of downtown Chardon was important to the community, and we were determined to honor that.”
He continued, “While meeting the growing operational needs of the courthouse staff, we incorporated more traditional architectural elements into the design to preserve the understanding that this building belongs in Chardon.”
As a helpful communication tool to convey the approved design, a 1/16” = 1’ scale 3D-printed model of the completed building was unveiled at the groundbreaking ceremony. It took TDA Emerging Professional Archie Liptow over 100 hours to print the ten separate building segments and four site pieces.
Geauga County Courthouse 3D-Printed Model
The expanded and renovated Geauga County Courthouse will remain a vital part of Chardon Township’s heritage and will serve the Geauga County community into the next century.
“We look forward to continuing to provide excellent service to the citizens of Geauga County and the legal community and administering justice in this building for years to come.”
Judge Carolyn Paschke
Court of Common Pleas
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
Geauga County Courthouse Groundbreaking CeremonyThe Groundbreaking Ceremony for the historic Geauga County Courthouse brought together local government officials, members of the Geauga Bar Association, and residents. The current courthouse, built over 150 years ago, is the iconic anchor of downtown Chardon. This crucial update and expansion of the notable landmark will further enhance the presence of Chardon Square.
Geauga County Courthouse Groundbreaking Ceremony
Geauga County celebrated its much-anticipated Groundbreaking Ceremony for the expansion and renovation of the Geauga County Courthouse. On December 12th, local community members and government officials gathered on a brisk afternoon in Chardon Square to recognize this unique occasion.
The three-story, nearly 22,000 SF addition and improvement project will retain the stature and viability of the courthouse to ensure that it continues to provide essential services to the residents of Geauga County.
Opening comments by Commissioner Dvorak set the tone, “I’m from the building trades. After high school, I followed in my dad’s footsteps. I went from building buildings to building relationships.” He added, “This project will incorporate the latest in sustainability, operational excellence, state-of-the-art security, and communication technology. This courthouse will continue to be a lasting treasure.”
A Groundbreaking Ceremony in Chardon Square
“Our courthouse is an icon of Geauga County in the State of Ohio and is devoted to the pursuit of justice.”
Jim Dvorak
Geauga County Commissioner
Gathered In Solidarity
“With this new expansion, Geauga County Common Pleas Courts and associated services will be secure, better serve local citizens, and continue to provide the iconic centerpiece for the county,” remarked Geauga County Administrator Gerry Morgan.
Since becoming incorporated in 1812, Chardon has enjoyed a distinct identity and vibrant history, which is a source of pride for the community. Court of Common Pleas Judge Carolyn Pashcke commented, “I love this beautiful, historic building. It serves as a reminder of our longstanding, rich history of administering justice and legal services here in Geauga County. The project will provide necessary, functional, well-designed space for the courts to continue to serve our community.”
The need to update the courthouse grew as the community expanded and technology evolved. Respect for the traditional was blended with the requirements of advancing modernization.
Geauga County Courthouse Artist Renderings
“The new addition will provide efficient operations and a safe experience that will bring our Geauga County courthouse into the 21st century.”
Gerry Morgan
Geauga County Administrator
A Design Respectful of the Local Heritage
Communities can be brought together through good architectural design.
TDA Project Manager Brad Gellert understands that the Geauga County Courthouse is a beloved architectural landmark, and the renovation needed to be approached with a deep respect for its cherished legacy and cultural significance. “Creating a compatible expansion that matched the Italianate Architecture of downtown Chardon was important to the community, and we were determined to honor that.”
He continued, “While meeting the growing operational needs of the courthouse staff, we incorporated more traditional architectural elements into the design to preserve the understanding that this building belongs in Chardon.”
As a helpful communication tool to convey the approved design, a 1/16” = 1’ scale 3D-printed model of the completed building was unveiled at the groundbreaking ceremony. It took TDA Emerging Professional Archie Liptow over 100 hours to print the ten separate building segments and four site pieces.
Geauga County Courthouse 3D-Printed Model
The expanded and renovated Geauga County Courthouse will remain a vital part of Chardon Township’s heritage and will serve the Geauga County community into the next century.
“We look forward to continuing to provide excellent service to the citizens of Geauga County and the legal community and administering justice in this building for years to come.”
Judge Carolyn Paschke
Court of Common Pleas
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
Understanding the Impact of Quality Athletic FacilitiesFor championship-winning Kirtland Local Schools, the athletics program is not just about playing sports but also giving young people a well-rounded student experience that builds character to help them better prepare for future challenges. Understanding the impact of quality athletic facilities helps Kirtland stand apart from its competition.
Understanding the Impact of Quality Athletic Facilities
When the Kirtland Local School District decided to renovate and redesign the Kirtland High School stadium, the intent was to provide a cutting-edge facility that encouraged opportunities for athletic excellence for their students.
The extensive stadium renovation included a safety-tested artificial turf, a polyurethane track surface, a youth play area beyond the endzone, a video scoreboard, LED stadium lighting, an updated electrical system, and improved stormwater management. The stadium layout was also redesigned by moving the visitor stands outside the track, providing adequate space to accommodate soccer games in addition to football.
The completed stadium was officially renamed Wilson Stadium after former alum John Wilson. Kirtland Local Schools partnered with ThenDesign Architecture (TDA) to provide architectural and design services by working with school administrators to update the stadium. Marous Brothers Construction was the construction manager at risk.Â
After the ribbon cutting ceremony on August 26, the first home football game commenced.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xmZMY-wwpQ
“It’s about having great facilities for our kids to get the most out of their performance.”
Chad VanArnhem
Superintendent of Kirtland Local Schools
Sports Is Not Just About Sports
Superintendent Chad VanArnhem conducted research proving the correlation between student involvement in extracurricular activities and higher GPAs. He discovered that being engaged outside the classroom helps student effectiveness inside the classroom. School sports programs exercise students’ bodies and minds, assisting in their personal development on the field and off.
Kirtland LSD Athletics Director Matt Paul commented that students will get more out of the programs than just playing a sport. He sees the value of providing an exceptional athletic facility to encourage participation and community support, “I learned from working with teammates and coaches and about life by playing on the field more than I ever did in a classroom.”
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and First Home Football Game
“With athletics, you learn to be a leader. You can learn to get along and be a family with your peers.”
Macquire
Football Player
Better, Quicker, and Safer
The renovation of Wilson Stadium was designed with safety in mind. The main component of the project is the high-grade synthetic turf that enhances athletic performance while providing a more reliable play surface. Even two days of historic rain before the first home game was not a concern.
Lead architect Claire Bank, RA, of ThenDesign Architecture, said that the decision to install synthetic turf gained momentum among staff and students, “There has been a lot of excitement around the new turf because it will expand the time players will be able to use the field.” She continued, “Since the field will be synthetic, it can be used during a broader range of weather conditions without creating unsafe conditions or damaging the surface.”
Both soccer and football players noted the stark difference between the new turf and the former grass field. There is a sense of improved speed and agility. The artificial turf is level and consistent across the field, minimizing the risk of rolled ankles and strained hamstrings due to divots or mud.
Wilson Stadium’s new synthetic turf field provides uniform predictability so that athletes can focus on their gameplay and not worry about injuries.
Aerial Photography Courtesy of Marous Brothers Construction
“When you have great athletes, you want facilities that support their journeys and allow them to thrive.”
Claire Bank, RA
ThenDesign Architecture
If You Build It, They Will Play
“Kirtland’s successful athletics program is the pride of the local community,” noted Claire Bank. “Driving through Kirtland on a game night, the stadium comes alive. You can feel the enthusiasm in the community for its students. The stadium is vibrant, projecting that classic high school experience. It was an honor to be a part of its transformation.”
The newly renovated Wilson Stadium creates opportunities for athletes to get the most out of their talents. Achieving personal excellence is now matched with a facility to reflect that quality. Respect, selflessness, and perseverance are only a few of the traits students can be exposed to while participating in extracurricular activities like the athletics program at Kirtland.
Wilson Stadium is a modern athletic facility that all Kirtland High School students and their parents can be proud of.
On December 1, the Kirtland High School Football team won the OHSAA Division VI State Championship with a 15-1 record for the 2023 season.
“I now have a sense of pride to show people what we have.”
Matt Paul
Athletic Director of Kirtland Local Schools
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
Understanding the Impact of Quality Athletic FacilitiesFor championship-winning Kirtland Local Schools, the athletics program is not just about playing sports but also giving young people a well-rounded student experience that builds character to help them better prepare for future challenges. Understanding the impact of quality athletic facilities helps Kirtland stand apart from its competition.
Understanding the Impact of Quality Athletic Facilities
When the Kirtland Local School District decided to renovate and redesign the Kirtland High School stadium, the intent was to provide a cutting-edge facility that encouraged opportunities for athletic excellence for their students.
The extensive stadium renovation included a safety-tested artificial turf, a polyurethane track surface, a youth play area beyond the endzone, a video scoreboard, LED stadium lighting, an updated electrical system, and improved stormwater management. The stadium layout was also redesigned by moving the visitor stands outside the track, providing adequate space to accommodate soccer games in addition to football.
The completed stadium was officially renamed Wilson Stadium after former alum John Wilson. Kirtland Local Schools partnered with ThenDesign Architecture (TDA) to provide architectural and design services by working with school administrators to update the stadium. Marous Brothers Construction was the construction manager at risk.Â
After the ribbon cutting ceremony on August 26, the first home football game commenced.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xmZMY-wwpQ
“It’s about having great facilities for our kids to get the most out of their performance.”
Chad VanArnhem
Superintendent of Kirtland Local Schools
Sports Is Not Just About Sports
Superintendent Chad VanArnhem conducted research proving the correlation between student involvement in extracurricular activities and higher GPAs. He discovered that being engaged outside the classroom helps student effectiveness inside the classroom. School sports programs exercise students’ bodies and minds, assisting in their personal development on the field and off.
Kirtland LSD Athletics Director Matt Paul commented that students will get more out of the programs than just playing a sport. He sees the value of providing an exceptional athletic facility to encourage participation and community support, “I learned from working with teammates and coaches and about life by playing on the field more than I ever did in a classroom.”
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and First Home Football Game
“With athletics, you learn to be a leader. You can learn to get along and be a family with your peers.”
Macquire
Football Player
Better, Quicker, and Safer
The renovation of Wilson Stadium was designed with safety in mind. The main component of the project is the high-grade synthetic turf that enhances athletic performance while providing a more reliable play surface. Even two days of historic rain before the first home game was not a concern.
Lead architect Claire Bank, RA, of ThenDesign Architecture, said that the decision to install synthetic turf gained momentum among staff and students, “There has been a lot of excitement around the new turf because it will expand the time players will be able to use the field.” She continued, “Since the field will be synthetic, it can be used during a broader range of weather conditions without creating unsafe conditions or damaging the surface.”
Both soccer and football players noted the stark difference between the new turf and the former grass field. There is a sense of improved speed and agility. The artificial turf is level and consistent across the field, minimizing the risk of rolled ankles and strained hamstrings due to divots or mud.
Wilson Stadium’s new synthetic turf field provides uniform predictability so that athletes can focus on their gameplay and not worry about injuries.
Aerial Photography Courtesy of Marous Brothers Construction
“When you have great athletes, you want facilities that support their journeys and allow them to thrive.”
Claire Bank, RA
ThenDesign Architecture
If You Build It, They Will Play
“Kirtland’s successful athletics program is the pride of the local community,” noted Claire Bank. “Driving through Kirtland on a game night, the stadium comes alive. You can feel the enthusiasm in the community for its students. The stadium is vibrant, projecting that classic high school experience. It was an honor to be a part of its transformation.”
The newly renovated Wilson Stadium creates opportunities for athletes to get the most out of their talents. Achieving personal excellence is now matched with a facility to reflect that quality. Respect, selflessness, and perseverance are only a few of the traits students can be exposed to while participating in extracurricular activities like the athletics program at Kirtland.
Wilson Stadium is a modern athletic facility that all Kirtland High School students and their parents can be proud of.
On December 1, the Kirtland High School Football team won the OHSAA Division VI State Championship with a 15-1 record for the 2023 season.
“I now have a sense of pride to show people what we have.”
Matt Paul
Athletic Director of Kirtland Local Schools
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
Educational Visioning for Brunswick City Schools New High SchoolOn September 20th, students, parents, community members, faith leaders, city officials, and district staff attended an Educational Visioning Session hosted by ThenDesign Architecture at Brunswick High School. This 4-hour session focused on collaboration and brainstorming designs for the district’s new high school.
Brunswick City Schools – Educational Visioning for their New High School
On September 20th, students, parents, community members, faith leaders, city officials, and district staff attended an Educational Visioning Session hosted by ThenDesign Architecture at Brunswick High School. This 4-hour session focused on collaboration and brainstorming designs for the district’s new high school. Ideas were discussed for how it can improve every student’s educational experience.
Superintendent Jason Niedermeyer commented: “Today we came together to talk about our vision for Brunswick students, what it looks like from a 21st-century learning perspective, and how we can create a flexible learning environment for our kids. This involves taking what we currently do and transforming it for the betterment of our students.”
With over 80 in attendance, everyone had a say in the design activities. The new, 301,740 sf, 9-12 high school includes an auditorium and replaces the existing school. It will provide a modern educational environment better positioned to accommodate personalized student needs and foster learning and collaboration.
A current high school senior who attended, Michael Romano, was optimistic about the plans. “Today, we’re having a community meeting with different members of our city and community to get ideas of what different groups want for this new high school that will be built. We shared our inputs and came together for the best solution for everyone.”
In small groups, teams worked to develop a vision for the high school, prioritize goals, analyze learning environments, and explore options for space planning.
“Today we came together to talk about our vision for Brunswick students … and how we can create a flexible learning environment for our kids. This involves taking what we currently do and transforming it for the betterment of our students.”
Jason Niedermeyer
Superintendent of Brunswick City Schools
Educational Visioning – Brainstorming for the New School
The session was divided into activities that presented opportunities for attendees to provide input on the project. Since it is early in the design process, architects use this broad feedback to study the similarities between groups of community members and district staff and establish common goals.
The three major activities conducted were:
Where Are We Now? – Learning about the project and examining case studies for different high school configurations.
Understanding Our Learning Environment – Group work that defined the priorities for the project, and categorized what spaces best supported their priorities through the lens of the “Journey of a Blue Devil.”
Putting it all Together – Based on the information developed in the session, groups laid out their solutions for the new school.
These activities are geared towards gathering input that designers will use for the early design phases.
Brunswick CSD Visioning Session
“The new building is going to be a cornerstone for our entire community.”
Kim Goessler
Board of Education Member
Where are we now?
“To know where we are headed as a district, it is important to understand where we are now,” commented High School Principal Keith Merrill. He provided an overview of challenges at the current high school. “We want you to work collaboratively, think critically, and problem solve to come up with learning opportunities that overcome the challenges of our current space and come up with solutions for what students need to be successful.”
A few of the biggest challenges he referenced were:
The overall school length. The existing building is 1/4 mile long and is challenging for students to travel through, often resulting in tardiness due to distance.
The outdated heating and cooling systems do not regulate temperatures in many classrooms.
Science Labs that don’t have adequate space for equipment, outlets for technology, and life skills rooms that don’t support modern programming.
Different-sized classrooms with dark environments, no exterior windows, and columns or structural objects that obscure views in some rooms.
“We can all remember those “special spaces,” from our high school experience, and this new school will contain more “special spaces” for all our students in a few short years,” reiterated Mr. Merrill. “Today, part of this design process is figuring out what those can be.”
Educational Visioning with Brunswick City Schools:
School planning is firmly rooted in the academic and curricular goals of each school district. Spaces should reflect how the district teaches students now but allow for flexibility to adapt in the future.
ThenDesign Architecture Project Manager Scott Alleman commented, “We gauge where the district is with their educational goals and see how the building layout can accommodate those. It is very important for us.”
Scott highlighted two recent case studies for how a more “Traditional Learning Environment” and “Student-Centered Learning Environment” building layouts work and how they can be potentially blended for the Brunswick City School District.
Future activities sometimes highlight priorities from the community. “During the last activity, we see how people lay out adjacencies, and those are things we sometimes haven’t even thought about yet and wouldn’t unless we heard it from them.”
Case Study Schools – Fremont Ross 9-12 High School and Cuyahoga Falls 6-12 School
“I’m excited because I’m going to go to the new school. My friends should be excited because they’re going to go to the school one day, and they’re going to think it’s super awesome.”
Avery
Brunswick Middle School 6th Grade Student
Understanding Our Learning Environment
Superintendent Niedermeyer added perspective to the decisions the group was making. “Think about ‘What is our vision for our students,’ what does that look like from a 21st-century learning perspective and deeper learning for our students?”
Designing a school shouldn’t just accommodate current activities but how education can change in the future. He continues, “How can we create flexible learning environments for our kids as we move forward? How can we take what we currently do and transform that for future generations of students?
Using both digital and written materials, community members were able to prioritize their wishes for components of the new high school.
The top three priorities for this group included:
Student-Centered Learning Environments
Technology
Collaborative Space
Each individual recorded their thoughts on the major components of the building, which will be examined and incorporated as the design progresses.
Each group also worked together to decide what type of learning environment best supported the goals of the School District as defined in the “Journey of a Blue Devil”.
Group preferences on priorities for the new high school
Putting it all Together
The final activity tasked groups with laying out their preferred site plan for the new school. Incorporating the necessary square footage for different interior academic and support spaces, as well as parking and athletics, the groups grappled with site entry, access, and traffic flow of the building. They then reported their decisions to the whole group, answered questions, and provided insight into the major discussion points.
Common themes developed across the groups included:
Music spaces and the Performing Arts Center were grouped together
6 groups used departmental organization. 4 groups used grade-level organization
Groups often paired Math and Science together, with Language Arts and Social Studies paired together
Inclusion of parking by baseball fields, away from Center Road.
The gymnasium, music spaces, and auditorium were often paired together or adjacent to each other
These were often on the north side of the plan toward outdoor athletics.
The media center was often placed adjacent to academic core spaces
Classrooms and academic programs were usually on the south side of the plan, towards Center Road.
The administration spaces were usually centralized in the plan instead of spread throughout the building.
Baseball fields were often grouped together in a clover pattern.
Group developed site plans (Tables 1-10)
“You [community members and staff] are essential members of this process, helping us to design what will be the future home of our kids and our community.”
Keith Merrill
Brunswick High School Principal
Next Steps
With Educational Visioning complete, the design team is compiling a summary of the day’s activities and outcome report to be viewed by the community. The outcomes of these activities help inform the new school’s design.
In four hours, over 80 members of the Brunswick community came together to brainstorm and express their ideas for the new school. Capturing a variety of perspectives from attendees allows designers to incorporate changes that can benefit students for years to come.
Board of Education Member Kim Goessler was encouraged by what the new high school could mean for the district. “I think this will be a great opportunity for our students to have access to 21st-century learning capabilities…and provide an opportunity to use new technologies and collaborate together. The new building is going to be a cornerstone for our entire community.”
This fall, architects are working through the schematic design phase. During this phase, initial plans are developed, which will be used for initial cost estimation. Currently, the design team is engaging with district staff to better understand their individual needs for inclusion in the new plans.
View the report below from the Educational Visioning Session to see the group’s findings that day.
Educational Visioning for Brunswick City Schools New High SchoolOn September 20th, students, parents, community members, faith leaders, city officials, and district staff attended an Educational Visioning Session hosted by ThenDesign Architecture at Brunswick High School. This 4-hour session focused on collaboration and brainstorming designs for the district’s new high school.
Brunswick City Schools – Educational Visioning for their New High School
On September 20th, students, parents, community members, faith leaders, city officials, and district staff attended an Educational Visioning Session hosted by ThenDesign Architecture at Brunswick High School. This 4-hour session focused on collaboration and brainstorming designs for the district’s new high school. Ideas were discussed for how it can improve every student’s educational experience.
Superintendent Jason Niedermeyer commented: “Today we came together to talk about our vision for Brunswick students, what it looks like from a 21st-century learning perspective, and how we can create a flexible learning environment for our kids. This involves taking what we currently do and transforming it for the betterment of our students.”
With over 80 in attendance, everyone had a say in the design activities. The new, 301,740 sf, 9-12 high school includes an auditorium and replaces the existing school. It will provide a modern educational environment better positioned to accommodate personalized student needs and foster learning and collaboration.
A current high school senior who attended, Michael Romano, was optimistic about the plans. “Today, we’re having a community meeting with different members of our city and community to get ideas of what different groups want for this new high school that will be built. We shared our inputs and came together for the best solution for everyone.”
In small groups, teams worked to develop a vision for the high school, prioritize goals, analyze learning environments, and explore options for space planning.
“Today we came together to talk about our vision for Brunswick students … and how we can create a flexible learning environment for our kids. This involves taking what we currently do and transforming it for the betterment of our students.”
Jason Niedermeyer
Superintendent of Brunswick City Schools
Educational Visioning – Brainstorming for the New School
The session was divided into activities that presented opportunities for attendees to provide input on the project. Since it is early in the design process, architects use this broad feedback to study the similarities between groups of community members and district staff and establish common goals.
The three major activities conducted were:
Where Are We Now? – Learning about the project and examining case studies for different high school configurations.
Understanding Our Learning Environment – Group work that defined the priorities for the project, and categorized what spaces best supported their priorities through the lens of the “Journey of a Blue Devil.”
Putting it all Together – Based on the information developed in the session, groups laid out their solutions for the new school.
These activities are geared towards gathering input that designers will use for the early design phases.
Brunswick CSD Visioning Session
“The new building is going to be a cornerstone for our entire community.”
Kim Goessler
Board of Education Member
Where are we now?
“To know where we are headed as a district, it is important to understand where we are now,” commented High School Principal Keith Merrill. He provided an overview of challenges at the current high school. “We want you to work collaboratively, think critically, and problem solve to come up with learning opportunities that overcome the challenges of our current space and come up with solutions for what students need to be successful.”
A few of the biggest challenges he referenced were:
The overall school length. The existing building is 1/4 mile long and is challenging for students to travel through, often resulting in tardiness due to distance.
The outdated heating and cooling systems do not regulate temperatures in many classrooms.
Science Labs that don’t have adequate space for equipment, outlets for technology, and life skills rooms that don’t support modern programming.
Different-sized classrooms with dark environments, no exterior windows, and columns or structural objects that obscure views in some rooms.
“We can all remember those “special spaces,” from our high school experience, and this new school will contain more “special spaces” for all our students in a few short years,” reiterated Mr. Merrill. “Today, part of this design process is figuring out what those can be.”
Educational Visioning with Brunswick City Schools:
School planning is firmly rooted in the academic and curricular goals of each school district. Spaces should reflect how the district teaches students now but allow for flexibility to adapt in the future.
ThenDesign Architecture Project Manager Scott Alleman commented, “We gauge where the district is with their educational goals and see how the building layout can accommodate those. It is very important for us.”
Scott highlighted two recent case studies for how a more “Traditional Learning Environment” and “Student-Centered Learning Environment” building layouts work and how they can be potentially blended for the Brunswick City School District.
Future activities sometimes highlight priorities from the community. “During the last activity, we see how people lay out adjacencies, and those are things we sometimes haven’t even thought about yet and wouldn’t unless we heard it from them.”
Case Study Schools – Fremont Ross 9-12 High School and Cuyahoga Falls 6-12 School
“I’m excited because I’m going to go to the new school. My friends should be excited because they’re going to go to the school one day, and they’re going to think it’s super awesome.”
Avery
Brunswick Middle School 6th Grade Student
Understanding Our Learning Environment
Superintendent Niedermeyer added perspective to the decisions the group was making. “Think about ‘What is our vision for our students,’ what does that look like from a 21st-century learning perspective and deeper learning for our students?”
Designing a school shouldn’t just accommodate current activities but how education can change in the future. He continues, “How can we create flexible learning environments for our kids as we move forward? How can we take what we currently do and transform that for future generations of students?
Using both digital and written materials, community members were able to prioritize their wishes for components of the new high school.
The top three priorities for this group included:
Student-Centered Learning Environments
Technology
Collaborative Space
Each individual recorded their thoughts on the major components of the building, which will be examined and incorporated as the design progresses.
Each group also worked together to decide what type of learning environment best supported the goals of the School District as defined in the “Journey of a Blue Devil”.
Group preferences on priorities for the new high school
Putting it all Together
The final activity tasked groups with laying out their preferred site plan for the new school. Incorporating the necessary square footage for different interior academic and support spaces, as well as parking and athletics, the groups grappled with site entry, access, and traffic flow of the building. They then reported their decisions to the whole group, answered questions, and provided insight into the major discussion points.
Common themes developed across the groups included:
Music spaces and the Performing Arts Center were grouped together
6 groups used departmental organization. 4 groups used grade-level organization
Groups often paired Math and Science together, with Language Arts and Social Studies paired together
Inclusion of parking by baseball fields, away from Center Road.
The gymnasium, music spaces, and auditorium were often paired together or adjacent to each other
These were often on the north side of the plan toward outdoor athletics.
The media center was often placed adjacent to academic core spaces
Classrooms and academic programs were usually on the south side of the plan, towards Center Road.
The administration spaces were usually centralized in the plan instead of spread throughout the building.
Baseball fields were often grouped together in a clover pattern.
Group developed site plans (Tables 1-10)
“You [community members and staff] are essential members of this process, helping us to design what will be the future home of our kids and our community.”
Keith Merrill
Brunswick High School Principal
Next Steps
With Educational Visioning complete, the design team is compiling a summary of the day’s activities and outcome report to be viewed by the community. The outcomes of these activities help inform the new school’s design.
In four hours, over 80 members of the Brunswick community came together to brainstorm and express their ideas for the new school. Capturing a variety of perspectives from attendees allows designers to incorporate changes that can benefit students for years to come.
Board of Education Member Kim Goessler was encouraged by what the new high school could mean for the district. “I think this will be a great opportunity for our students to have access to 21st-century learning capabilities…and provide an opportunity to use new technologies and collaborate together. The new building is going to be a cornerstone for our entire community.”
This fall, architects are working through the schematic design phase. During this phase, initial plans are developed, which will be used for initial cost estimation. Currently, the design team is engaging with district staff to better understand their individual needs for inclusion in the new plans.
View the report below from the Educational Visioning Session to see the group’s findings that day.
Kirtland Local Schools Newly Renovated Wilson Stadium Officially OpensDespite a major storm and power outages in Northeastern Ohio, the Kirtland Local School District persevered and held a ribbon cutting ceremony that officially inaugurated the newly renovated Kirtland High School athletics stadium. The first home football game at Wilson Stadium brought victory to the Hornets.
Kirtland Local School’s Newly Renovated Wilson Stadium Officially Opens
Despite a major storm and power outages in Northeastern Ohio, the Kirtland Local School District persevered and held a ribbon cutting ceremony that officially inaugurated the newly renovated Kirtland High School athletics stadium. The completely remodeled and renamed Wilson Stadium opened as planned at the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year.
With the state-of-the-art stadium featuring a resurfaced polyurethane track, high-quality synthetic turf, efficient LED lighting, a vibrant, cutting-edge digital 14′ by 25′ 15,900-watt scoreboard, and a remodeled press box, the modernized facility will further advance the championship-winning Kirtland High School sports program and become the envy of rival districts throughout the state.
On August 26, Kirtland Local School District Superintendent Chad VanArnhem welcomed guests by playing a special pre-recorded introduction on the brand-new scoreboard, demonstrating the sharp video and crisp sound. “As we stand before this renovated stadium, our anticipation for the future knows no bounds,” he told the crowd. “This exquisite facility is poised to host countless milestones in the years ahead.”
https://youtu.be/BGvfDj6yXSU
A New Era of Excellence Begins
“Having an amazing new field and stadium will continue the athletic excellence and push forward the academic excellence that Kirtland High School and all of our schools in Lake County are known for,” noted Lake County Commissioner John Plecnik.
Among the attendees to give special comments at the newly renovated Wilson Stadium, Kirtland Schools Athletic Director Matt Paul acknowledged the challenge brought by the recent storm, “I was going to start by saying I was 100% sure we’d never have to move another game now that we have the synthetic turf. And then yesterday happened, and I was in full panic mode. I am so glad…we’re here today.”
“What an exciting evening. I’m so excited for our football team, cheerleaders, and band to be able to showcase this beautiful facility that we have just finished up.”
Chad VanArnhem
Superintendent of Kirtland Local Schools
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Fans Flood the New Wilson Stadium
The celebratory atmosphere of the standing-room-only packed stadium was enhanced by the palpable excitement of the season’s first home football game, which took place after the ribbon cutting.
In true Hornet’s fashion, the football team brought their all onto the playing field before the cheering crowd, and beat their opponents, scoring the first win of the season.
An Evening of Excitement
Playing to Win
The student-athletes who played a game in the new stadium shared their thoughts on the artificial turf and being in a redesigned stadium. “We feel better and quicker,” noted Will, a 12th-grade football player. “It’s a better environment. Everyone is excited about the turf. It’s great.”
Maia is a girls’ soccer team member, “Not only is it awesome to be able to play on a turf field my senior year, but it’s about the true measure of success beyond the scoreboard. It’s about the values we uphold, the friendships we forge, and the lessons we learn on and off the field.”
Thanks to the passing of a levy and the generous contributions from the local Kirtland community, the renovated cutting-edge Wilson Stadium is a versatile facility that will host soccer, football, and track and field competitions for decades to come.
Football Football Football
“I could say I’ve always been proud to be a Hornet, but I haven’t always been proud of our facilities. But now I am. I’m very proud of this stadium.”
Matt Paul
Athletic Director of Kirtland Local Schools
Photo Courtesy of Marous Brothers Construction
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Kirtland Local Schools Newly Renovated Wilson Stadium Officially OpensDespite a major storm and power outages in Northeastern Ohio, the Kirtland Local School District persevered and held a ribbon cutting ceremony that officially inaugurated the newly renovated Kirtland High School athletics stadium. The first home football game at Wilson Stadium brought victory to the Hornets.
Kirtland Local School’s Newly Renovated Wilson Stadium Officially Opens
Despite a major storm and power outages in Northeastern Ohio, the Kirtland Local School District persevered and held a ribbon cutting ceremony that officially inaugurated the newly renovated Kirtland High School athletics stadium. The completely remodeled and renamed Wilson Stadium opened as planned at the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year.
With the state-of-the-art stadium featuring a resurfaced polyurethane track, high-quality synthetic turf, efficient LED lighting, a vibrant, cutting-edge digital 14′ by 25′ 15,900-watt scoreboard, and a remodeled press box, the modernized facility will further advance the championship-winning Kirtland High School sports program and become the envy of rival districts throughout the state.
On August 26, Kirtland Local School District Superintendent Chad VanArnhem welcomed guests by playing a special pre-recorded introduction on the brand-new scoreboard, demonstrating the sharp video and crisp sound. “As we stand before this renovated stadium, our anticipation for the future knows no bounds,” he told the crowd. “This exquisite facility is poised to host countless milestones in the years ahead.”
https://youtu.be/BGvfDj6yXSU
A New Era of Excellence Begins
“Having an amazing new field and stadium will continue the athletic excellence and push forward the academic excellence that Kirtland High School and all of our schools in Lake County are known for,” noted Lake County Commissioner John Plecnik.
Among the attendees to give special comments at the newly renovated Wilson Stadium, Kirtland Schools Athletic Director Matt Paul acknowledged the challenge brought by the recent storm, “I was going to start by saying I was 100% sure we’d never have to move another game now that we have the synthetic turf. And then yesterday happened, and I was in full panic mode. I am so glad…we’re here today.”
“What an exciting evening. I’m so excited for our football team, cheerleaders, and band to be able to showcase this beautiful facility that we have just finished up.”
Chad VanArnhem
Superintendent of Kirtland Local Schools
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Fans Flood the New Wilson Stadium
The celebratory atmosphere of the standing-room-only packed stadium was enhanced by the palpable excitement of the season’s first home football game, which took place after the ribbon cutting.
In true Hornet’s fashion, the football team brought their all onto the playing field before the cheering crowd, and beat their opponents, scoring the first win of the season.
An Evening of Excitement
Playing to Win
The student-athletes who played a game in the new stadium shared their thoughts on the artificial turf and being in a redesigned stadium. “We feel better and quicker,” noted Will, a 12th-grade football player. “It’s a better environment. Everyone is excited about the turf. It’s great.”
Maia is a girls’ soccer team member, “Not only is it awesome to be able to play on a turf field my senior year, but it’s about the true measure of success beyond the scoreboard. It’s about the values we uphold, the friendships we forge, and the lessons we learn on and off the field.”
Thanks to the passing of a levy and the generous contributions from the local Kirtland community, the renovated cutting-edge Wilson Stadium is a versatile facility that will host soccer, football, and track and field competitions for decades to come.
Football Football Football
“I could say I’ve always been proud to be a Hornet, but I haven’t always been proud of our facilities. But now I am. I’m very proud of this stadium.”
Matt Paul
Athletic Director of Kirtland Local Schools
Photo Courtesy of Marous Brothers Construction
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Fairport Harbor EVSD Campus WalkthroughAs part of the architectural design process, an animated walkthrough for Fairport Harbor’s new school interior was presented to two high school juniors, Charlie and Hannah. They were the first in the district to see the design renderings and provided their impressions.
Fairport Harbor EVSD Campus Walkthrough
As part of the architectural design process, an animated walkthrough for Fairport Harbor’s new school interior was presented at the August School Board Meeting. The virtual walkthrough included commentary from two high school juniors, Charlie and Hannah.
The new Fairport Harbor Exempted School District’s PreK-12 Campus 116,000 SF building replaces the existing Harding High School, McKinley Elementary and attached Fairport Harbor Public Library. This new modern educational and library environment will be enjoyed by the community and future generations of Fairport Harbor students.
Fairport Harbor EVSD Campus Walkthrough Video Animation
“This new facility will give this community a sense of pride for the next century, just like the previous school gave the community a sense of pride for the last century. It will provide all students with the opportunity to thrive in a 21st century learning environment, be proud of their accomplishments, and their future.”
William Billington
Superintendent of Fairport Harbor EVSD
A Virtual Tour
The students were the first in the district to see the design renderings and were recorded by ThenDesign Architecture (TDA) staff to provide their impressions and creative ideas on how to use the modernized spaces. Both were excited for future students who will occupy the new campus.
The video highlighted areas that included the main entrance, the public library and media center, the two gymnasiums, various ELA classrooms, a courtyard, and the two-level student dining and performance space.
Charlie hoped future students would utilize the expanded public library and media center to host more local community events. Upon seeing the courtyard, Hannah thought it would be an ideal location for dances or provide opportunities for a school garden club.
The presentation to the school board on August 22 was the public unveiling of the renderings. These concepts will continue to be developed as design phases continue. The PreK-12 Campus opens for the 2025-2026 school year.
Fairport Harbor EVSD High School Juniors Charlie and Hannah
Fairport Harbor EVSD Celebrates the Groundbreaking for Their New School
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Fairport Harbor EVSD Campus WalkthroughAs part of the architectural design process, an animated walkthrough for Fairport Harbor’s new school interior was presented to two high school juniors, Charlie and Hannah. They were the first in the district to see the design renderings and provided their impressions.
Fairport Harbor EVSD Campus Walkthrough
As part of the architectural design process, an animated walkthrough for Fairport Harbor’s new school interior was presented at the August School Board Meeting. The virtual walkthrough included commentary from two high school juniors, Charlie and Hannah.
The new Fairport Harbor Exempted School District’s PreK-12 Campus 116,000 SF building replaces the existing Harding High School, McKinley Elementary and attached Fairport Harbor Public Library. This new modern educational and library environment will be enjoyed by the community and future generations of Fairport Harbor students.
Fairport Harbor EVSD Campus Walkthrough Video Animation
“This new facility will give this community a sense of pride for the next century, just like the previous school gave the community a sense of pride for the last century. It will provide all students with the opportunity to thrive in a 21st century learning environment, be proud of their accomplishments, and their future.”
William Billington
Superintendent of Fairport Harbor EVSD
A Virtual Tour
The students were the first in the district to see the design renderings and were recorded by ThenDesign Architecture (TDA) staff to provide their impressions and creative ideas on how to use the modernized spaces. Both were excited for future students who will occupy the new campus.
The video highlighted areas that included the main entrance, the public library and media center, the two gymnasiums, various ELA classrooms, a courtyard, and the two-level student dining and performance space.
Charlie hoped future students would utilize the expanded public library and media center to host more local community events. Upon seeing the courtyard, Hannah thought it would be an ideal location for dances or provide opportunities for a school garden club.
The presentation to the school board on August 22 was the public unveiling of the renderings. These concepts will continue to be developed as design phases continue. The PreK-12 Campus opens for the 2025-2026 school year.
Fairport Harbor EVSD High School Juniors Charlie and Hannah
Fairport Harbor EVSD Celebrates the Groundbreaking for Their New School
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Rocky River City Schools Celebrates Their New Media CenterOn August 15th, 2023 Rocky River City Schools opened the doors to their newly renovated Media Center in the Middle School. This roughly 3,500 sf space features a new modular floor plan with flexible furniture and technology upgrades, it opens officially for the 2023-2024 school year.
Rocky River City Schools – New Media Center
On August 15th, 2023 Rocky River City Schools opened the doors to their newly renovated Media Center in the Middle School. Attended by dozens that included the school administration, school board, members of the Rocky River Education Foundation, local media, teachers and students, all got to experience the space firsthand. This roughly 3,500 sf space features a new modular floor plan with flexible furniture and technology upgrades, it opens officially for the 2023-2024 school year.
It is the result of efforts between the school district, design and construction professionals and furniture designers and manufacturers.
Students can use this as a library, they can get books here, read, listen to media, use the maker space, Lego’s, whatever they want to do creatively.
Sam Gifford
Executive Director of Facilities Operations Rocky River City Schools
An Opportunity for Flexible Space
Sam Gifford, Executive Director of Facilities Operations was excited to refresh this space for new, modern purposes. “The library was a state-of-the-art space when it was designed 23 years ago, but it’s just not now. We redeveloped it using a more modular plan, so it can be organized so several classes can be there at once. You can setup the mobile tables anyway you need to better use the great technology. This all happens in a comfortable space with great acoustics. It’s a welcoming environment for our students who want to use the library.”
This new renovation allows the district to use more programming in the library than before.
Brad Gellert with ThenDesign Architecture was the project manager and worked through the plans for the new media center as the project developed. “The district was interested in activating a space that wasn’t used as much as it could be. Now, as the district changes their curriculum and approach over the years, it can respond much more flexibly than before and can be arranged in many different configurations.”
We used school branded colors in the ceiling to tie in the overall aesthetic. Then we pulled in pops of maroon so the new space flowed into the rest of the school.
Nicole Monaco
Interior Designer, ThenDesign Architecture
Furniture and Color Palette
The furniture that was selected replaces older tables and chairs which were difficult to arrange to suit different class needs. Supplied by KI, pieces include rocking style chairs and easily movable tables and seating that can be arranged for small group work. They can be raised and lowered to create tiered workspaces where needed.
Interior finishes of the space was an important aspect for designers.
Nicole Monaco, an interior designer who worked on the project noted, “Some room finishes, like the existing book shelves on the perimeter of the space, we couldn’t remove. So we found textures that incorporated those color schemes and tied into the new reception desk.” School colors played a big part of the color palette. “We used school branded colors in the ceiling to tie in the overall aesthetic. Then we pulled in pops of maroon so the new space flowed into the rest of the school.”
This refresh will better activate a school space. Legos, technology, books and 3D printers all have stations in the space. This media center can also be used as a “makers space,” using digital tools for projects.
As the district changes their curriculum and approach over the years, this space can respond more flexibly than before, and be arranged in many different configurations.
Brad Gellert
Architect, ThenDesign Architecture
Gifford continues, “Students can use it as a library, they can get books here, read, listen to media, use the maker space, the Lego’s whatever they want to do creatively. We are also excited to see different classrooms come and use this bigger space. Multiple classes could come together, perhaps social studies, English, science, all can study together and do cross-curricular teaching.”
The space is completed just as the year is beginning.
“It turned into a very dynamic space, with activity and motion, versus just a library. Now we have dedicated space to really do those things.”
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Rocky River City Schools Celebrates Their New Media CenterOn August 15th, 2023 Rocky River City Schools opened the doors to their newly renovated Media Center in the Middle School. This roughly 3,500 sf space features a new modular floor plan with flexible furniture and technology upgrades, it opens officially for the 2023-2024 school year.
Rocky River City Schools – New Media Center
On August 15th, 2023 Rocky River City Schools opened the doors to their newly renovated Media Center in the Middle School. Attended by dozens that included the school administration, school board, members of the Rocky River Education Foundation, local media, teachers and students, all got to experience the space firsthand. This roughly 3,500 sf space features a new modular floor plan with flexible furniture and technology upgrades, it opens officially for the 2023-2024 school year.
It is the result of efforts between the school district, design and construction professionals and furniture designers and manufacturers.
Students can use this as a library, they can get books here, read, listen to media, use the maker space, Lego’s, whatever they want to do creatively.
Sam Gifford
Executive Director of Facilities Operations Rocky River City Schools
An Opportunity for Flexible Space
Sam Gifford, Executive Director of Facilities Operations was excited to refresh this space for new, modern purposes. “The library was a state-of-the-art space when it was designed 23 years ago, but it’s just not now. We redeveloped it using a more modular plan, so it can be organized so several classes can be there at once. You can setup the mobile tables anyway you need to better use the great technology. This all happens in a comfortable space with great acoustics. It’s a welcoming environment for our students who want to use the library.”
This new renovation allows the district to use more programming in the library than before.
Brad Gellert with ThenDesign Architecture was the project manager and worked through the plans for the new media center as the project developed. “The district was interested in activating a space that wasn’t used as much as it could be. Now, as the district changes their curriculum and approach over the years, it can respond much more flexibly than before and can be arranged in many different configurations.”
We used school branded colors in the ceiling to tie in the overall aesthetic. Then we pulled in pops of maroon so the new space flowed into the rest of the school.
Nicole Monaco
Interior Designer, ThenDesign Architecture
Furniture and Color Palette
The furniture that was selected replaces older tables and chairs which were difficult to arrange to suit different class needs. Supplied by KI, pieces include rocking style chairs and easily movable tables and seating that can be arranged for small group work. They can be raised and lowered to create tiered workspaces where needed.
Interior finishes of the space was an important aspect for designers.
Nicole Monaco, an interior designer who worked on the project noted, “Some room finishes, like the existing book shelves on the perimeter of the space, we couldn’t remove. So we found textures that incorporated those color schemes and tied into the new reception desk.” School colors played a big part of the color palette. “We used school branded colors in the ceiling to tie in the overall aesthetic. Then we pulled in pops of maroon so the new space flowed into the rest of the school.”
This refresh will better activate a school space. Legos, technology, books and 3D printers all have stations in the space. This media center can also be used as a “makers space,” using digital tools for projects.
As the district changes their curriculum and approach over the years, this space can respond more flexibly than before, and be arranged in many different configurations.
Brad Gellert
Architect, ThenDesign Architecture
Gifford continues, “Students can use it as a library, they can get books here, read, listen to media, use the maker space, the Lego’s whatever they want to do creatively. We are also excited to see different classrooms come and use this bigger space. Multiple classes could come together, perhaps social studies, English, science, all can study together and do cross-curricular teaching.”
The space is completed just as the year is beginning.
“It turned into a very dynamic space, with activity and motion, versus just a library. Now we have dedicated space to really do those things.”
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
Willoughby South High School at Union Village: 4 Entities Under 1 Roof South High School in Willoughby, Ohio, also known as Union Village, incorporates four separate entities into a single building. Jeff Henderson of ThenDesign Architecture (TDA) explains the challenges of creating a structure to host different organizations under one roof, sharing common spaces, yet having each retain their identity.
Willoughby South High School at Union Village: 4 Entities Under 1 Roof
The updated 198,100 SF facility serves 1,700 students (1,200 in grades 9-12 and 500 in grades 6-8), local senior citizens, the community, and YMCA members. Merging these entities into a shared structure maximized the efficient use of space and budget due to three different organizations sharing amenities, a field house that includes gymnasium space, an elevated track, and pool facilities.
Willoughby South High School at Union Village
“This was one of the more complicated projects I have ever worked on. But it was fun.”
Jeff Henderson, RA
ThenDesign Architecture
A Vision of Physical Collaboration
ThenDesign Architecture (TDA) Project Manager Jeff Henderson explained the challenges of planning and constructing such a complex project.
“The Willoughby-Eastlake City School District knew they wanted to update the middle school and high school, while at the same time, the YMCA and Senior Center were making the same types of plans. Since the high school had been next to the YMCA for about 40 years, [Former] Superintendent Steve Thompson had the idea to approach the YMCA to see if they were interested in collaborating on a new building. He suggested they should work together and share the same spaces rather than duplicate facilities.”
The concept of collaboration with physical space built momentum with the David E. Anderson Senior Center joining the partnership. Jeff recalled, “Once they all agreed to work together, they came to us and said, ‘This is what we want to do.’ And we thought, ‘Okay, how are we going to do this?’ It was a great idea, but it certainly would have its challenges.”
“The process demanded honest and ongoing communications with the ability to compromise to reach the best solutions.”
Robert Fiala, AIA, NCARB, APA
Mayor of Willoughby
Identifying Mutual Challenges
Three separate collaborators having different sources of funding needed to be timed together. A bond issue funded the construction project for the Willoughby-Eastlake City School District. The YMCA relied on membership fees and donations. The Senior Center was funded through membership fees and the city of Willoughby.
After the three parties came together and agreed on which areas of the interconnected building they would operate, their needs were relayed to the architecture team.
“Each wanted their own parking lot, entry, and face of the building so that visitors could clearly identify where they were going. That’s very reasonable,” Jeff said, “but the interesting challenge was having three organizations with separate identities in the same complex and still having a sense of unity. It was a creative problem we were excited to solve.
“On top of that, some had strict design standards we had to adhere to. The YMCA is a national brand and had to feel like all the others. Willoughby South High School had a sister campus on the north side, and they needed to feel related. Balancing those stipulations to make everyone happy took a lot of time and many discussions.”
Union Village Building Layout Renderings
“The biggest lesson: You can’t have too many meetings with your client.”
Jeff Henderson, RA
ThenDesign Architecture
Sharing the Field House
The biggest functional space of Union Village is the Field House, located in the center of the structure. This shared space connects the high school, the YMCA, and the Senior Center. It contains four full basketball courts and an elevated track.
Sharing a common area required that each party had direct access to the facilities, which meant they were physically connected to the Field House. “Some problems cannot be solved strictly by architecture,” Jeff pointed out. “Each participant had to take on some responsibility for administration because you can only do so much with design. You didn’t want a high school student accidentally wandering into the Senior Center. The seniors needed to reach the pool but not the other areas of the YMCA. So, there were a lot of conversations about security and safety. It was up to the three different parties to manage that.”
Union Village Field House, YMCA, and Senior Center
A Renovation, Not a Re-creation
“The high school was a renovation, not an entirely new build,” Jeff commented. “We incorporated some additions to the structure based on the needs of the district but also to give us the room to fully incorporate the principles of student-centered learning into the existing space. The forward-thinking design included collaborative areas and open classrooms, which could be done without tearing all the buildings down and starting over.”
Developed in parallel with its sister school Willoughby North, South High School at Union Village is a 21st-century learning facility that exemplifies the district’s goals of modernizing its curriculum and provides flexible spaces to support student-centered learning.
The two high schools were designed in tandem, with both teams meeting regularly as designs progressed. The Willoughby-Eastlake School District planned to spread the athletic and arts spaces across their high schools. South High School received expanded athletic facilities, while North High School enjoyed a large performing arts and music space. Students can choose which high school they want to attend based on personal interests.
“Due to where the football field was and where the Field House needed to be, we found that the best place to put the new high school was at the back of the old one,” Jeff continued, “but then we have the front door at the back of a building. We had to figure out a way to signal, ‘Hey, I’m back here.’ The answer was found with curves.
“Educational design is no longer about a series of industrial rectangles. The school has curved hallways, curved walls, and other curved spaces. This smooth flow encourages motion. So, for the exterior, we generated geometries that would lead people by peeking around curves that would guide them to the high school entrance. They needed to know, ‘I’m in the right place,’ and we accomplished that.”
Willoughby South High School at Union Village
Bricks Become the Mortar
Jeff explained the unification problem, “The YMCA felt more high-tech with metal siding. The Senior Center wanted to feel comfortable, like a home. Then, you had an education design for the high school. The way to maintain their identities, but still communicate they’re linked together was by using materials.”
Jeff noted that a common, unifying element across the building exterior was the use of bricks. “They shared a roof, but by adding the same brick layout along the base of the Senior Center, YMCA, and high school, we created a material commonality that pulled the different spaces together. Each organization was not only physically joined, but now visually joined.”
Robert Fiala, the founding partner of ThenDesign Architecture and current Mayor of Willoughby, Ohio, was heavily involved in the planning process. He reflected on the intangible benefits of such a facility, “Beyond the unusual collaboration of a public school district, a faith-based non-profit, and the city, the Union Village project offered a unique cross-generational opportunity. Adjacent to a daycare center and both schools, it became a place where seniors, students, and children could interact with each other. The kids benefit from the wisdom and experience of the seniors, and the seniors have companionship and a chance to share their lifelong stories.”
“Three very different entities with different goals, different types of funding, and different aesthetic requirements coming together in the same space doesn’t happen every day. But we did it.”
Jeff Henderson, RA
ThenDesign Architecture
A New Name for a New Era
To honor the previous occupant of the space, Union High School, and acknowledge that three different organizations came together to create what is akin to being a village, the building was given the new name “Union Village.”
The Union Village Ribbon Cutting Ceremony took place on August 10, 2019. The project was completed a month later.
Jeff noted how rewarding it was to participate in such an undertaking. “Considering the complexities involved, I think we were successful. We achieved all the goals our clients had and that we had. It was neat to watch people using the spaces as we intended.”
Robert noted that the measure of accomplishment is how visitors receive it. “Our joint-use project has been applauded by many,” he said. “Other cities and school districts visit the building, talk with our administrators, and see function and that the collaborations succeeded.”
Union Village continues to provide services for thousands in the Willoughby area each year.
“We hope it will be viewed as an example of how collaboration can save money, enhance programming, and provide a significant community benefit.”
Robert Fiala, AIA, NCARB, APA
Mayor of Willoughby
Union Village Groundbreaking Ceremony
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Willoughby South High School at Union Village: 4 Entities Under 1 Roof South High School in Willoughby, Ohio, also known as Union Village, incorporates four separate entities into a single building. Jeff Henderson of ThenDesign Architecture (TDA) explains the challenges of creating a structure to host different organizations under one roof, sharing common spaces, yet having each retain their identity.
Willoughby South High School at Union Village: 4 Entities Under 1 Roof
The updated 198,100 SF facility serves 1,700 students (1,200 in grades 9-12 and 500 in grades 6-8), local senior citizens, the community, and YMCA members. Merging these entities into a shared structure maximized the efficient use of space and budget due to three different organizations sharing amenities, a field house that includes gymnasium space, an elevated track, and pool facilities.
Willoughby South High School at Union Village
“This was one of the more complicated projects I have ever worked on. But it was fun.”
Jeff Henderson, RA
ThenDesign Architecture
A Vision of Physical Collaboration
ThenDesign Architecture (TDA) Project Manager Jeff Henderson explained the challenges of planning and constructing such a complex project.
“The Willoughby-Eastlake City School District knew they wanted to update the middle school and high school, while at the same time, the YMCA and Senior Center were making the same types of plans. Since the high school had been next to the YMCA for about 40 years, [Former] Superintendent Steve Thompson had the idea to approach the YMCA to see if they were interested in collaborating on a new building. He suggested they should work together and share the same spaces rather than duplicate facilities.”
The concept of collaboration with physical space built momentum with the David E. Anderson Senior Center joining the partnership. Jeff recalled, “Once they all agreed to work together, they came to us and said, ‘This is what we want to do.’ And we thought, ‘Okay, how are we going to do this?’ It was a great idea, but it certainly would have its challenges.”
“The process demanded honest and ongoing communications with the ability to compromise to reach the best solutions.”
Robert Fiala, AIA, NCARB, APA
Mayor of Willoughby
Identifying Mutual Challenges
Three separate collaborators having different sources of funding needed to be timed together. A bond issue funded the construction project for the Willoughby-Eastlake City School District. The YMCA relied on membership fees and donations. The Senior Center was funded through membership fees and the city of Willoughby.
After the three parties came together and agreed on which areas of the interconnected building they would operate, their needs were relayed to the architecture team.
“Each wanted their own parking lot, entry, and face of the building so that visitors could clearly identify where they were going. That’s very reasonable,” Jeff said, “but the interesting challenge was having three organizations with separate identities in the same complex and still having a sense of unity. It was a creative problem we were excited to solve.
“On top of that, some had strict design standards we had to adhere to. The YMCA is a national brand and had to feel like all the others. Willoughby South High School had a sister campus on the north side, and they needed to feel related. Balancing those stipulations to make everyone happy took a lot of time and many discussions.”
Union Village Building Layout Renderings
“The biggest lesson: You can’t have too many meetings with your client.”
Jeff Henderson, RA
ThenDesign Architecture
Sharing the Field House
The biggest functional space of Union Village is the Field House, located in the center of the structure. This shared space connects the high school, the YMCA, and the Senior Center. It contains four full basketball courts and an elevated track.
Sharing a common area required that each party had direct access to the facilities, which meant they were physically connected to the Field House. “Some problems cannot be solved strictly by architecture,” Jeff pointed out. “Each participant had to take on some responsibility for administration because you can only do so much with design. You didn’t want a high school student accidentally wandering into the Senior Center. The seniors needed to reach the pool but not the other areas of the YMCA. So, there were a lot of conversations about security and safety. It was up to the three different parties to manage that.”
Union Village Field House, YMCA, and Senior Center
A Renovation, Not a Re-creation
“The high school was a renovation, not an entirely new build,” Jeff commented. “We incorporated some additions to the structure based on the needs of the district but also to give us the room to fully incorporate the principles of student-centered learning into the existing space. The forward-thinking design included collaborative areas and open classrooms, which could be done without tearing all the buildings down and starting over.”
Developed in parallel with its sister school Willoughby North, South High School at Union Village is a 21st-century learning facility that exemplifies the district’s goals of modernizing its curriculum and provides flexible spaces to support student-centered learning.
The two high schools were designed in tandem, with both teams meeting regularly as designs progressed. The Willoughby-Eastlake School District planned to spread the athletic and arts spaces across their high schools. South High School received expanded athletic facilities, while North High School enjoyed a large performing arts and music space. Students can choose which high school they want to attend based on personal interests.
“Due to where the football field was and where the Field House needed to be, we found that the best place to put the new high school was at the back of the old one,” Jeff continued, “but then we have the front door at the back of a building. We had to figure out a way to signal, ‘Hey, I’m back here.’ The answer was found with curves.
“Educational design is no longer about a series of industrial rectangles. The school has curved hallways, curved walls, and other curved spaces. This smooth flow encourages motion. So, for the exterior, we generated geometries that would lead people by peeking around curves that would guide them to the high school entrance. They needed to know, ‘I’m in the right place,’ and we accomplished that.”
Willoughby South High School at Union Village
Bricks Become the Mortar
Jeff explained the unification problem, “The YMCA felt more high-tech with metal siding. The Senior Center wanted to feel comfortable, like a home. Then, you had an education design for the high school. The way to maintain their identities, but still communicate they’re linked together was by using materials.”
Jeff noted that a common, unifying element across the building exterior was the use of bricks. “They shared a roof, but by adding the same brick layout along the base of the Senior Center, YMCA, and high school, we created a material commonality that pulled the different spaces together. Each organization was not only physically joined, but now visually joined.”
Robert Fiala, the founding partner of ThenDesign Architecture and current Mayor of Willoughby, Ohio, was heavily involved in the planning process. He reflected on the intangible benefits of such a facility, “Beyond the unusual collaboration of a public school district, a faith-based non-profit, and the city, the Union Village project offered a unique cross-generational opportunity. Adjacent to a daycare center and both schools, it became a place where seniors, students, and children could interact with each other. The kids benefit from the wisdom and experience of the seniors, and the seniors have companionship and a chance to share their lifelong stories.”
“Three very different entities with different goals, different types of funding, and different aesthetic requirements coming together in the same space doesn’t happen every day. But we did it.”
Jeff Henderson, RA
ThenDesign Architecture
A New Name for a New Era
To honor the previous occupant of the space, Union High School, and acknowledge that three different organizations came together to create what is akin to being a village, the building was given the new name “Union Village.”
The Union Village Ribbon Cutting Ceremony took place on August 10, 2019. The project was completed a month later.
Jeff noted how rewarding it was to participate in such an undertaking. “Considering the complexities involved, I think we were successful. We achieved all the goals our clients had and that we had. It was neat to watch people using the spaces as we intended.”
Robert noted that the measure of accomplishment is how visitors receive it. “Our joint-use project has been applauded by many,” he said. “Other cities and school districts visit the building, talk with our administrators, and see function and that the collaborations succeeded.”
Union Village continues to provide services for thousands in the Willoughby area each year.
“We hope it will be viewed as an example of how collaboration can save money, enhance programming, and provide a significant community benefit.”
Robert Fiala, AIA, NCARB, APA
Mayor of Willoughby
Union Village Groundbreaking Ceremony
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New Geauga County Office Building To Serve The Community For DecadesThe 115,700 SF facility in the geographic center of rural Geauga County consolidated fifteen departments to provide a streamlined experience for residents seeking assistance from various county services. It was designed to blend with Geauga County’s natural surroundings and beauty.
A Product of Wise and Thoughtful Planning
The new Geauga County Office Building is a 115,700 SF facility in the geographic center of rural Geauga County that will serve the community for decades. Designed to house the Board of Commissioner’s offices and consolidate county services into one building, it blends the surrounding landscape with a functional, modern aesthetic while incorporating sustainable features in a timeless nod to Geauga County’s natural resources and beauty.
The three-and-a-half-story building has a partial ground floor in the rear. It is situated on the larger Claridon Township campus, near the sheriff’s office, the University Hospital site, the Geauga County Public Library, and the Geauga Board of Mental Health. The new campus provides valuable resources and brings additional jobs and revenue to the area.
This project was conceived and budgeted years ago because of wise forethought and thoughtful planning by past and current Geauga County Commissioners. The land for the building was purchased in the 1970s, and the commissioners began saving money to support the new construction. Upholding this vision, the County kept an essential promise to residents that they would fund the project from a capital fund, not a new tax.
New Geauga County Office Building to Serve the Community for Decades:
“Due to fiscally conservative leadership, past and present commissioners, and all of the elected officials and department heads, this building will serve the residents of Geauga County for many years to come.”
Timothy Lennon
Geauga County Commissioner
Planning and Design
ThenDesign Architecture (TDA) planned and programmed the county building with the commissioners and multiple department stakeholders, representing various aspects of Geauga County and the community they serve.
The new building houses offices for County Commissioners James W. Dvorak, Ralph Spidalieri, and Timothy C. Lennon. The space also includes offices of the Archives and Records Center, Auto Title Office, Board of Elections, Building Department, Community and Economic Development, Department on Aging, Health District, Job and Family Services, Ohio License Services, Planning Commission, Veteran Services, Water Resources, and more.
After many programming and design meetings, the architects archived a timeless aesthetic that responded to the forests surrounding the site. This way, the spaces would reflect the natural beauty of the county and mimic the color scheme of the nearby Geauga County Public Library Administrative Offices.
The New Geauga County Office Building Fly-Through Animation:
Community Benefits
“I can envision this area to be more than just a hospital and some county buildings,” commented Timothy Lennon, one of three Geauga county commissioners. “This can be a destination for residents of Geauga County and beyond, providing not only healthcare and county services but potentially business opportunities, as well.”
Residents are now better served by having a single facility that houses the many agencies that represent them, as opposed to needing to visit each one in their own building. Also, with these agencies under one roof, it is far easier for employees to collaborate.
The county commissioners placed high importance on keeping the community informed throughout the multi-year design and construction process of the new office building. Due to this, Geauga County created a website for community members and taxpayers to stay educated regarding project funding and status.
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
The Geauga County Office building officially opened its doors with a celebratory Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on June 24, 2022. County Administrator Gerry Morgan gave opening comments and introduced the two attending commissioners. Among those in the audience were representatives of ThenDesign Architecture, NV5, and Donley’s Independence Construction.
“This is truly a humbling and exciting moment to stand before all of you at this incredible facility today. To accomplish a project of this magnitude takes collaboration, foresight, input, and dedication from many stakeholders.”
Timothy Lennon
Geauga County Commissioner
Watch the New Geauga County Office Building Ribbon Cutting Ceremony:
“The team that we put together: ThenDesign
Architecture, NV5, and Donley’s Independence Construction, to me was a dream team because everything they did was spot-on.”
James Dvorak
Geauga County Commissioner
Project Manager Brad Gellert commented, “The design team is thrilled to have been given the opportunity to bring to life the Commissioners’ vision of a new multi-department building with modern, flexible workspaces and an open, inviting environment that serves all Geauga residents.”
Photos of the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on June 24, 2022:
Exterior Aesthetic and Sustainable Features
The exterior boldly exhibits an organic brick pattern, while wood grain metal siding is reminiscent of the neighboring woodland. These exterior design elements better integrate the building into the landscape and preserve the spirit and aesthetic of the valuable wetlands.
One of the key features of the new office building is its energy efficiency. The building has been designed to be energy efficient and reduce operating costs. To optimize energy savings and reduce solar glare, the narrow building footprint is oriented north to south to conserve energy for heating and cooling while maximizing the amount of daylight that deeply penetrates the building.
Additionally, materials used on the exterior are easy to maintain. LED lighting and sophisticated temperature control systems throughout the building lead to additional cost savings.
Interior Design Elements
Jennifer Murray, NCIDQ, a Geauga County resident, was the interior designer for the facility. She worked to create a modern, functional environment for Geauga County staff and inviting spaces for Geauga County residents. Working closely with the commissioners, the interiors team developed material finish palettes, furniture packages, and custom signage throughout.
The sizeable two-story lobby includes a custom-designed LED chandelier that provides functional lighting and color, allowing another opportunity to combine the interior environment with the surrounding landscape.
The main staircase, accessible from the lobby, was designed to encourage pedestrian use through various methods. The perforated metal stair treads allow natural light through them, complementing the large exterior windows. It creates a much more welcoming environment than most simple egress stairways. The interior was finished with ornamental masonry mimicking the exterior brick pattern, giving off a natural feeling and warming the space.
In all the common spaces, three life-sized murals depicting local landmarks further bring the exterior into the space and celebrate Geauga County’s natural beauty.
Photos of the Finished Geauga County Office Building’s Interior Details:
A Path to Success
The new Geauga County Office Building is an efficient way to serve the residents of Geauga County by consolidating previously separated services into one building. Consolidating services allows for collaboration between departments, lower facility maintenance costs, and ease of use for visitors. With the project completed on time and within budget during the challenging coronavirus pandemic, the commissioners, staff, and community have a modern facility that will serve the county’s needs for decades to come.
“A milestone of brick and mortar. This building will be a building of service to the people, and it will show a sense of community, a sense of pride, and it will help produce the Geauga way of life.”
James Dvorak
Geauga County Commissioner
Project Design Challenges
The Geauga County Office Building seamlessly integrates into the surrounding landscape and evokes the natural beauty of Geauga County. It maximizes its connection to the outside while employing a variety of sustainability features.
The new facility consolidated fifteen departments under one roof. This provides a streamlined experience for residents seeking assistance from various county services.
Design and construction were conducted during the challenging coronavirus pandemic. Staff accomplished engagements remotely, seeking input and providing updates to residents and stakeholders.
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
New Geauga County Office Building To Serve The Community For DecadesThe 115,700 SF facility in the geographic center of rural Geauga County consolidated fifteen departments to provide a streamlined experience for residents seeking assistance from various county services. It was designed to blend with Geauga County’s natural surroundings and beauty.
A Product of Wise and Thoughtful Planning
The new Geauga County Office Building is a 115,700 SF facility in the geographic center of rural Geauga County that will serve the community for decades. Designed to house the Board of Commissioner’s offices and consolidate county services into one building, it blends the surrounding landscape with a functional, modern aesthetic while incorporating sustainable features in a timeless nod to Geauga County’s natural resources and beauty.
The three-and-a-half-story building has a partial ground floor in the rear. It is situated on the larger Claridon Township campus, near the sheriff’s office, the University Hospital site, the Geauga County Public Library, and the Geauga Board of Mental Health. The new campus provides valuable resources and brings additional jobs and revenue to the area.
This project was conceived and budgeted years ago because of wise forethought and thoughtful planning by past and current Geauga County Commissioners. The land for the building was purchased in the 1970s, and the commissioners began saving money to support the new construction. Upholding this vision, the County kept an essential promise to residents that they would fund the project from a capital fund, not a new tax.
New Geauga County Office Building to Serve the Community for Decades:
“Due to fiscally conservative leadership, past and present commissioners, and all of the elected officials and department heads, this building will serve the residents of Geauga County for many years to come.”
Timothy Lennon
Geauga County Commissioner
Planning and Design
ThenDesign Architecture (TDA) planned and programmed the county building with the commissioners and multiple department stakeholders, representing various aspects of Geauga County and the community they serve.
The new building houses offices for County Commissioners James W. Dvorak, Ralph Spidalieri, and Timothy C. Lennon. The space also includes offices of the Archives and Records Center, Auto Title Office, Board of Elections, Building Department, Community and Economic Development, Department on Aging, Health District, Job and Family Services, Ohio License Services, Planning Commission, Veteran Services, Water Resources, and more.
After many programming and design meetings, the architects archived a timeless aesthetic that responded to the forests surrounding the site. This way, the spaces would reflect the natural beauty of the county and mimic the color scheme of the nearby Geauga County Public Library Administrative Offices.
The New Geauga County Office Building Fly-Through Animation:
Community Benefits
“I can envision this area to be more than just a hospital and some county buildings,” commented Timothy Lennon, one of three Geauga county commissioners. “This can be a destination for residents of Geauga County and beyond, providing not only healthcare and county services but potentially business opportunities, as well.”
Residents are now better served by having a single facility that houses the many agencies that represent them, as opposed to needing to visit each one in their own building. Also, with these agencies under one roof, it is far easier for employees to collaborate.
The county commissioners placed high importance on keeping the community informed throughout the multi-year design and construction process of the new office building. Due to this, Geauga County created a website for community members and taxpayers to stay educated regarding project funding and status.
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
The Geauga County Office building officially opened its doors with a celebratory Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on June 24, 2022. County Administrator Gerry Morgan gave opening comments and introduced the two attending commissioners. Among those in the audience were representatives of ThenDesign Architecture, NV5, and Donley’s Independence Construction.
“This is truly a humbling and exciting moment to stand before all of you at this incredible facility today. To accomplish a project of this magnitude takes collaboration, foresight, input, and dedication from many stakeholders.”
Timothy Lennon
Geauga County Commissioner
Watch the New Geauga County Office Building Ribbon Cutting Ceremony:
“The team that we put together: ThenDesign
Architecture, NV5, and Donley’s Independence Construction, to me was a dream team because everything they did was spot-on.”
James Dvorak
Geauga County Commissioner
Project Manager Brad Gellert commented, “The design team is thrilled to have been given the opportunity to bring to life the Commissioners’ vision of a new multi-department building with modern, flexible workspaces and an open, inviting environment that serves all Geauga residents.”
Photos of the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on June 24, 2022:
Exterior Aesthetic and Sustainable Features
The exterior boldly exhibits an organic brick pattern, while wood grain metal siding is reminiscent of the neighboring woodland. These exterior design elements better integrate the building into the landscape and preserve the spirit and aesthetic of the valuable wetlands.
One of the key features of the new office building is its energy efficiency. The building has been designed to be energy efficient and reduce operating costs. To optimize energy savings and reduce solar glare, the narrow building footprint is oriented north to south to conserve energy for heating and cooling while maximizing the amount of daylight that deeply penetrates the building.
Additionally, materials used on the exterior are easy to maintain. LED lighting and sophisticated temperature control systems throughout the building lead to additional cost savings.
Interior Design Elements
Jennifer Murray, NCIDQ, a Geauga County resident, was the interior designer for the facility. She worked to create a modern, functional environment for Geauga County staff and inviting spaces for Geauga County residents. Working closely with the commissioners, the interiors team developed material finish palettes, furniture packages, and custom signage throughout.
The sizeable two-story lobby includes a custom-designed LED chandelier that provides functional lighting and color, allowing another opportunity to combine the interior environment with the surrounding landscape.
The main staircase, accessible from the lobby, was designed to encourage pedestrian use through various methods. The perforated metal stair treads allow natural light through them, complementing the large exterior windows. It creates a much more welcoming environment than most simple egress stairways. The interior was finished with ornamental masonry mimicking the exterior brick pattern, giving off a natural feeling and warming the space.
In all the common spaces, three life-sized murals depicting local landmarks further bring the exterior into the space and celebrate Geauga County’s natural beauty.
Photos of the Finished Geauga County Office Building’s Interior Details:
A Path to Success
The new Geauga County Office Building is an efficient way to serve the residents of Geauga County by consolidating previously separated services into one building. Consolidating services allows for collaboration between departments, lower facility maintenance costs, and ease of use for visitors. With the project completed on time and within budget during the challenging coronavirus pandemic, the commissioners, staff, and community have a modern facility that will serve the county’s needs for decades to come.
“A milestone of brick and mortar. This building will be a building of service to the people, and it will show a sense of community, a sense of pride, and it will help produce the Geauga way of life.”
James Dvorak
Geauga County Commissioner
Project Design Challenges
The Geauga County Office Building seamlessly integrates into the surrounding landscape and evokes the natural beauty of Geauga County. It maximizes its connection to the outside while employing a variety of sustainability features.
The new facility consolidated fifteen departments under one roof. This provides a streamlined experience for residents seeking assistance from various county services.
Design and construction were conducted during the challenging coronavirus pandemic. Staff accomplished engagements remotely, seeking input and providing updates to residents and stakeholders.
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
Kirtland High School’s New Science Room OpensNow that the new science room has been redesigned, students can efficiently move between traditional classroom activities and lab space without having to leave the space or rearrange the furniture.
Kirtland High School’s New Science Room
In early 2023, Kirtland Local Schools opened its new, renovated science room, expanding the learning space from two smaller 600 SF classrooms to a single large one in the high school. This new layout combines the classroom with a laboratory space, effectively doubling the usable environment while also updating furniture and utilities vital to this field of education, including plumbing, gas, and refrigeration.
Construction of the renovation began in July 2022 and was completed shortly after the new year. This project was made possible by the passage of the district’s 2021 capital improvement levy. Of the $4.5 million contract, $340,000 was allocated to improve the lab space.
https://youtu.be/XsneJbPzhbk
“There’s so much flexibility in this space.”
Chad VanArnhem
Superintendent of Kirtland Local Schools
A Flexible Learning Space
Science is fundamental to a student’s education. They learn a vast array of knowledge, from the intricacies of biological life to the movement of the stars in our universe.
As reported by The News-Herald, Superintendent Chad VanArnhem said, “There’s so much flexibility in this space.” This allows teaching staff to better personalize lessons for students.
Science teacher Alexandra Ardo added, “I’m very much a personalized learning kind of teacher. A bigger open space where we can add in rotations where they can be up in the classroom part while there are students actually doing a lab.”
Newly Renovated Science Room Provides A Modernized Space
“The kids can go from the classroom setting
to the lab setting seamlessly.”
Alexandra Ardo
Science Teacher
Redesigned For Comfort And Efficiency
Now that the new science room has been redesigned, students can efficiently move between traditional classroom activities and lab space without having to leave the space or rearrange the furniture. A connected work area now includes ample prep countertops, a cold storage refrigerator, and a dishwasher. The new science room provides a flexible learning space that includes updated technology for teachers to project information to each TV monitor at six adjacent lab stations.
Kirtland High School’s new science room is a comfortable environment that supports experimentation, group projects, and learning.
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
Kirtland High School’s New Science Room OpensNow that the new science room has been redesigned, students can efficiently move between traditional classroom activities and lab space without having to leave the space or rearrange the furniture.
Kirtland High School’s New Science Room
In early 2023, Kirtland Local Schools opened its new, renovated science room, expanding the learning space from two smaller 600 SF classrooms to a single large one in the high school. This new layout combines the classroom with a laboratory space, effectively doubling the usable environment while also updating furniture and utilities vital to this field of education, including plumbing, gas, and refrigeration.
Construction of the renovation began in July 2022 and was completed shortly after the new year. This project was made possible by the passage of the district’s 2021 capital improvement levy. Of the $4.5 million contract, $340,000 was allocated to improve the lab space.
https://youtu.be/XsneJbPzhbk
“There’s so much flexibility in this space.”
Chad VanArnhem
Superintendent of Kirtland Local Schools
A Flexible Learning Space
Science is fundamental to a student’s education. They learn a vast array of knowledge, from the intricacies of biological life to the movement of the stars in our universe.
As reported by The News-Herald, Superintendent Chad VanArnhem said, “There’s so much flexibility in this space.” This allows teaching staff to better personalize lessons for students.
Science teacher Alexandra Ardo added, “I’m very much a personalized learning kind of teacher. A bigger open space where we can add in rotations where they can be up in the classroom part while there are students actually doing a lab.”
Newly Renovated Science Room Provides A Modernized Space
“The kids can go from the classroom setting
to the lab setting seamlessly.”
Alexandra Ardo
Science Teacher
Redesigned For Comfort And Efficiency
Now that the new science room has been redesigned, students can efficiently move between traditional classroom activities and lab space without having to leave the space or rearrange the furniture. A connected work area now includes ample prep countertops, a cold storage refrigerator, and a dishwasher. The new science room provides a flexible learning space that includes updated technology for teachers to project information to each TV monitor at six adjacent lab stations.
Kirtland High School’s new science room is a comfortable environment that supports experimentation, group projects, and learning.
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
Brecksville-Broadview Heights City School District Opens New Elementary SchoolIn early August, the Brecksville-Broadview Heights City School District hosted a ribbon cutting to celebrate the opening of their new PreK-5 Elementary school for the 2022-2023 academic year. Housing over 1,500 students, the new school employs state-of-the-art technology, collaborative learning spaces and enhanced safety and security measures.
Brecksville-Broadview Heights City School District – Elementary School Celebration
In early August, the Brecksville-Broadview Heights City School District hosted a ribbon cutting to celebrate the opening of their new PreK-5 Elementary school for the 2022-2023 academic year. Housing over 1,500 students, the new school employs state-of-the-art technology, collaborative learning spaces and enhanced safety and security measures. It replaces Central, Chippewa, Highland and Hilton elementary schools. Due to a partnership between the school district and the city of Brecksville, it features an attached fieldhouse which can be used by the community and students.
Superintendent Joelle Maygar, who has a background in elementary school education, commented, “The intent behind this school was to design a space where kids wanted to come every day. It needed to be kid-friendly, welcoming, and scream elementary school.”
“I think we’ve achieved every goal we set out for with this building.”
“We wanted to provide students as many learning opportunities as possible, many of which can’t be found in more traditional buildings.”
Joelle Maygar
Superintendent of Brecksville-Broadview Heights City Schools
Brecksville-Broadview Heights Elementary School Unique Features
In 2018, the Brecksville-Broadview Heights community passed a 2.2-mill bond issue to build the new school. It consolidated the 4 existing elementary schools into one facility. The new school includes a robotics lab, makerspace with 3D printers, an E-Sports program, multiple playgrounds, a selfie wall, lego wall and Lite Brite station.
“We wanted to provide students as many learning opportunities as possible, many of which can’t be found in more traditional buildings.” Superintendent Maygar also emphasized the safety features in the new building. “We also put a lot of thought into safety and security for this building. Parents can feel very safe when their kids are here.”
Brecksville-Broadview Heights City School District students visited the school while it was under construction in 2021.
“The intent behind this school was to design a space where kids wanted to come every day. It needed to be kid-friendly, welcoming, and scream elementary school.”
Joelle Maygar
Superintendent of Brecksville-Broadview Heights City Schools
Construction Process
Construction on the school began in 2020, which was designed by ThenDesign Architecture and built by Shook Construction. Despite challenges posed by Covid-19, including supply chain issues and labor cost increases, the school was completed on time and under budget. Throughout the school’s construction, students visited to learn more about the architecture and construction industries and new features they could look forward to.
Superintendent Maygar is optimistic for the year ahead, “All the students who have visited are really excited to learn here and can’t wait to come.” She continues, “It is also a great facility for community use.”
The separate but connected athletic fieldhouse features 4 indoor basketball courts and a running track. They can be shared by both the school and city for community use. It is a unique feature for a school of this type.
Brecksville-Broadview Heights City School District Elementary School Ribbon Cutting on August 1, 2022.
The ribbon cutting was attended by members of the community, district staff and city officials. After the ceremony, the building was open for general tours of the new spaces. Over a 1,000 people have seen the building through tours and is opening for the 2022-2023 year.
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
Brecksville-Broadview Heights City School District Opens New Elementary SchoolIn early August, the Brecksville-Broadview Heights City School District hosted a ribbon cutting to celebrate the opening of their new PreK-5 Elementary school for the 2022-2023 academic year. Housing over 1,500 students, the new school employs state-of-the-art technology, collaborative learning spaces and enhanced safety and security measures.
Brecksville-Broadview Heights City School District – Elementary School Celebration
In early August, the Brecksville-Broadview Heights City School District hosted a ribbon cutting to celebrate the opening of their new PreK-5 Elementary school for the 2022-2023 academic year. Housing over 1,500 students, the new school employs state-of-the-art technology, collaborative learning spaces and enhanced safety and security measures. It replaces Central, Chippewa, Highland and Hilton elementary schools. Due to a partnership between the school district and the city of Brecksville, it features an attached fieldhouse which can be used by the community and students.
Superintendent Joelle Maygar, who has a background in elementary school education, commented, “The intent behind this school was to design a space where kids wanted to come every day. It needed to be kid-friendly, welcoming, and scream elementary school.”
“I think we’ve achieved every goal we set out for with this building.”
“We wanted to provide students as many learning opportunities as possible, many of which can’t be found in more traditional buildings.”
Joelle Maygar
Superintendent of Brecksville-Broadview Heights City Schools
Brecksville-Broadview Heights Elementary School Unique Features
In 2018, the Brecksville-Broadview Heights community passed a 2.2-mill bond issue to build the new school. It consolidated the 4 existing elementary schools into one facility. The new school includes a robotics lab, makerspace with 3D printers, an E-Sports program, multiple playgrounds, a selfie wall, lego wall and Lite Brite station.
“We wanted to provide students as many learning opportunities as possible, many of which can’t be found in more traditional buildings.” Superintendent Maygar also emphasized the safety features in the new building. “We also put a lot of thought into safety and security for this building. Parents can feel very safe when their kids are here.”
Brecksville-Broadview Heights City School District students visited the school while it was under construction in 2021.
“The intent behind this school was to design a space where kids wanted to come every day. It needed to be kid-friendly, welcoming, and scream elementary school.”
Joelle Maygar
Superintendent of Brecksville-Broadview Heights City Schools
Construction Process
Construction on the school began in 2020, which was designed by ThenDesign Architecture and built by Shook Construction. Despite challenges posed by Covid-19, including supply chain issues and labor cost increases, the school was completed on time and under budget. Throughout the school’s construction, students visited to learn more about the architecture and construction industries and new features they could look forward to.
Superintendent Maygar is optimistic for the year ahead, “All the students who have visited are really excited to learn here and can’t wait to come.” She continues, “It is also a great facility for community use.”
The separate but connected athletic fieldhouse features 4 indoor basketball courts and a running track. They can be shared by both the school and city for community use. It is a unique feature for a school of this type.
Brecksville-Broadview Heights City School District Elementary School Ribbon Cutting on August 1, 2022.
The ribbon cutting was attended by members of the community, district staff and city officials. After the ceremony, the building was open for general tours of the new spaces. Over a 1,000 people have seen the building through tours and is opening for the 2022-2023 year.
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
Orange City Schools – High School RenovationOrange City Schools embarked on an ambitious renovation project to improve the safety, security, and accessibility of their high school, while also dramatically updating their athletic spaces.
Orange City Schools High School Renovation
Orange City Schools embarked on an ambitious renovation project to improve the safety, security, and accessibility of their high school, while also dramatically updating their athletic spaces. Construction for the $3.87-million-dollar project began in early 2022, was designed by ThenDesign Architecture and built by the Albert M. Higley Co. Spread across 15,000 sf, it incorporated a new secure vestibule at the school’s entrance and simultaneously redesigning several athletic spaces, some of which were built in the 1950’s, to create a modern athletic environment for students.
New spaces from the renovation include a professional training room, weightlifting space, a fitness and agility room, a collaboration and media space, and new locker rooms. The high school’s new entrance provides a greater presence at the front of the building and improves student entry and guest access.
“The new front entrance to Orange High School will provide a more secure and efficient entry for students, staff, and community members while giving the building a distinguished appearance,” said Dr. Lynn Campbell, Superintendent of Schools.
“The improvements to the athletic spaces will better serve our student-athletes of today and into the future. The much-needed redesign will modernize these outdated areas and make them more accessible.”
The full renovation project is scheduled to be completed for the 2022-2023 school year.
Renderings of the renovated spaces in Orange High School
“We can look forward to seeing our students benefiting from an enhanced athletic experience, not just in the gym, or for organized sports but for all students to strength train and improve their physical health.”
Dr. Lynn Campbell
Superintendent of Orange City Schools
Project History
“Over the last several years, other renovations and repairs took precedence in the high school.” commented Ted Roseberry, director of operations for Orange City Schools, “We replaced roof trusses in the media center, auditorium, commons, and indoor pool while also making significant upgrades to those learning areas to better accommodate students and staff.”
However in 2019 and 2020, after a pause during the Covid-19 pandemic, the District decided to move forward with this project.
Board president, Scott Bilsky remarked, “This project has been discussed for many years. It is our hope these facility upgrades will serve the needs of current and future Orange students for years to come. “
First built in 1924, the original Orange Schools building received renovations and additions over the years which ultimately led to the inclusion of an auditorium, varsity gymnasium, and other athletic areas in the 1950s. When the original building was replaced with the current high school in 1973, those areas were retained. One of the larger spaces being repurposed in this renovation is the girl’s locker room, built in 1957.
“It was like ‘walking back in time’ when you went into these areas of the building,” commented Roseberry. “The old locker room was large with a lot of wasted space, but now we can put all of it to good use.”
By providing a variety of new training spaces, the District hopes to improve the entire athletic experience.
“We will have a more professional environment and a clean, crisp-looking environment for our students, bringing them into the modern age,” said Dr. Campbell. “All team sports have something to gain from the new upgrades. We’ll have better-allocated space for our teams in all seasons. Hundreds of student-athletes will benefit from our facilities.”
The District is spending $3.87 million on the project, which they have been saving for renovations of this sort through the District’s Permanent Improvement fund.
The new secure vestibule at Orange High School showcases the school’s entrance. Since the building is wide, it has been difficult sometimes for visitors to identify the main entrance. The vestibule serves as a focal point for the building and provides a greater presence on the site. It is also easier to control access for students during the morning and evening. A separate guest entrance will be used during the school day for visitor sign-in.
Details of the new entrance, Locker Rooms and Media Room
“This project has been discussed for many years. It is our hope these facility upgrades will serve the needs of current and future Orange students for years to come.”
Scott Bilsky
Board of Education President
Athletic Spaces
Students and staff can look forward to a variety of new spaces that will positively affect athletes in all sports.
Professional Training Room – Formerly the old girl’s locker room, the Professional Training Room will house equipment that promotes agility and cardiovascular exercise. It includes private restrooms, a trainer’s office, and clinic space.
Weight Room – The second half of the original girl’s locker room, construction professionals rerouted plumbing from existing showers and roof drains to create the new weight room. The space features clerestory lighting, that creates a clean, open environment, and will house a variety of weight racks and plates for weightlifting and strength training
Agility and Fitness Room – This double-height space, located near the competition gymnasium, features a variety of equipment all focused on improving athletes’ agility. It includes spaces for medicine balls, step ladders, chin-up bars, and weighted ropes. The purpose of the space is to improve athletes’ overall health and flexibility.
Locker Rooms – The school’s locker rooms are also being reprogrammed and refreshed. The new locker rooms will include coaches’ offices, showers, lockers, and small meeting space. Each locker room is adjacent to the competition gym and connected by a door that can be opened to create one space if necessary. It will also include equipment storage and access to the exterior.
Media Room – Created from a second-floor wrestling room, the school’s new Athletic Media Room provides open collaborative space for coaches and athletes and is equipped with technology for game reviews, and space to conduct team building exercises.
Details of the new Fitness and Agility Room, Professional Training Room and Weight Room
“I have worked on many school improvement projects during my career, some of which were large projects, but sometimes they were small projects. These smaller improvements make a huge difference, especially when they benefit student security.”
Ted Roseberry
Director of Operations
Orange City Schools – High School Renovation – A Better Student Experience
“Overall, the changes we are making to the high school will create a better experience for our visitors and athletes,” comments Dr. Campbell. “We could have made these improvements years ago, but the time wasn’t right. Now, we can look forward to seeing our students benefiting from an enhanced athletic experience, not just in the gym, or for organized sports but for all students to strength train and improve their physical health.”
As for the school’s new entrance, a streamlined secure experience will be welcomed by the administration. Roseberry concludes, “I have worked on many school improvement projects during my career, some of which were large projects, but sometimes they were small projects. These smaller improvements make a huge difference, especially when they benefit student security.”
The District looks forward to putting the new spaces to use in the 2022-2023 school year. They will be open to all students to benefit the whole student body.
To view more information and updated imagery on the construction process, visit the District’s website.
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Orange City Schools – High School RenovationOrange City Schools embarked on an ambitious renovation project to improve the safety, security, and accessibility of their high school, while also dramatically updating their athletic spaces.
Orange City Schools High School Renovation
Orange City Schools embarked on an ambitious renovation project to improve the safety, security, and accessibility of their high school, while also dramatically updating their athletic spaces. Construction for the $3.87-million-dollar project began in early 2022, was designed by ThenDesign Architecture and built by the Albert M. Higley Co. Spread across 15,000 sf, it incorporated a new secure vestibule at the school’s entrance and simultaneously redesigning several athletic spaces, some of which were built in the 1950’s, to create a modern athletic environment for students.
New spaces from the renovation include a professional training room, weightlifting space, a fitness and agility room, a collaboration and media space, and new locker rooms. The high school’s new entrance provides a greater presence at the front of the building and improves student entry and guest access.
“The new front entrance to Orange High School will provide a more secure and efficient entry for students, staff, and community members while giving the building a distinguished appearance,” said Dr. Lynn Campbell, Superintendent of Schools.
“The improvements to the athletic spaces will better serve our student-athletes of today and into the future. The much-needed redesign will modernize these outdated areas and make them more accessible.”
The full renovation project is scheduled to be completed for the 2022-2023 school year.
Renderings of the renovated spaces in Orange High School
“We can look forward to seeing our students benefiting from an enhanced athletic experience, not just in the gym, or for organized sports but for all students to strength train and improve their physical health.”
Dr. Lynn Campbell
Superintendent of Orange City Schools
Project History
“Over the last several years, other renovations and repairs took precedence in the high school.” commented Ted Roseberry, director of operations for Orange City Schools, “We replaced roof trusses in the media center, auditorium, commons, and indoor pool while also making significant upgrades to those learning areas to better accommodate students and staff.”
However in 2019 and 2020, after a pause during the Covid-19 pandemic, the District decided to move forward with this project.
Board president, Scott Bilsky remarked, “This project has been discussed for many years. It is our hope these facility upgrades will serve the needs of current and future Orange students for years to come. “
First built in 1924, the original Orange Schools building received renovations and additions over the years which ultimately led to the inclusion of an auditorium, varsity gymnasium, and other athletic areas in the 1950s. When the original building was replaced with the current high school in 1973, those areas were retained. One of the larger spaces being repurposed in this renovation is the girl’s locker room, built in 1957.
“It was like ‘walking back in time’ when you went into these areas of the building,” commented Roseberry. “The old locker room was large with a lot of wasted space, but now we can put all of it to good use.”
By providing a variety of new training spaces, the District hopes to improve the entire athletic experience.
“We will have a more professional environment and a clean, crisp-looking environment for our students, bringing them into the modern age,” said Dr. Campbell. “All team sports have something to gain from the new upgrades. We’ll have better-allocated space for our teams in all seasons. Hundreds of student-athletes will benefit from our facilities.”
The District is spending $3.87 million on the project, which they have been saving for renovations of this sort through the District’s Permanent Improvement fund.
The new secure vestibule at Orange High School showcases the school’s entrance. Since the building is wide, it has been difficult sometimes for visitors to identify the main entrance. The vestibule serves as a focal point for the building and provides a greater presence on the site. It is also easier to control access for students during the morning and evening. A separate guest entrance will be used during the school day for visitor sign-in.
Details of the new entrance, Locker Rooms and Media Room
“This project has been discussed for many years. It is our hope these facility upgrades will serve the needs of current and future Orange students for years to come.”
Scott Bilsky
Board of Education President
Athletic Spaces
Students and staff can look forward to a variety of new spaces that will positively affect athletes in all sports.
Professional Training Room – Formerly the old girl’s locker room, the Professional Training Room will house equipment that promotes agility and cardiovascular exercise. It includes private restrooms, a trainer’s office, and clinic space.
Weight Room – The second half of the original girl’s locker room, construction professionals rerouted plumbing from existing showers and roof drains to create the new weight room. The space features clerestory lighting, that creates a clean, open environment, and will house a variety of weight racks and plates for weightlifting and strength training
Agility and Fitness Room – This double-height space, located near the competition gymnasium, features a variety of equipment all focused on improving athletes’ agility. It includes spaces for medicine balls, step ladders, chin-up bars, and weighted ropes. The purpose of the space is to improve athletes’ overall health and flexibility.
Locker Rooms – The school’s locker rooms are also being reprogrammed and refreshed. The new locker rooms will include coaches’ offices, showers, lockers, and small meeting space. Each locker room is adjacent to the competition gym and connected by a door that can be opened to create one space if necessary. It will also include equipment storage and access to the exterior.
Media Room – Created from a second-floor wrestling room, the school’s new Athletic Media Room provides open collaborative space for coaches and athletes and is equipped with technology for game reviews, and space to conduct team building exercises.
Details of the new Fitness and Agility Room, Professional Training Room and Weight Room
“I have worked on many school improvement projects during my career, some of which were large projects, but sometimes they were small projects. These smaller improvements make a huge difference, especially when they benefit student security.”
Ted Roseberry
Director of Operations
Orange City Schools – High School Renovation – A Better Student Experience
“Overall, the changes we are making to the high school will create a better experience for our visitors and athletes,” comments Dr. Campbell. “We could have made these improvements years ago, but the time wasn’t right. Now, we can look forward to seeing our students benefiting from an enhanced athletic experience, not just in the gym, or for organized sports but for all students to strength train and improve their physical health.”
As for the school’s new entrance, a streamlined secure experience will be welcomed by the administration. Roseberry concludes, “I have worked on many school improvement projects during my career, some of which were large projects, but sometimes they were small projects. These smaller improvements make a huge difference, especially when they benefit student security.”
The District looks forward to putting the new spaces to use in the 2022-2023 school year. They will be open to all students to benefit the whole student body.
To view more information and updated imagery on the construction process, visit the District’s website.
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
Fairport Harbor EVSD Members Participate In An Educational Visioning SessionFairport Harbor EVSD administration members, educators, parents, and students attended an Educational Visioning Session hosted by ThenDesign Architecture.
On June 6th, Fairport Harbor EVSD administration members, educators, village services, parents, and students gathered to attend an Educational Visioning Session hosted by ThenDesign Architecture. This all-day session focused on collaboration and brainstorming on designs for their new school, its impact on the community, and how it will improve student’s education in the District.
Superintendent Domenic Paola commented: “Today, we came together with members of the community and stakeholders in this project to begin the process of creating a vision for this school.”
With over 70 in attendance, everyone had a say in the design activities throughout the day. “Collaboration is how we make progress in Fairport Harbor. I often refer to it as the engine that drives us. Everything we have accomplished in the District is a result of it, and with Visioning today, that is definitely the case.”
The new 116,000 sf PreK-12 will be located on the existing Harding High School site. It will replace the two aging buildings in the District and provide a modern educational environment better positioned to accommodate personalized student needs and foster learning and collaboration.
Today, we came together with members of the community and stakeholders in this project to begin the process of creating a vision for this school.
Domenic Paolo
Superintendent of Fairport Harbor EVSD
Visioning Process
The day was broken up into various exercises geared towards educating stakeholders on the challenges and successes of existing facilities and drawing out their feedback on design priorities. Attendees experimented with spatial relationships inside the building and attempted to organize the major building sections on the site.
Early in the day, principals from Fairport Harbor, Katie Rumbarger, the Harding High School Principal, and Heidi Elmore, the McKinley Elementary School Principal, covered limitations of the over 100-year-old buildings, then the Superintendent, followed by encouraging attendees to think differently about how different sized spaces can be better used for personalized learning. This stands in contrast to having the same-sized classrooms throughout. Programs such as art, technology, and robotics can all benefit from this.
Fairport Harbor EVSD Visioning Session
Students will have state-of-the-art facilities which will help individual students go farther in their education … I wish I had those same opportunities with technology and specialized learning. Perhaps I would have gone farther, but now, I am determined to provide that for others.”
William Lukshaw
School Board Board Member
Katie commented, “In our school District, we focus on personalized learning. We focus on what every student needs, and I feel like our spaces aren’t now adaptable for that.” Educators are looking forward to having different spaces to tailor their educational approach. “What we are doing in the classroom every day doesn’t fit our environment. So, by going through this process, we can personalize our spaces to fit the needs of our students.”
Scenes from the Fairport Harbor EVSD Visioning Session
Design Activities
Activities throughout the day were designed to build off one another, each informing the next activity in the layout of the new school. This information is invaluable to the architectural design process since it demonstrates the stakeholder priorities on spatial relationships, building massing, and space usage.
Heidi Elmore, Principal of McKinley Elementary, shared, “It was a great first step to get different people’s perspectives. This is a starting point but helpful to hear a variety of ideas and understand what is important to the different groups.”
Attendees were split up into tables of 8 and given the opportunity to organize the interior layout of the school. Using paper cutouts scaled in relation to each other and the new school, the groups discussed how the pieces could be arranged to best suit how they saw the school functioning. They then reported the decision to the group and took questions from designers. This activity was designed to spark conversation about how they saw spaces interacting in their PreK-12 school.
Another activity allowed the groups to arrange that spatial diagram in 3D. Using colored blocks representing the school program’s square footage, they try to fit their building on the site while maintaining the spatial relationships from the earlier activity. This was a challenge for many.
Also attending the meeting was the Village Mayor, chief of police, and fire chief, who provided input on safety and security issues, traffic flow, building a presence in a residential neighborhood, and the importance this project represented to the community.
Building Animation of the new PreK-12 School:
Next Steps
With Educational Visioning complete, the design team is compiling a summary of the day’s activities and outcome report to be viewed by the community. The outcomes of these activities help inform the new school’s design.
Many were optimistic about how this new building would help educators expand their current programs.
Bill Lukshaw, a Board of Education member deeply involved in the process, commented, “When I joined the Board, I wanted to make sure every student had the opportunity for a quality education. This new school building will further this mission.”
For students who are used to buildings over 100 years old, the upgraded environment and new technology will be a welcomed change.
“Students will have state-of-the-art facilities which will help individual students go farther in their education.” Reflecting on his time in school, Bill commented, “I wish I had those same opportunities with technology and specialized learning. Perhaps I would have gone farther, but now, I am determined to provide that for others.”
This summer, architects will begin the schematic design phase. During this phase, initial plans are developed, which can be used for cost estimation.
Later this fall, the team plans to engage with educators to better understand their individual needs for inclusion in the new plans.
Fairport Harbor EVSD Members Participate In An Educational Visioning SessionFairport Harbor EVSD administration members, educators, parents, and students attended an Educational Visioning Session hosted by ThenDesign Architecture.
On June 6th, Fairport Harbor EVSD administration members, educators, village services, parents, and students gathered to attend an Educational Visioning Session hosted by ThenDesign Architecture. This all-day session focused on collaboration and brainstorming on designs for their new school, its impact on the community, and how it will improve student’s education in the District.
Superintendent Domenic Paola commented: “Today, we came together with members of the community and stakeholders in this project to begin the process of creating a vision for this school.”
With over 70 in attendance, everyone had a say in the design activities throughout the day. “Collaboration is how we make progress in Fairport Harbor. I often refer to it as the engine that drives us. Everything we have accomplished in the District is a result of it, and with Visioning today, that is definitely the case.”
The new 116,000 sf PreK-12 will be located on the existing Harding High School site. It will replace the two aging buildings in the District and provide a modern educational environment better positioned to accommodate personalized student needs and foster learning and collaboration.
Today, we came together with members of the community and stakeholders in this project to begin the process of creating a vision for this school.
Domenic Paolo
Superintendent of Fairport Harbor EVSD
Visioning Process
The day was broken up into various exercises geared towards educating stakeholders on the challenges and successes of existing facilities and drawing out their feedback on design priorities. Attendees experimented with spatial relationships inside the building and attempted to organize the major building sections on the site.
Early in the day, principals from Fairport Harbor, Katie Rumbarger, the Harding High School Principal, and Heidi Elmore, the McKinley Elementary School Principal, covered limitations of the over 100-year-old buildings, then the Superintendent, followed by encouraging attendees to think differently about how different sized spaces can be better used for personalized learning. This stands in contrast to having the same-sized classrooms throughout. Programs such as art, technology, and robotics can all benefit from this.
Fairport Harbor EVSD Visioning Session
Students will have state-of-the-art facilities which will help individual students go farther in their education … I wish I had those same opportunities with technology and specialized learning. Perhaps I would have gone farther, but now, I am determined to provide that for others.”
William Lukshaw
School Board Board Member
Katie commented, “In our school District, we focus on personalized learning. We focus on what every student needs, and I feel like our spaces aren’t now adaptable for that.” Educators are looking forward to having different spaces to tailor their educational approach. “What we are doing in the classroom every day doesn’t fit our environment. So, by going through this process, we can personalize our spaces to fit the needs of our students.”
Scenes from the Fairport Harbor EVSD Visioning Session
Design Activities
Activities throughout the day were designed to build off one another, each informing the next activity in the layout of the new school. This information is invaluable to the architectural design process since it demonstrates the stakeholder priorities on spatial relationships, building massing, and space usage.
Heidi Elmore, Principal of McKinley Elementary, shared, “It was a great first step to get different people’s perspectives. This is a starting point but helpful to hear a variety of ideas and understand what is important to the different groups.”
Attendees were split up into tables of 8 and given the opportunity to organize the interior layout of the school. Using paper cutouts scaled in relation to each other and the new school, the groups discussed how the pieces could be arranged to best suit how they saw the school functioning. They then reported the decision to the group and took questions from designers. This activity was designed to spark conversation about how they saw spaces interacting in their PreK-12 school.
Another activity allowed the groups to arrange that spatial diagram in 3D. Using colored blocks representing the school program’s square footage, they try to fit their building on the site while maintaining the spatial relationships from the earlier activity. This was a challenge for many.
Also attending the meeting was the Village Mayor, chief of police, and fire chief, who provided input on safety and security issues, traffic flow, building a presence in a residential neighborhood, and the importance this project represented to the community.
Building Animation of the new PreK-12 School:
Next Steps
With Educational Visioning complete, the design team is compiling a summary of the day’s activities and outcome report to be viewed by the community. The outcomes of these activities help inform the new school’s design.
Many were optimistic about how this new building would help educators expand their current programs.
Bill Lukshaw, a Board of Education member deeply involved in the process, commented, “When I joined the Board, I wanted to make sure every student had the opportunity for a quality education. This new school building will further this mission.”
For students who are used to buildings over 100 years old, the upgraded environment and new technology will be a welcomed change.
“Students will have state-of-the-art facilities which will help individual students go farther in their education.” Reflecting on his time in school, Bill commented, “I wish I had those same opportunities with technology and specialized learning. Perhaps I would have gone farther, but now, I am determined to provide that for others.”
This summer, architects will begin the schematic design phase. During this phase, initial plans are developed, which can be used for cost estimation.
Later this fall, the team plans to engage with educators to better understand their individual needs for inclusion in the new plans.
Lexington 7-12 School – Academic Success Under One RoofIn 2019, Lexington Local Schools embarked on a journey to consolidate and redevelop their educational facilities. After a successful bond issue in 2018, combined with extensive educational planning, the district began designs for the new Lexington 7-12 school.
Lexington 7-12 School – Academic Success Under One Roof
In 2019, Lexington Local Schools embarked on a journey to consolidate and redevelop their educational facilities. After a successful bond issue in 2018, combined with extensive educational planning, the district began designs for the new Lexington 7-12 school. This 200,000sf project hosts grades 7-12, dividing them into two academic wings, 7-8 and 9-12. This state-of-the-art facility incorporates a variety of student-centered design principles including open collaborative and flexible spaces, alongside more traditional academic and classroom spaces. The building also houses a new performing arts center that seats 750 guests, 3 gymnasiums and collegiate level baseball and softball fields.
This $56 million dollar school is scheduled to open for the 2022-2023 academic year and will provide expanded educational opportunities for its 1,200 students.
“The district was adamant that academics were the number one focus, but they pride themselves in athletics and the arts.”
Scott Alleman
Architect
Educational Visioning – Setting the Right Goals
The average age of District buildings is 69 years old, and this aging infrastructure was increasingly difficult to maintain. The administration felt strongly that new facilities would put the district on a path to success It became clear it was time for the community to consider new school buildings.
In November 2018, district voters approved an 8.6-mill bond issue for $55.95 million to be used for construction costs associated with the project. Working together with the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission through the Expedited Local Partnership Program (ELPP), the district plans to consolidate their 5 existing school buildings into 2 buildings, a 7-12 school and pre-K-6 school. They began designs for the 7-12 building first.
With funding secured, design began in earnest with educational visioning in 2019. The Lexington School District met with educators, community members, and local leaders to determine their educational priorities for their new facilities.
Visioning combined with touring local schools allowed the administrators and designers to craft a layout that would suit the educational needs of the district.
Project architect, Scott Alleman commented “Lexington is a traditional community and they wanted to establish a forward-thinking model for education.” He continues, “They knew they didn’t simply want “double loaded corridors,” so we worked through a variety of layouts. It became clear what strategies would work best.”
Historical Significance and Layout
The Lexington Ohio community is proud of their rich history in education. The oldest school building in the district was built in the 1890’s and is a part of the existing Junior High School. This building is a patchwork of buildings and renovations built over the decades. The bulk of the school was built in 1930 with the 1890s school, now housing the history department. Major renovations in 1970 were the last major improvement. This along with other aging infrastructure prompted the district to take action. However, in recognition of this history, the district plans to salvage relics from the existing buildings and incorporate these pieces into key spaces of the new school.
During planning, the existing high school site was identified as the best location for the new school. This forced the district and design team to be efficient with spatial designs for the new building. Safety is a major consideration during construction as the new building is being built 30 feet away from the existing building. This allows the construction site to become a “real time” classroom for students as they watched their new school assembled right in front of them.
The high school wing occupies the northside of the building, while the junior high is located on the south side. They are joined together by an elongated student dining collaborative and transitions in flooring material and other interior finishes signify the transition between the two academic spaces.
While both academic wings are organized around collaborative learning spaces, the High School academic wing features a 2 story open collaborative space. Math and Science open to the collaborative space on the second floor, and English, World Languages and Social Studies open to the space on the first floor.
“Lexington is a traditional community and they wanted to establish a forward-thinking model for education.” They knew they didn’t simply want “double loaded corridors,” it became clear what strategies would work best.”
Scott Alleman
Architect
Arts and Athletics in the Lexington 7-12 School
“The district was adamant that academics were the number one focus, but they pride themselves in athletics and the arts.” At the educational visioning session, many in the community voiced support for these programs. “The music and arts programs are amazing and were a huge focus of the design process,” recalls Alleman, “they shone through in Educational Visioning and are received well in the community.”
A 750 seat Performing Arts Center and serves as a focal point for the arts program and joins to the student dining space. “This is one of the spaces that gets me really excited. When I stand on stage and look out, even though there aren’t seats yet, you can imagine what it will look like when it’s done” continues Alleman.
In addition to this, the athletic program is receiving a number of enhancements with the new facility.
Enhanced softball fields are located down the hill from the 7-12 building and are anchored by a concessions and storage building centered between the two fields. Each field features bleachers with a press box, mesh backstops and beautiful new scoreboards highlighted in purple and gold, the school’s colors. The fields are connected to the junior high school parking lot by a stairway and processional ramp that provides stunning views of the fields and site while also providing ADA access. The whole complex will provide a streamlined and engaging experience for visitors. These “collegiate level” fields will provide added athletic opportunities for Lexingtonâs baseball and softball programs.
The new facility also features 3 expanded gymnasiums–a high school competition gymnasium, an auxiliary gymnasium and a junior high school gymnasium. The competition gymnasium has seating capacity for 2,400 people with a mezzanine which will be used for wrestling practices and other activities.
Exciting Spaces / Move in and Next Steps
“I think I am most excited about the student dining space,” states Alleman, “It’s hard to picture now, since it isn’t far along, but entering into that 2-story space will be dramatic as you enter the building.”
Student Dining is central to the scheme, as it can be used by 400 students during lunch periods, connects the academic wings for the high school and junior high school and serves as the lobby for the Performing Arts Center and gymnasiums. “You can program the student dining space to support so many different functions, it’s how you economize the design and make the most of your budget.”
The student dining separates these public spaces from the more private, academic focused areas.
The Lexington 7-12 School is scheduled to be finished this summer and open for the 2022-2023 academic year. At that point, demolition of the existing high school will begin, with sitework finished by the summer of 2023.
Let’s work together to make education better. Interested in speaking with us? Get in touch!
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Lexington 7-12 School – Academic Success Under One RoofIn 2019, Lexington Local Schools embarked on a journey to consolidate and redevelop their educational facilities. After a successful bond issue in 2018, combined with extensive educational planning, the district began designs for the new Lexington 7-12 school.
Lexington 7-12 School – Academic Success Under One Roof
In 2019, Lexington Local Schools embarked on a journey to consolidate and redevelop their educational facilities. After a successful bond issue in 2018, combined with extensive educational planning, the district began designs for the new Lexington 7-12 school. This 200,000sf project hosts grades 7-12, dividing them into two academic wings, 7-8 and 9-12. This state-of-the-art facility incorporates a variety of student-centered design principles including open collaborative and flexible spaces, alongside more traditional academic and classroom spaces. The building also houses a new performing arts center that seats 750 guests, 3 gymnasiums and collegiate level baseball and softball fields.
This $56 million dollar school is scheduled to open for the 2022-2023 academic year and will provide expanded educational opportunities for its 1,200 students.
“The district was adamant that academics were the number one focus, but they pride themselves in athletics and the arts.”
Scott Alleman
Architect
Educational Visioning – Setting the Right Goals
The average age of District buildings is 69 years old, and this aging infrastructure was increasingly difficult to maintain. The administration felt strongly that new facilities would put the district on a path to success It became clear it was time for the community to consider new school buildings.
In November 2018, district voters approved an 8.6-mill bond issue for $55.95 million to be used for construction costs associated with the project. Working together with the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission through the Expedited Local Partnership Program (ELPP), the district plans to consolidate their 5 existing school buildings into 2 buildings, a 7-12 school and pre-K-6 school. They began designs for the 7-12 building first.
With funding secured, design began in earnest with educational visioning in 2019. The Lexington School District met with educators, community members, and local leaders to determine their educational priorities for their new facilities.
Visioning combined with touring local schools allowed the administrators and designers to craft a layout that would suit the educational needs of the district.
Project architect, Scott Alleman commented “Lexington is a traditional community and they wanted to establish a forward-thinking model for education.” He continues, “They knew they didn’t simply want “double loaded corridors,” so we worked through a variety of layouts. It became clear what strategies would work best.”
Historical Significance and Layout
The Lexington Ohio community is proud of their rich history in education. The oldest school building in the district was built in the 1890’s and is a part of the existing Junior High School. This building is a patchwork of buildings and renovations built over the decades. The bulk of the school was built in 1930 with the 1890s school, now housing the history department. Major renovations in 1970 were the last major improvement. This along with other aging infrastructure prompted the district to take action. However, in recognition of this history, the district plans to salvage relics from the existing buildings and incorporate these pieces into key spaces of the new school.
During planning, the existing high school site was identified as the best location for the new school. This forced the district and design team to be efficient with spatial designs for the new building. Safety is a major consideration during construction as the new building is being built 30 feet away from the existing building. This allows the construction site to become a “real time” classroom for students as they watched their new school assembled right in front of them.
The high school wing occupies the northside of the building, while the junior high is located on the south side. They are joined together by an elongated student dining collaborative and transitions in flooring material and other interior finishes signify the transition between the two academic spaces.
While both academic wings are organized around collaborative learning spaces, the High School academic wing features a 2 story open collaborative space. Math and Science open to the collaborative space on the second floor, and English, World Languages and Social Studies open to the space on the first floor.
“Lexington is a traditional community and they wanted to establish a forward-thinking model for education.” They knew they didn’t simply want “double loaded corridors,” it became clear what strategies would work best.”
Scott Alleman
Architect
Arts and Athletics in the Lexington 7-12 School
“The district was adamant that academics were the number one focus, but they pride themselves in athletics and the arts.” At the educational visioning session, many in the community voiced support for these programs. “The music and arts programs are amazing and were a huge focus of the design process,” recalls Alleman, “they shone through in Educational Visioning and are received well in the community.”
A 750 seat Performing Arts Center and serves as a focal point for the arts program and joins to the student dining space. “This is one of the spaces that gets me really excited. When I stand on stage and look out, even though there aren’t seats yet, you can imagine what it will look like when it’s done” continues Alleman.
In addition to this, the athletic program is receiving a number of enhancements with the new facility.
Enhanced softball fields are located down the hill from the 7-12 building and are anchored by a concessions and storage building centered between the two fields. Each field features bleachers with a press box, mesh backstops and beautiful new scoreboards highlighted in purple and gold, the school’s colors. The fields are connected to the junior high school parking lot by a stairway and processional ramp that provides stunning views of the fields and site while also providing ADA access. The whole complex will provide a streamlined and engaging experience for visitors. These “collegiate level” fields will provide added athletic opportunities for Lexingtonâs baseball and softball programs.
The new facility also features 3 expanded gymnasiums–a high school competition gymnasium, an auxiliary gymnasium and a junior high school gymnasium. The competition gymnasium has seating capacity for 2,400 people with a mezzanine which will be used for wrestling practices and other activities.
Exciting Spaces / Move in and Next Steps
“I think I am most excited about the student dining space,” states Alleman, “It’s hard to picture now, since it isn’t far along, but entering into that 2-story space will be dramatic as you enter the building.”
Student Dining is central to the scheme, as it can be used by 400 students during lunch periods, connects the academic wings for the high school and junior high school and serves as the lobby for the Performing Arts Center and gymnasiums. “You can program the student dining space to support so many different functions, it’s how you economize the design and make the most of your budget.”
The student dining separates these public spaces from the more private, academic focused areas.
The Lexington 7-12 School is scheduled to be finished this summer and open for the 2022-2023 academic year. At that point, demolition of the existing high school will begin, with sitework finished by the summer of 2023.
Let’s work together to make education better. Interested in speaking with us? Get in touch!
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
Student-Centered Learning: A Catalyst for Revolutionizing Contemporary Education DesignStudent-Centered Design” is an architectural strategy in K-12 educational facilities that provides students a variety of spaces for individual and group work, flexible furniture, and modern technology. This empowers them to adapt their environment to how they learn best. Districts across the U.S. are incorporating these strategies into both their curriculum and schools while experiencing greater student satisfaction, fewer disciplinary issues and increased academic time.
Student-Centered Learning: A Catalyst for Revolutionizing Contemporary Education Design
All educators are challenged with identifying the best ways to teach and engage their students. New curriculum methods, school design and academic programs are tested and deployed to capitalize on how kids learn. Recently, more research has been devoted to understanding how a student’s academic success can be impacted by the layout of their physical space. This model, known as “Student-Centered Design,” empowers students to learn how they are most comfortable while providing flexible spaces for collaborative activities. It is currently being adopted by school districts across the United States.
The North Royalton City School District, located in Northeast Ohio, performed extensive Educational Visioning and community engagement to understand whether this style of facility would work for their community. They then embarked on a capital improvement program to develop their schools to support a “student-centered” learning approach. The program incorporated an addition and renovations to their high school, renovations to their middle school, and a consolidation of their 3 elementary schools into one new building. The North Royalton Elementary School is a $35 million, 148,000 sf, building that embodies these principles in its architecture and demonstrates how good educational design benefits each student’s educational outcome.
North Royalton Elementary School: Education in Motion
“I am excited for the kids who will have a combination of a traditional school arrangement and options for flexible activities in the collaborative spaces. I love what this building provides for our teachers and our kids.”
Michael Laub
Superintendent of North Royalton City Schools
Developing Educational Environments
Trends in teaching styles, curriculum and school layout have changed over the decades, with “traditional” double loaded corridor schools appearing in the 50’s and 60’s, more “open concept schools” appearing in the 70’s and 80’s, and more technologically advanced buildings replacing blackboards with computer labs and white boards in the 2000’s. Each generation attempts to improve the educational opportunities for their students. Methods that served communities decades ago may not be relevant in today’s fast paced, technologically rich environment.
Since so much time is spent in a school, it is important for educators and architects to work closely together while determining how to best design a learning environment to serve a community’s needs for decades to come.
This is where using a model of “Student-Centered Learning” helps determine timeless priorities that will serve students no matter the decade.
Supporting the Educational Vision: North Royalton City Schools
What is “Student-Centered Learning?”
“Student-Centered Learning” is an educational model that focuses on how students retain information by encouraging collaboration and “active learning” in their day-to-day routines. This model emphasizes small group work between students and opportunities to work “hands on” with their peers and take a more self-directed, sensory approach to education. Students and teachers are encouraged to adapt spaces and furniture to accommodate small group discussions, large presentations and find new ways to collaborate.
“Many districts we talk with are moving towards a “Student-Centered” approach,” reflected Claire Bank, an architect with ThenDesign Architecture who worked on North Royalton’s new ES. “No one has a crystal ball to see the future, but it’s important we build flexibility into the space so it can transform as education transforms.”
In the past, spaces were designed to primarily support lecturing students, who were expected to retain information by listening and taking notes. As student retention has been studied and better understood, spaces have evolved to support the types of activities that help students to learn.
The Architectural Approach for “Student-Centered Learning”
In terms of architecture, a “traditional” school layout is characterized by similarly sized classrooms joined by a corridor. In this model, educators teach in a classroom with rows of desks facing the front of the room. Generally, it is inconvenient to rearrange furniture without wheels for small group activities and access to other spaces is limited. The traditional arrangement is good for “lecture style” learning but doesn’t provide easy options for collaboration and active learning.
Architecturally, “Student-Centered Design” calls for a range of flexible spaces that students and educators can easily adapt to change over time with new needs.
One major characteristic of this model is incorporating variously sized spaces and movable furniture specifically designed to accommodate the intended activities. This may include an open collaborative space with flexible soft seating for larger presentations and gatherings, a small group room that supports discussions between smaller groups of students, classrooms with movable walls, and project labs with high-capacity cabinetry and durable furniture to support creative projects. Each space incorporates modern technology including internet connected devices, touch screen projectors, powerful Wi-Fi, and other collaborative tools.
“I think back to our old buildings, and we loved our time there, but they were all the same, classroom after classroom,” recalls Kirk Pavelich, Principal of North Royalton Elementary School. “You come into our learning communities now, and there are all these different types of projects going on. We never could have done this before.”
The result of this model is educational spaces that provide teachers and students dynamic environments that can be easily adapted for movement and specialized lessons.
Traditional School and 21st Century Learning Models
“The new school is good for the community because it provides such a great space for their kids to learn. It’s comfortable, it’s flexible, and it makes the students excited to go to school and learn.”
Claire Bank
Architect
North Royalton City Schools, Educational Visioning
The North Royalton City School District serves around 4,000 students. Faced with aging infrastructure, they decided they wanted to update their curriculum and facilities. For over a decade, the District conducted planning, educational conversations, and community engagements on what the future of education should look like for their community.
In 2015, an Educational Visioning session was held to explore this question and work through ideas with community members, teachers, city officials and District administrators. The result was a forward-thinking plan to redesign their high school as well as consolidate their elementary schools, combining them into a single educational facility to house PreK-fourth grade. Here principles of student-centered learning were discussed.
North Royalton City Schools: Educational Visioning Session
Leading up to and during the design process, ThenDesign Architecture (TDA) gathered information from the School District on how they envisioned education in their community. This crucial exercise provided insight into how the new facilities would be laid out.
It was here that a “student-centered approach” was adopted for both their curriculum and architecture.
TDA began laying out spaces to meet the vision shared by the District. Meeting regularly in building focus groups, educators at each grade level shared how they wanted the spaces to function for their students. Decisions from these groups were incorporated into the building designs. Operable partition locations, furniture choices, “teaching wall” placements, and storage options for classrooms were discussed and incorporated. The spaces were tailored to how teachers from those grades would operate.
These focus groups also toured facilities in surrounding districts, to see how they approached their new buildings.
Transitioning to this type of building model must be deliberately approached. Teachers in a learning community have to coordinate with their colleagues about use of the new spaces. Professional development for the District is often undertaken by educators to prepare for the transition and ensure they are ready to use the new spaces.
The District sponsored professional development to prepare educators for this new model of education when the facility was completed. This was performed over two years and consisted of collaborative staff meetings that involved faculty from three elementary buildings. The team worked through the concepts of student-centered learning and shared flexible spaces, all while striving to develop the teams they would be working with once in the new building.
Vision in a Word
“It’s all about the kids. From the moment I started teaching, to being an administrator, it’s only what’s good for the kids. It starts with getting great educators in the classrooms, but then providing the best facilities to teach in. This facility allows them to move from good to great.”
Greg Gurka
Former Superintendent of North Royalton City Schools
North Royalton Elementary School Layout
The North Royalton Elementary School is a $35 million, 148,000 square foot building that supports over 1,450 students and replaces three elementary schools.
The school resembles a capital letter “E” laid on its back, with 2 large outdoor spaces between each wing. Students are divided into separate learning communities spread across Kindergarten to Fourth grade. Each grade is divided into 3 communities, each with 4 teachers and approximately 100 students. Students spend the majority of their time inside their learning community of 100 students, which allows the young students to thrive in a large facility.
“This is a great facility because we deeply thought about how to meet the needs of the community and flexible workspaces,” commented Greg Gurka, the District superintendent during the design of the facility. “When you see what we have done with the design and construction team these spaces can change year-to-year or week-to-week based on the needs of the students. This building will do that for generations to come.”
Spatially, each community consists of an open collaborative space, 2 classrooms, a small group room, and a project lab. They also have access to the central two-story student dining at the heart of the building, music rooms, art rooms, a gymnasium, and media centers which feature collaborative stairs. Minimized corridor space between areas, creates a more efficient floor plan and results in more usable educational square footage per student.
The perceived scale of the new school was reduced by dividing the large building into smaller communities, limiting the number of people students interact with daily. This prevents them from being overwhelmed but still provides opportunities to collaborate with other learning communities.
North Royalton Elementary School: Space Breakdown
The North Royalton Elementary School hosts a wide variety of spaces that educators make use of daily. Below are a few examples of the new spaces offered in this facility and how they are used.
Student “Community”
This 5-space grouping is the foundation of where students spend the majority of their academic time. The open collaborative space joins individual classrooms and features an open area for educators to rearrange students’ desks to accommodate lectures, group activities, technology use and reading activities. Circulation is located on the edges of the space, with most furniture being on wheels to be easily rearranged. The collaborative is designed for active group work and dynamic activities.
Classrooms are a technology rich environment, with interactive short throw projectors and operable walls to join the classrooms together when doing group work.
Student Dining
Student dining is a hub of the school. Connecting to the servery and kitchen, this 2-story tall open space can fit 1/3 of the student population at once, with a large collaborative stair that can fit an entire grade level. The multitiered floor gives students interesting options to sit with friends, with both hard and soft seating options. Students can access one of the main outdoor spaces. A large collaborative stair is equipped with professional stage lighting, and can serve as a stage when in use as an auditorium space.
Media Center
The school is equipped with two, open media centers. These spaces serve as shared libraries for media storage and are used for classes who need quiet reading times. During the day, students rotate in and out of the space to promote reading, literacy discussions and to relax with a good book. The stair is carpeted so students feel more comfortable lounging there or on the soft furniture in the space.
Travel Zones
During lunch periods and in between classes, travel zones are designated throughout the building. Since traditional corridors have been minimized, students often pass through occupied collaborative areas. Colors of the floor and furniture layouts quickly direct students through these spaces easily and quietly.
Morning drop-off from 36 busses is facilitated through designated doors along the main circulation spine of the building. All 1,450 students can enter and navigate to their communities in under 15 minutes. This feat wasn’t possible in the previous schools.
“This school is different from what some may have experienced, but the kids come right in, get used to it and love to learn in this environment. We can take their passion and energy and provide them with facilities to be successful at anything they aspire to.”
Kirk Pavelich
Principal of North Royalton Elementary School
A Student-Centered Learning Approach
The “Student-Centered Learning” model presents many opportunities for current and future children. The flexible and collaborative design allows students to engage with their peers and teachers more actively while adapting their environment to learn in a more natural way.
School buildings are used by and supported by their communities for decades, and they influence the thousands of students who use them. Having a building that can transform to meet the needs of education in the future is paramount. Focusing on a student’s needs first ensures them a better foundation as they advance in their educational careers.
“I think education is the great equalizer. It’s not our job to teach kids what to think. It’s our job to help kids learn how to think, how to make decisions, how to problem solve and how to work together,” commented Superintendent Laub. “This is what helps them become successful contributors to society as they grow up.”
Let’s work together to make education better. Interested in speaking with us? Get in touch!
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
Student-Centered Learning: A Catalyst for Revolutionizing Contemporary Education DesignStudent-Centered Design” is an architectural strategy in K-12 educational facilities that provides students a variety of spaces for individual and group work, flexible furniture, and modern technology. This empowers them to adapt their environment to how they learn best. Districts across the U.S. are incorporating these strategies into both their curriculum and schools while experiencing greater student satisfaction, fewer disciplinary issues and increased academic time.
Student-Centered Learning: A Catalyst for Revolutionizing Contemporary Education Design
All educators are challenged with identifying the best ways to teach and engage their students. New curriculum methods, school design and academic programs are tested and deployed to capitalize on how kids learn. Recently, more research has been devoted to understanding how a student’s academic success can be impacted by the layout of their physical space. This model, known as “Student-Centered Design,” empowers students to learn how they are most comfortable while providing flexible spaces for collaborative activities. It is currently being adopted by school districts across the United States.
The North Royalton City School District, located in Northeast Ohio, performed extensive Educational Visioning and community engagement to understand whether this style of facility would work for their community. They then embarked on a capital improvement program to develop their schools to support a “student-centered” learning approach. The program incorporated an addition and renovations to their high school, renovations to their middle school, and a consolidation of their 3 elementary schools into one new building. The North Royalton Elementary School is a $35 million, 148,000 sf, building that embodies these principles in its architecture and demonstrates how good educational design benefits each student’s educational outcome.
North Royalton Elementary School: Education in Motion
“I am excited for the kids who will have a combination of a traditional school arrangement and options for flexible activities in the collaborative spaces. I love what this building provides for our teachers and our kids.”
Michael Laub
Superintendent of North Royalton City Schools
Developing Educational Environments
Trends in teaching styles, curriculum and school layout have changed over the decades, with “traditional” double loaded corridor schools appearing in the 50’s and 60’s, more “open concept schools” appearing in the 70’s and 80’s, and more technologically advanced buildings replacing blackboards with computer labs and white boards in the 2000’s. Each generation attempts to improve the educational opportunities for their students. Methods that served communities decades ago may not be relevant in today’s fast paced, technologically rich environment.
Since so much time is spent in a school, it is important for educators and architects to work closely together while determining how to best design a learning environment to serve a community’s needs for decades to come.
This is where using a model of “Student-Centered Learning” helps determine timeless priorities that will serve students no matter the decade.
Supporting the Educational Vision: North Royalton City Schools
What is “Student-Centered Learning?”
“Student-Centered Learning” is an educational model that focuses on how students retain information by encouraging collaboration and “active learning” in their day-to-day routines. This model emphasizes small group work between students and opportunities to work “hands on” with their peers and take a more self-directed, sensory approach to education. Students and teachers are encouraged to adapt spaces and furniture to accommodate small group discussions, large presentations and find new ways to collaborate.
“Many districts we talk with are moving towards a “Student-Centered” approach,” reflected Claire Bank, an architect with ThenDesign Architecture who worked on North Royalton’s new ES. “No one has a crystal ball to see the future, but it’s important we build flexibility into the space so it can transform as education transforms.”
In the past, spaces were designed to primarily support lecturing students, who were expected to retain information by listening and taking notes. As student retention has been studied and better understood, spaces have evolved to support the types of activities that help students to learn.
The Architectural Approach for “Student-Centered Learning”
In terms of architecture, a “traditional” school layout is characterized by similarly sized classrooms joined by a corridor. In this model, educators teach in a classroom with rows of desks facing the front of the room. Generally, it is inconvenient to rearrange furniture without wheels for small group activities and access to other spaces is limited. The traditional arrangement is good for “lecture style” learning but doesn’t provide easy options for collaboration and active learning.
Architecturally, “Student-Centered Design” calls for a range of flexible spaces that students and educators can easily adapt to change over time with new needs.
One major characteristic of this model is incorporating variously sized spaces and movable furniture specifically designed to accommodate the intended activities. This may include an open collaborative space with flexible soft seating for larger presentations and gatherings, a small group room that supports discussions between smaller groups of students, classrooms with movable walls, and project labs with high-capacity cabinetry and durable furniture to support creative projects. Each space incorporates modern technology including internet connected devices, touch screen projectors, powerful Wi-Fi, and other collaborative tools.
“I think back to our old buildings, and we loved our time there, but they were all the same, classroom after classroom,” recalls Kirk Pavelich, Principal of North Royalton Elementary School. “You come into our learning communities now, and there are all these different types of projects going on. We never could have done this before.”
The result of this model is educational spaces that provide teachers and students dynamic environments that can be easily adapted for movement and specialized lessons.
Traditional School and 21st Century Learning Models
“The new school is good for the community because it provides such a great space for their kids to learn. It’s comfortable, it’s flexible, and it makes the students excited to go to school and learn.”
Claire Bank
Architect
North Royalton City Schools, Educational Visioning
The North Royalton City School District serves around 4,000 students. Faced with aging infrastructure, they decided they wanted to update their curriculum and facilities. For over a decade, the District conducted planning, educational conversations, and community engagements on what the future of education should look like for their community.
In 2015, an Educational Visioning session was held to explore this question and work through ideas with community members, teachers, city officials and District administrators. The result was a forward-thinking plan to redesign their high school as well as consolidate their elementary schools, combining them into a single educational facility to house PreK-fourth grade. Here principles of student-centered learning were discussed.
North Royalton City Schools: Educational Visioning Session
Leading up to and during the design process, ThenDesign Architecture (TDA) gathered information from the School District on how they envisioned education in their community. This crucial exercise provided insight into how the new facilities would be laid out.
It was here that a “student-centered approach” was adopted for both their curriculum and architecture.
TDA began laying out spaces to meet the vision shared by the District. Meeting regularly in building focus groups, educators at each grade level shared how they wanted the spaces to function for their students. Decisions from these groups were incorporated into the building designs. Operable partition locations, furniture choices, “teaching wall” placements, and storage options for classrooms were discussed and incorporated. The spaces were tailored to how teachers from those grades would operate.
These focus groups also toured facilities in surrounding districts, to see how they approached their new buildings.
Transitioning to this type of building model must be deliberately approached. Teachers in a learning community have to coordinate with their colleagues about use of the new spaces. Professional development for the District is often undertaken by educators to prepare for the transition and ensure they are ready to use the new spaces.
The District sponsored professional development to prepare educators for this new model of education when the facility was completed. This was performed over two years and consisted of collaborative staff meetings that involved faculty from three elementary buildings. The team worked through the concepts of student-centered learning and shared flexible spaces, all while striving to develop the teams they would be working with once in the new building.
Vision in a Word
“It’s all about the kids. From the moment I started teaching, to being an administrator, it’s only what’s good for the kids. It starts with getting great educators in the classrooms, but then providing the best facilities to teach in. This facility allows them to move from good to great.”
Greg Gurka
Former Superintendent of North Royalton City Schools
North Royalton Elementary School Layout
The North Royalton Elementary School is a $35 million, 148,000 square foot building that supports over 1,450 students and replaces three elementary schools.
The school resembles a capital letter “E” laid on its back, with 2 large outdoor spaces between each wing. Students are divided into separate learning communities spread across Kindergarten to Fourth grade. Each grade is divided into 3 communities, each with 4 teachers and approximately 100 students. Students spend the majority of their time inside their learning community of 100 students, which allows the young students to thrive in a large facility.
“This is a great facility because we deeply thought about how to meet the needs of the community and flexible workspaces,” commented Greg Gurka, the District superintendent during the design of the facility. “When you see what we have done with the design and construction team these spaces can change year-to-year or week-to-week based on the needs of the students. This building will do that for generations to come.”
Spatially, each community consists of an open collaborative space, 2 classrooms, a small group room, and a project lab. They also have access to the central two-story student dining at the heart of the building, music rooms, art rooms, a gymnasium, and media centers which feature collaborative stairs. Minimized corridor space between areas, creates a more efficient floor plan and results in more usable educational square footage per student.
The perceived scale of the new school was reduced by dividing the large building into smaller communities, limiting the number of people students interact with daily. This prevents them from being overwhelmed but still provides opportunities to collaborate with other learning communities.
North Royalton Elementary School: Space Breakdown
The North Royalton Elementary School hosts a wide variety of spaces that educators make use of daily. Below are a few examples of the new spaces offered in this facility and how they are used.
Student “Community”
This 5-space grouping is the foundation of where students spend the majority of their academic time. The open collaborative space joins individual classrooms and features an open area for educators to rearrange students’ desks to accommodate lectures, group activities, technology use and reading activities. Circulation is located on the edges of the space, with most furniture being on wheels to be easily rearranged. The collaborative is designed for active group work and dynamic activities.
Classrooms are a technology rich environment, with interactive short throw projectors and operable walls to join the classrooms together when doing group work.
Student Dining
Student dining is a hub of the school. Connecting to the servery and kitchen, this 2-story tall open space can fit 1/3 of the student population at once, with a large collaborative stair that can fit an entire grade level. The multitiered floor gives students interesting options to sit with friends, with both hard and soft seating options. Students can access one of the main outdoor spaces. A large collaborative stair is equipped with professional stage lighting, and can serve as a stage when in use as an auditorium space.
Media Center
The school is equipped with two, open media centers. These spaces serve as shared libraries for media storage and are used for classes who need quiet reading times. During the day, students rotate in and out of the space to promote reading, literacy discussions and to relax with a good book. The stair is carpeted so students feel more comfortable lounging there or on the soft furniture in the space.
Travel Zones
During lunch periods and in between classes, travel zones are designated throughout the building. Since traditional corridors have been minimized, students often pass through occupied collaborative areas. Colors of the floor and furniture layouts quickly direct students through these spaces easily and quietly.
Morning drop-off from 36 busses is facilitated through designated doors along the main circulation spine of the building. All 1,450 students can enter and navigate to their communities in under 15 minutes. This feat wasn’t possible in the previous schools.
“This school is different from what some may have experienced, but the kids come right in, get used to it and love to learn in this environment. We can take their passion and energy and provide them with facilities to be successful at anything they aspire to.”
Kirk Pavelich
Principal of North Royalton Elementary School
A Student-Centered Learning Approach
The “Student-Centered Learning” model presents many opportunities for current and future children. The flexible and collaborative design allows students to engage with their peers and teachers more actively while adapting their environment to learn in a more natural way.
School buildings are used by and supported by their communities for decades, and they influence the thousands of students who use them. Having a building that can transform to meet the needs of education in the future is paramount. Focusing on a student’s needs first ensures them a better foundation as they advance in their educational careers.
“I think education is the great equalizer. It’s not our job to teach kids what to think. It’s our job to help kids learn how to think, how to make decisions, how to problem solve and how to work together,” commented Superintendent Laub. “This is what helps them become successful contributors to society as they grow up.”
Let’s work together to make education better. Interested in speaking with us? Get in touch!
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
Oberlin City Schools Elementary School Ribbon CuttingThe Oberlin City School District celebrated a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for their new Pre-K through fifth grade elementary school. Attended by the community, district officials and other dignitaries, the new elementary school provides a modern, collaborative learning environment and features environmentally friendly features that make it a model for sustainable school design.
Oberlin City Schools Elementary School Ribbon Cutting
The Oberlin City School District, community, dignitaries along with construction and design professionals gathered on September 12th, to celebrate the opening of the new Oberlin elementary school. This 62,000 sf, 21st century learning facility, features collaborative spaces and advanced environmental control systems. Interior spaces can be reconfigured to meet the changing needs of the district and provide educational opportunities for students of all ages.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. David Hall commented, “Oberlin City Schools embarked on a journey almost 10 years ago to redesign our pre-K 12 facilities. This journey was led by instrumental community leaders,” referring to previous superintendent John Schroth and former OCS Board President Barry Richards. “A facilities team was formed consisting of community members, staff, parents and administrators to make that vision a reality. It implements 21st century teaching strategies across a new facility and all of these stages were critical points to move the district forward.”
Dr. Hall thanked the community for their support of the longtime project.
Superintendent of Oberlin City Schools, Dr. David Hall, gave an opening address, along with Oberlin City Schools Board President, Jason Miller and Ohio State Representative Joe Miller and architect, Brad Gellert.
“Oberlin City Schools embarked on a journey almost 10 years ago to redesign our pre-K 12 facilities. This school implements 21st century teaching strategies across the new facility and all of these stages were critical points to move the district forward.”
Dr. David Hall
Superintendent of Oberlin City School District
Project Manager, Brad Gellert commented, “The district and community had a goal in mind of creating a building that met current the needs of Pre-K through 5th grade students and also the future student needs by constructing a building that could be reconfigured due to changing conditions.”
As a result, the building features a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) Lab, an extended gymnasium space, open and flexible classroom spaces, advanced environmental controls, and an emotional sensory room.
Dr. Hall spoke about the importance of the building’s environmental impact, “Sustainability is important to the district and our community.” Continuing the theme of a collaborative design project, Dr. Hall recalled, “We created a sustainability committee which provided valuable information on our new Pre-K-5 sustainability initiatives.” These initiatives included, a solar installation that provides 80% of the building’s energy needs, electrical power vehicle charging stations and an environmental dashboard that monitors energy use.
This environmental dashboard, which was partially funded by a grant from Oberlin College Green Edge Fund, can be used by future students to better understand how the building’s energy use affects the environment.
Other low-cost sustainability measures included enhanced insulation in the building’s envelope, orienting the building so its longest side faces north, while also adding larger windows to that façade. This minimizes heat gain and the need for greater cooling.
Attendees included community members, dignitaries, school administration and students.
“This is a prime example of what we can accomplish together, not by working in silos, but working in unison. No one person or institution has the answer, but the unity of the whole is needed for success.”
Jason Miller
Oberlin City Schools Board President
Oberlin’s “All Inclusive” Public Education
The ceremony was also attended by Ohio State Representative, Joe Miller. Miller, who also attended the building’s groundbreaking ceremony commented on the historic importance Oberlin placed on public education, “It didn’t matter whether students were black or white, Christian or Jewish, it just didn’t matter.” Miller continued, “The Oberlin community said, “We will educate all (185 years ago),” this was public education at its best, they pioneered it and that’s something to be proud of.”
Miller, a former high school social studies teacher, is a strong advocate of public education, and felt Oberlin’s example of inclusion and diversity was admirable.
“Together we will provide education for all children, their zip code doesn’t matter, their socioeconomic status doesn’t matter, where they’re from originally doesn’t matter. They all have an equal shot. You have provided a facility to meet everyone’s needs. I’m so proud of you for doing that.”
After the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, Dr. Hall who is passionate about educating Oberlin’s students commented, “I’m blessed, this is the job I want to do, and can’t think of anything else I would rather do. The last year has been an obstacle, it’s been challenging, but we are overcoming that and looking forward to the future.”
The New Oberlin City Schools Elementary School Opened for Tours
“These designs are a long-term commitment. It’s not like writing a book report, it’s a 10-year effort. Oberlin stuck with it and when you tour the building, you will see the results.”
Brad Gellert
Architect
Oberlin City Schools conducted a dedication ceremony for the new Oberlin Elementary School on Sept. 12. From left: Ohio State Rep. Joe Miller, Oberlin City Schools Superintendent Dr. David Hall, Oberlin City Schools Board President Jason Miller, and board members Farah Emeka, Anne Schaum, and Oberlin City Schools Vice-President Dr. Ken Stanley.
A Successful, “Forward-Thinking” Project
Brad Gellert, the architect on the project commented on why it was successful, “We built it on a very tight budget and during the COVID-19 pandemic. We were able to introduce many new sustainability features like a solar array that powers 80% of the building, the electric vehicle charging stations and the environmental dashboard. These are all very innovative initiatives for a school.”
Sustainability and collaborative learning are the hallmarks of this new educational facility and display how elementary schools can embody these principles.
“To create positive change in the world, you must work collaboratively with others,” said Brad Gellert adding “spending years assisting the district with this project is personal. We are proud to be part of that collaboration, and know you will enjoy the building for many years to come.”
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
Oberlin City Schools Elementary School Ribbon CuttingThe Oberlin City School District celebrated a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for their new Pre-K through fifth grade elementary school. Attended by the community, district officials and other dignitaries, the new elementary school provides a modern, collaborative learning environment and features environmentally friendly features that make it a model for sustainable school design.
Oberlin City Schools Elementary School Ribbon Cutting
The Oberlin City School District, community, dignitaries along with construction and design professionals gathered on September 12th, to celebrate the opening of the new Oberlin elementary school. This 62,000 sf, 21st century learning facility, features collaborative spaces and advanced environmental control systems. Interior spaces can be reconfigured to meet the changing needs of the district and provide educational opportunities for students of all ages.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. David Hall commented, “Oberlin City Schools embarked on a journey almost 10 years ago to redesign our pre-K 12 facilities. This journey was led by instrumental community leaders,” referring to previous superintendent John Schroth and former OCS Board President Barry Richards. “A facilities team was formed consisting of community members, staff, parents and administrators to make that vision a reality. It implements 21st century teaching strategies across a new facility and all of these stages were critical points to move the district forward.”
Dr. Hall thanked the community for their support of the longtime project.
Superintendent of Oberlin City Schools, Dr. David Hall, gave an opening address, along with Oberlin City Schools Board President, Jason Miller and Ohio State Representative Joe Miller and architect, Brad Gellert.
“Oberlin City Schools embarked on a journey almost 10 years ago to redesign our pre-K 12 facilities. This school implements 21st century teaching strategies across the new facility and all of these stages were critical points to move the district forward.”
Dr. David Hall
Superintendent of Oberlin City School District
Project Manager, Brad Gellert commented, “The district and community had a goal in mind of creating a building that met current the needs of Pre-K through 5th grade students and also the future student needs by constructing a building that could be reconfigured due to changing conditions.”
As a result, the building features a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) Lab, an extended gymnasium space, open and flexible classroom spaces, advanced environmental controls, and an emotional sensory room.
Dr. Hall spoke about the importance of the building’s environmental impact, “Sustainability is important to the district and our community.” Continuing the theme of a collaborative design project, Dr. Hall recalled, “We created a sustainability committee which provided valuable information on our new Pre-K-5 sustainability initiatives.” These initiatives included, a solar installation that provides 80% of the building’s energy needs, electrical power vehicle charging stations and an environmental dashboard that monitors energy use.
This environmental dashboard, which was partially funded by a grant from Oberlin College Green Edge Fund, can be used by future students to better understand how the building’s energy use affects the environment.
Other low-cost sustainability measures included enhanced insulation in the building’s envelope, orienting the building so its longest side faces north, while also adding larger windows to that façade. This minimizes heat gain and the need for greater cooling.
Attendees included community members, dignitaries, school administration and students.
“This is a prime example of what we can accomplish together, not by working in silos, but working in unison. No one person or institution has the answer, but the unity of the whole is needed for success.”
Jason Miller
Oberlin City Schools Board President
Oberlin’s “All Inclusive” Public Education
The ceremony was also attended by Ohio State Representative, Joe Miller. Miller, who also attended the building’s groundbreaking ceremony commented on the historic importance Oberlin placed on public education, “It didn’t matter whether students were black or white, Christian or Jewish, it just didn’t matter.” Miller continued, “The Oberlin community said, “We will educate all (185 years ago),” this was public education at its best, they pioneered it and that’s something to be proud of.”
Miller, a former high school social studies teacher, is a strong advocate of public education, and felt Oberlin’s example of inclusion and diversity was admirable.
“Together we will provide education for all children, their zip code doesn’t matter, their socioeconomic status doesn’t matter, where they’re from originally doesn’t matter. They all have an equal shot. You have provided a facility to meet everyone’s needs. I’m so proud of you for doing that.”
After the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, Dr. Hall who is passionate about educating Oberlin’s students commented, “I’m blessed, this is the job I want to do, and can’t think of anything else I would rather do. The last year has been an obstacle, it’s been challenging, but we are overcoming that and looking forward to the future.”
The New Oberlin City Schools Elementary School Opened for Tours
“These designs are a long-term commitment. It’s not like writing a book report, it’s a 10-year effort. Oberlin stuck with it and when you tour the building, you will see the results.”
Brad Gellert
Architect
Oberlin City Schools conducted a dedication ceremony for the new Oberlin Elementary School on Sept. 12. From left: Ohio State Rep. Joe Miller, Oberlin City Schools Superintendent Dr. David Hall, Oberlin City Schools Board President Jason Miller, and board members Farah Emeka, Anne Schaum, and Oberlin City Schools Vice-President Dr. Ken Stanley.
A Successful, “Forward-Thinking” Project
Brad Gellert, the architect on the project commented on why it was successful, “We built it on a very tight budget and during the COVID-19 pandemic. We were able to introduce many new sustainability features like a solar array that powers 80% of the building, the electric vehicle charging stations and the environmental dashboard. These are all very innovative initiatives for a school.”
Sustainability and collaborative learning are the hallmarks of this new educational facility and display how elementary schools can embody these principles.
“To create positive change in the world, you must work collaboratively with others,” said Brad Gellert adding “spending years assisting the district with this project is personal. We are proud to be part of that collaboration, and know you will enjoy the building for many years to come.”
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ThenDesign Architecture Relocates to Memorial Junior High for New Offices in WilloughbyWith the completion of the renovation project, ThenDesign Architecture moves to their new home in Downtown Willoughby.
ThenDesign Architecture Relocates to Memorial Junior High in Willoughby
In 2017, ThenDesign Architecture undertook the challenging task of breathing new life into the historic Memorial Junior High in downtown Willoughby. Committed to the economic development of the Willoughby community, Bob Fiala, the founding partner of TDA and Executive Chairman and Chris Smith, the President and CEO, decided to reimagine the former school and develop it to become the new headquarters for an “education focused,” architectural firm. In early 2021, ThenDesign Architecture relocates to Memorial Junior High in Willoughby Ohio for their new offices.
Interior Photos – ThenDesign Architecture
“There is nothing more valuable than seeing everybody together in the same building at the same time. This is where true collaboration begins, and where it exists.”
Robert Fiala
Founding Partner and Executive Chairman of ThenDesign Architecture
Economic Development in Willoughby
“This is a story about economic development.” said Bob Fiala, of TDA. While Bob is not involved in the “day to day” operations of the firm, due to his role as Mayor of the City of Willoughby, he is passionate about giving back to the larger community. Having always been located in Willoughby, with a legacy reaching back to 1951, Bob has been intricately involved in TDA’s development over the years. “It’s the story of a “home grown” firm, that was founded in the city, grew in the city and made a significant investment in the city. This whole organization is about economic development, and it’s happening right here.”
Currently, with over $300 million dollars in educational construction across Northeast Ohio, an historic school seemed like the best home to design the new educational facilities of the future. “We are heavily vested in the educational marketplace, schools, sports facilities and performing arts centers,” commented Chris Smith. “Designing from an historic school made so much sense for us. In fact, Jeff Henderson, a lead designer on the project actually went to school here years ago.”
School projects are very public, and we developed an engagement process with educators, administrators and the community. We wanted to carry that same idea forward in our new space.
Jeff Henderson
Architect
Defining Space Usage for Memorial Junior High School
The design process to reimagine the historic school was parallel to the process TDA uses to engage its clients when designing their new facilities.
“We began with a series of questions to our entire staff. How do we want to work? How do we want to collaborate? How do we want to feast? How do we want to celebrate?,” explained Educational Design Lead, Abby Rainieri. “We engaged the staff through a “Visioning Session,” to gather feedback from the staff on how to use the space.”
Spaces in the building were then organized into 4 distinct groups, each one encouraged collaboration and productivity in different ways. “You have public space, private space, working alone and working together. Those are the four types of spaces on the axis. We really found that through that division, all the spaces we needed fell into one of those four quadrants,” explained Abby.
Lake County Development Council’s, first “In-Person Meeting” – ThenDesign Architecture
“TDA was always successful but now they have moved from success to significance. We’re very proud of them and pleased to have them downtown.”
David Anderson
Former Mayor of the City of Willoughby
ThenDesign Architecture Relocates to Memorial in Willoughby
The finished project has surfaced fond memories from Memorial Junior High School alumni, who attended at the school years ago. It has been received well by county leadership, business owners and community members. In late June, Lake County Development Council held their first in-person meeting, hosted at TDA’s new building.
At the event, former Mayor Dave Anderson commented: “We are so proud of TDA. They were a big part of downtown in the Carrel building, and will continue to be with this building here.” With his experience working to develop Willoughby’s downtown during his tenure, those comments were particularly impactful. “TDA was always successful but now they have moved from success to significance. We’re very proud of them and pleased to have them downtown.”
Memorial Junior High School, Prior to Renovation – ThenDesign Architecture
Acquiring Memorial Junior High School
“Back when the Willoughby/Eastlake School system moved their Vocational Tech Center, they had no further need of these two buildings,” explained Mr. Anderson. “As mayor at the time, I knew Willoughby faced a significant challenge.”
When the Willoughby/Eastlake school system had to divest itself of property, they had two options, either put the property, which was in the heart of Willoughby’s downtown up for auction, or transfer it to another government entity.
Knowing this, the School District decided to transfer two vacant properties to the City of Willoughby who then appraised the properties and took proposals from developers for both Buildings A and B, while retaining the property which is now Wes Point Park. ThenDesign Architecture purchased the site known as “Building B” to renovate and relocate their offices to.
Since then, the building has become a hub of architectural activity, designed for project work and group collaboration, it includes flexible areas for team meetings and other creative work.
“It’s an awesome day here for all of us at TDA.”
Chris Smith
President and CEO of ThenDesign Architecture
ThenDesign Welcomes Staff Back to the New Relocated Office
In early June 2021, the building was officially opened, and administrative and architectural staff were welcomed back after 16 months of remote work during the Covid-19 pandemic. Both Chris Smith and Bob Fiala participated in a ceremonial ribbon cutting and activities at this “Welcome Back” event.
Speaking at the Ribbon Cutting, Chris addressed the staff, “It’s an awesome day here for all of us at TDA. This whole idea and concept was Bob’s idea. And I don’t think there’s anybody more committed to their community, that I know of. This is both gratifying for him, not only as a new home TDA, but also, as a major reinvestment in our community.”
Understanding the significance of this building in the local community, ThenDesign Architecture looks forward to hosting a community focused “Ribbon Cutting Event.” This is tentatively planned for the end of 2021 and all of those who are interested in seeing the finished space, are encouraged to see the reimagined Memorial Junior High School.
In the meantime, we would love to hear from you. If you are an alumni and have memories from the space, we would love to hear about your experiences.
Mayor Fiala recognized the challenges of both the construction project and the stresses of remote work during the Covid-19 pandemic but looks forward to what will be done at the new office. “There is nothing more valuable than seeing everybody together in the same building at the same time. This is where true collaboration begins, and where it exists.”
Let’s work together to make education better. Interested in speaking with us? Get in touch!
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
ThenDesign Architecture Relocates to Memorial Junior High for New Offices in WilloughbyWith the completion of the renovation project, ThenDesign Architecture moves to their new home in Downtown Willoughby.
ThenDesign Architecture Relocates to Memorial Junior High in Willoughby
In 2017, ThenDesign Architecture undertook the challenging task of breathing new life into the historic Memorial Junior High in downtown Willoughby. Committed to the economic development of the Willoughby community, Bob Fiala, the founding partner of TDA and Executive Chairman and Chris Smith, the President and CEO, decided to reimagine the former school and develop it to become the new headquarters for an “education focused,” architectural firm. In early 2021, ThenDesign Architecture relocates to Memorial Junior High in Willoughby Ohio for their new offices.
Interior Photos – ThenDesign Architecture
“There is nothing more valuable than seeing everybody together in the same building at the same time. This is where true collaboration begins, and where it exists.”
Robert Fiala
Founding Partner and Executive Chairman of ThenDesign Architecture
Economic Development in Willoughby
“This is a story about economic development.” said Bob Fiala, of TDA. While Bob is not involved in the “day to day” operations of the firm, due to his role as Mayor of the City of Willoughby, he is passionate about giving back to the larger community. Having always been located in Willoughby, with a legacy reaching back to 1951, Bob has been intricately involved in TDA’s development over the years. “It’s the story of a “home grown” firm, that was founded in the city, grew in the city and made a significant investment in the city. This whole organization is about economic development, and it’s happening right here.”
Currently, with over $300 million dollars in educational construction across Northeast Ohio, an historic school seemed like the best home to design the new educational facilities of the future. “We are heavily vested in the educational marketplace, schools, sports facilities and performing arts centers,” commented Chris Smith. “Designing from an historic school made so much sense for us. In fact, Jeff Henderson, a lead designer on the project actually went to school here years ago.”
School projects are very public, and we developed an engagement process with educators, administrators and the community. We wanted to carry that same idea forward in our new space.
Jeff Henderson
Architect
Defining Space Usage for Memorial Junior High School
The design process to reimagine the historic school was parallel to the process TDA uses to engage its clients when designing their new facilities.
“We began with a series of questions to our entire staff. How do we want to work? How do we want to collaborate? How do we want to feast? How do we want to celebrate?,” explained Educational Design Lead, Abby Rainieri. “We engaged the staff through a “Visioning Session,” to gather feedback from the staff on how to use the space.”
Spaces in the building were then organized into 4 distinct groups, each one encouraged collaboration and productivity in different ways. “You have public space, private space, working alone and working together. Those are the four types of spaces on the axis. We really found that through that division, all the spaces we needed fell into one of those four quadrants,” explained Abby.
Lake County Development Council’s, first “In-Person Meeting” – ThenDesign Architecture
“TDA was always successful but now they have moved from success to significance. We’re very proud of them and pleased to have them downtown.”
David Anderson
Former Mayor of the City of Willoughby
ThenDesign Architecture Relocates to Memorial in Willoughby
The finished project has surfaced fond memories from Memorial Junior High School alumni, who attended at the school years ago. It has been received well by county leadership, business owners and community members. In late June, Lake County Development Council held their first in-person meeting, hosted at TDA’s new building.
At the event, former Mayor Dave Anderson commented: “We are so proud of TDA. They were a big part of downtown in the Carrel building, and will continue to be with this building here.” With his experience working to develop Willoughby’s downtown during his tenure, those comments were particularly impactful. “TDA was always successful but now they have moved from success to significance. We’re very proud of them and pleased to have them downtown.”
Memorial Junior High School, Prior to Renovation – ThenDesign Architecture
Acquiring Memorial Junior High School
“Back when the Willoughby/Eastlake School system moved their Vocational Tech Center, they had no further need of these two buildings,” explained Mr. Anderson. “As mayor at the time, I knew Willoughby faced a significant challenge.”
When the Willoughby/Eastlake school system had to divest itself of property, they had two options, either put the property, which was in the heart of Willoughby’s downtown up for auction, or transfer it to another government entity.
Knowing this, the School District decided to transfer two vacant properties to the City of Willoughby who then appraised the properties and took proposals from developers for both Buildings A and B, while retaining the property which is now Wes Point Park. ThenDesign Architecture purchased the site known as “Building B” to renovate and relocate their offices to.
Since then, the building has become a hub of architectural activity, designed for project work and group collaboration, it includes flexible areas for team meetings and other creative work.
“It’s an awesome day here for all of us at TDA.”
Chris Smith
President and CEO of ThenDesign Architecture
ThenDesign Welcomes Staff Back to the New Relocated Office
In early June 2021, the building was officially opened, and administrative and architectural staff were welcomed back after 16 months of remote work during the Covid-19 pandemic. Both Chris Smith and Bob Fiala participated in a ceremonial ribbon cutting and activities at this “Welcome Back” event.
Speaking at the Ribbon Cutting, Chris addressed the staff, “It’s an awesome day here for all of us at TDA. This whole idea and concept was Bob’s idea. And I don’t think there’s anybody more committed to their community, that I know of. This is both gratifying for him, not only as a new home TDA, but also, as a major reinvestment in our community.”
Understanding the significance of this building in the local community, ThenDesign Architecture looks forward to hosting a community focused “Ribbon Cutting Event.” This is tentatively planned for the end of 2021 and all of those who are interested in seeing the finished space, are encouraged to see the reimagined Memorial Junior High School.
In the meantime, we would love to hear from you. If you are an alumni and have memories from the space, we would love to hear about your experiences.
Mayor Fiala recognized the challenges of both the construction project and the stresses of remote work during the Covid-19 pandemic but looks forward to what will be done at the new office. “There is nothing more valuable than seeing everybody together in the same building at the same time. This is where true collaboration begins, and where it exists.”
Let’s work together to make education better. Interested in speaking with us? Get in touch!
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
New Campus Groundbreaking at Wickliffe City SchoolsCommunity members, district administrators, architecture and construction professionals along with dignitaries attended the New Campus Groundbreaking at Wickliffe City Schools on May 6th, to celebrate the commencement of construction on this exciting new PreK-12 facility. Embodying the goals for education in the district, the new school seeks to provide new spaces and learning opportunities for the students in the City of Wickliffe.
New Campus Groundbreaking at Wickliffe City Schools
On May 6th, 2021, The Wickliffe City School District hosted a groundbreaking ceremony to commemorate the start of construction for their new PK-12 Campus. This 204,000 sf facility will feature a variety of advanced educational spaces along with spaces geared towards community engagement. The new school will house a community hub, a 500 seat Performing Arts Center and an expanded Wickliffe Family Resource Center, along with new collaborative focused educational spaces, flexible classrooms, and small group rooms. This project represents a “Reimagination of the Wickliffe Schools.” The campus and educational programs will be second to none and serve students of all abilities. The groundbreaking was attended by well over 100 from the community, members of the district administration, architecture, and construction professionals, along with many state representatives who came to support the project.
An inside look at the New Campus Groundbreaking at Wickliffe City Schools.
“Thank you to the Wickliffe community, it’s because of you that we’re here tonight. I think you will be impressed by all the work that will take place.”
Joseph Spiccia
Superintendent of Wickliffe City Schools
New Campus Groundbreaking at Wickliffe
At 7:00 pm the ceremony kicked off behind the existing Wickliffe High School, with comments from Joseph Spiccia, Superintendent of Wickliffe City Schools, welcoming everyone and celebrating the beginning of construction. Afterwards, several dignitaries spoke, recognizing the years of work and community engagement that went into the project. Daniel Troy, an Ohio State Representative presented a commendation on the new construction project. “Over the years the Wickliffe City School District has played a vital role in preparing generations of students for the challenges of life. This new campus is a testament to those dedicated efforts.” Recognizing the challenges students face, Mr. Troy continued “This modernized hub of learning will not only allow that tradition of excellence to continue, but further enhance the ability to excel for students in a rapidly changing world.”
Kenny Yuko, an Ohio State Senator, presented a Senatorial Citation from the Ohio Senate to Mr. Spiccia. Both men who are longtime friends, having graduated from the same high school, shared the stage. Mr. Yuko recognized the diversity of ages and backgrounds from those in attendance: “This is the beginning of a new era for Wickliffe. A new school campus is going to help your students, your families and it will help the entire community. Thank you for ensuring your dream become a reality.”
The event featured musical performances which included the national anthem, performed by the Wickliffe Swing Band and the school’s alma mater by the combined Wickliffe High School and Middle School Choirs. They are looking forward to expanded practice space and upgraded spaces in the new school.
New Campus Groundbreaking at Wickliffe City Schools
“”This is the beginning of a new era for Wickliffe. A new school campus is going to help your students, your families and it will help the entire community.”
Kenny Yuko
Ohio State Senator
Re-imagining Education with the New Campus at Wickliffe City Schools
The Wickliffe City School District is committed to re-imagining education in their district. Going back to 2015, a strategic plan was developed by the Board of Education, district administration, educators and the community. This identified broad district goals and outlined tactical steps to achieve those. Three of the goals, noted by Mr. Spiccia, are embodied in the new facility.
Create flexibility for students, staff, and the community.
Create learning environments that address the needs of all learners.
Engage the greater community in their investment in the school district by maximizing opportunities for the community to participate – learning, mentoring, partnering, and contributing to the greater good.
Through extensive collaboration with stakeholders since 2015, the strategic plan continues to be executed. The team has examined and developed funding options, incorporating community needs, setting an educational vision and ways to support and improve the City of Wickliffe.
“Today is about making a very big investment in all the kids in Wickliffe today,” said John Plecnik, a Lake County Commissioner, “Those kids are going to be leaders someday. I’m excited for Wickliffe, I’m excited for Lake County, I’m excited for the kids who are going to walk through this building.”
New Campus Groundbreaking at Wickliffe City Schools
“Today is about making a very big investment in all the kids in Wickliffe … I’m excited for Wickliffe, I’m excited for Lake County, I’m excited for the kids who are going to walk through this building.”
John Plecnik
Lake County Commissioner
Impacting the City and the Community
Board of Education President Katie Ball commented: “Wickliffe is a city that carries generations of pride. I moved here as an adult and met several people who said they were the third or even fourth generation and wanted to raise their families here. It is obvious to me now why families continue to stay in Wickliffe generation after generation. It is a community that wears it’s pride on its sleeve and will always do what needs to be done to continue to grow.”
Not only is the community expected to benefit from the new facility, but city officials hope it will attract more families to the city, fueling jobs and presenting opportunities to expand city services.
“I think it’s going to be a great benefit for the kids of the city,” commented Edward Levon, Wickliffe City Council President, “It provides a great benefit to the city. It attracts younger growing families, which attracts businesses and tax dollars to the city, which we can reinvest into better city services and infrastructure like sewers and roads. All in all, it’s a positive investment for the city.”
Construction is currently underway, with synthetic turf now being added to the stadium. Building construction begins in the fall of 2021 and will progress until the grand opening which is slated for the 2023-24 school year. To view a more detailed construction schedule, visit the Wickliffe City School District website.
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
New Campus Groundbreaking at Wickliffe City SchoolsCommunity members, district administrators, architecture and construction professionals along with dignitaries attended the New Campus Groundbreaking at Wickliffe City Schools on May 6th, to celebrate the commencement of construction on this exciting new PreK-12 facility. Embodying the goals for education in the district, the new school seeks to provide new spaces and learning opportunities for the students in the City of Wickliffe.
New Campus Groundbreaking at Wickliffe City Schools
On May 6th, 2021, The Wickliffe City School District hosted a groundbreaking ceremony to commemorate the start of construction for their new PK-12 Campus. This 204,000 sf facility will feature a variety of advanced educational spaces along with spaces geared towards community engagement. The new school will house a community hub, a 500 seat Performing Arts Center and an expanded Wickliffe Family Resource Center, along with new collaborative focused educational spaces, flexible classrooms, and small group rooms. This project represents a “Reimagination of the Wickliffe Schools.” The campus and educational programs will be second to none and serve students of all abilities. The groundbreaking was attended by well over 100 from the community, members of the district administration, architecture, and construction professionals, along with many state representatives who came to support the project.
An inside look at the New Campus Groundbreaking at Wickliffe City Schools.
“Thank you to the Wickliffe community, it’s because of you that we’re here tonight. I think you will be impressed by all the work that will take place.”
Joseph Spiccia
Superintendent of Wickliffe City Schools
New Campus Groundbreaking at Wickliffe
At 7:00 pm the ceremony kicked off behind the existing Wickliffe High School, with comments from Joseph Spiccia, Superintendent of Wickliffe City Schools, welcoming everyone and celebrating the beginning of construction. Afterwards, several dignitaries spoke, recognizing the years of work and community engagement that went into the project. Daniel Troy, an Ohio State Representative presented a commendation on the new construction project. “Over the years the Wickliffe City School District has played a vital role in preparing generations of students for the challenges of life. This new campus is a testament to those dedicated efforts.” Recognizing the challenges students face, Mr. Troy continued “This modernized hub of learning will not only allow that tradition of excellence to continue, but further enhance the ability to excel for students in a rapidly changing world.”
Kenny Yuko, an Ohio State Senator, presented a Senatorial Citation from the Ohio Senate to Mr. Spiccia. Both men who are longtime friends, having graduated from the same high school, shared the stage. Mr. Yuko recognized the diversity of ages and backgrounds from those in attendance: “This is the beginning of a new era for Wickliffe. A new school campus is going to help your students, your families and it will help the entire community. Thank you for ensuring your dream become a reality.”
The event featured musical performances which included the national anthem, performed by the Wickliffe Swing Band and the school’s alma mater by the combined Wickliffe High School and Middle School Choirs. They are looking forward to expanded practice space and upgraded spaces in the new school.
New Campus Groundbreaking at Wickliffe City Schools
“”This is the beginning of a new era for Wickliffe. A new school campus is going to help your students, your families and it will help the entire community.”
Kenny Yuko
Ohio State Senator
Re-imagining Education with the New Campus at Wickliffe City Schools
The Wickliffe City School District is committed to re-imagining education in their district. Going back to 2015, a strategic plan was developed by the Board of Education, district administration, educators and the community. This identified broad district goals and outlined tactical steps to achieve those. Three of the goals, noted by Mr. Spiccia, are embodied in the new facility.
Create flexibility for students, staff, and the community.
Create learning environments that address the needs of all learners.
Engage the greater community in their investment in the school district by maximizing opportunities for the community to participate – learning, mentoring, partnering, and contributing to the greater good.
Through extensive collaboration with stakeholders since 2015, the strategic plan continues to be executed. The team has examined and developed funding options, incorporating community needs, setting an educational vision and ways to support and improve the City of Wickliffe.
“Today is about making a very big investment in all the kids in Wickliffe today,” said John Plecnik, a Lake County Commissioner, “Those kids are going to be leaders someday. I’m excited for Wickliffe, I’m excited for Lake County, I’m excited for the kids who are going to walk through this building.”
New Campus Groundbreaking at Wickliffe City Schools
“Today is about making a very big investment in all the kids in Wickliffe … I’m excited for Wickliffe, I’m excited for Lake County, I’m excited for the kids who are going to walk through this building.”
John Plecnik
Lake County Commissioner
Impacting the City and the Community
Board of Education President Katie Ball commented: “Wickliffe is a city that carries generations of pride. I moved here as an adult and met several people who said they were the third or even fourth generation and wanted to raise their families here. It is obvious to me now why families continue to stay in Wickliffe generation after generation. It is a community that wears it’s pride on its sleeve and will always do what needs to be done to continue to grow.”
Not only is the community expected to benefit from the new facility, but city officials hope it will attract more families to the city, fueling jobs and presenting opportunities to expand city services.
“I think it’s going to be a great benefit for the kids of the city,” commented Edward Levon, Wickliffe City Council President, “It provides a great benefit to the city. It attracts younger growing families, which attracts businesses and tax dollars to the city, which we can reinvest into better city services and infrastructure like sewers and roads. All in all, it’s a positive investment for the city.”
Construction is currently underway, with synthetic turf now being added to the stadium. Building construction begins in the fall of 2021 and will progress until the grand opening which is slated for the 2023-24 school year. To view a more detailed construction schedule, visit the Wickliffe City School District website.
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Perry Local Schools – Four New Elementary SchoolsDriven by the goal to provide the best educational facilities for their young students, Perry Local Schools is in the midst of an ambitious task; redesigning and constructing all four elementary schools in their district. While it has proven challenging to collaborate on a large-scale design process during a pandemic, the efforts of the Building Focus Group, along with many other community volunteers and educators has provided valuable insight to allow these new schools to serve Perry Local Schools for decades to come.
Perry Local Schools – Four New Elementary Buildings
Driven by the goal to provide the best educational facilities for their young students, Perry Local Schools is in the midst of an ambitious task; the design and construction of four new elementary schools across the district. After passing a bond issue in early 2020, the district partnered with the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission and ThenDesign Architecture to fund and design these new buildings. Addressing the challenge of aging infrastructure in their current facilities, these new schools will provide a better organized school layout, community focused spaces, new technology, and a more comfortable and collaborative environment for students to learn in. Now well into the design process, each school showcases a unique characteristic of the Perry Massillon community, with the buildings slated to be completed by the fall of 2023.
While it has proven challenging to collaborate on a large-scale design process during a pandemic, the efforts of the Building Focus Group, along with many other community volunteers and educators has provided valuable insight to allow these new schools to serve Perry Local Schools for decades to come.
Students from Perry Local Schools speak about the impact good educational facilities can make on learning.
A Challenging Environment
The district currently has five elementary schools, (Genoa, Knapp, PJ Lohr, Watson and Whipple Elementary) each of which serves around 500 students and has been in the community for decades–most having been constructed in the late 1950’s and early 1960s. While well cared for, they are reaching the end of their lifecycle. Ongoing maintenance and repair costs for each building have begun to exceed the costs of new facilities. When this is paired with difficult accessibility for most of the buildings, inadequate parking and bus circulation space, along with dated air handling and electrical systems, it is clear new structures would better serve Perry students.
Additionally, as education has evolved over the decades, spaces within the original buildings became more fragmented and the historic layout of the existing schools no longer worked with the curriculum or met students’ needs. As an example, “special education” and student wellness within most elementary schools has become very important but in historic schools, there is usually very little space allocated for this crucial need.
The technological and organizational limitations of historic schools necessitated new buildings and presented the unique opportunity to reorganize educational spaces and create a modern educational environment for young students.
“We’ve learned relationships are important,” the superintendent said. “In smaller schools it is easier to build a relationship with a young person. You have to build interpersonal positive relationships with kids for them to learn and grow.”
Scott Beatty
Superintendent of Perry Local Schools
The Perry Local Schools: Building Focus Group
A tremendous amount of work went into the developing designs for the four new elementary buildings. To specifically tailor these buildings to suit educators, the district established a “Building Focus Group.” This special group was composed of principals, teachers, special education administrators and representatives from food services, music, and athletics across the four existing schools. This group of 25-30 members met weekly for almost 5 months, to discuss how the new buildings would function. Ryan Schmit, Project Manager for the project commented: “We would meet with the Building Focus Group for an hour or two and go through plan concepts, building feature concepts, talk through pros and cons and then afterwards issue a homework task each week.” He continues, “Each representative would take that assignment back to their groups, then send us additional information. We shaped the buildings according to educators needs. These groups really drove the design of the buildings.”
The involvement from the administration, educators and various community members ensured the design for each school was “staff driven” and was arranged to meet the educational scheme of the district.
The “Building Focus Group,” represented dozens of educators and hundreds of hours of shared design process that was crucial to each new facility.
Concept Imagery for the four new elementary school buildings:
Perry Local Schools – Concept Imagery for the four elementary schools in the district
Unique Identities in the Perry Community
Early in the design process, a “brainstorming committee” was tasked with identifying unique characteristics of the Perry community that could inform the elevations of the buildings. This committee was made of longtime residents, members of the historical society, young people, and alumni of Perry Local Schools. Through many meetings and long conversations, the group identified several qualities of the community which could be reflected in the overall exterior aesthetics of the buildings.
The team identifies four key characteristics. These included Perry’s strong rural and agricultural roots, the patriotic undercurrent in the community, their strong presence in the steel manufacturing industry and the district’s emphasis on performing arts and music in education. These qualities were woven into the architectural exterior of the four new elementary schools to showcase these unique qualities in the community.
Lohr Elementary School – Borrowing aesthetics from rolling fields and the agricultural land that characterizes many acres in the Perry community, the building elevation employs a natural color scheme with masonry patterns on the brick face to replicate the waving fields of corn and wheat commonly found in the surrounding areas.
Southway (Knapp) Elementary School – This school borrows the red brick patterns from historic and current local manufacturing plants, while also surfacing patterns of crisscrossing steel beams on the exterior.
Whipple Elementary School – The façade of this school seeks to reflect American patriotism and a respect for the military through its use of colored masonry. It evokes feelings of pride, formal parades, and appreciation for the freedoms enjoyed in this country.
Watson Elementary School – This school borrows from Perry’s musical tradition by employing contrasting light and dark masonry which evokes an image of musical stanzas to create a playful pattern across the school’s shared spaces.
While each building is unique in its exterior treatment, they share similar layouts, to unify user experience. The exterior patterns root the buildings in the community’s heritage and create a playful and colorful environment for elementary students.
“We shaped the buildings according to educators needs. These groups really drove the design of the buildings.”
Ryan Schmit
Project Manager
New Educational Opportunities
A key design principle for all four schools was to be rooted in the community and allow them to be easily accessed for events and activities. These are “community buildings” and not only do the aesthetics of the exterior signal this, but the parking, entrance and shared spaces were carefully designed to help parents and guests easily navigate each school.
In the early stages of the project, superintendent Scott Beatty remarked: “We’ve learned relationships are important,” the superintendent said. “In smaller schools it is easier to build a relationship with a young person. You have to build interpersonal positive relationships with kids for them to learn and grow.” This led to the decision to ultimately construct four new buildings, within a variety of collaborative features to educate students.
The new schools are flexibly designed to accommodate both traditional education methods along with collaborative learning spaces. Special consideration was given to each building’s “shared spaces,” like the gymnasium and student dining. These can easily be used for a variety of large activities during the day with the gym serving as a large auditorium space. Each school’s media center (library) features special furniture that encourages collaborative group work and adjacent shared rooms where educators can teach outside their classrooms.
The new buildings incorporate better air handling and filtration systems, providing air conditioning and better indoor air quality overall. Daylight is also important and windows in the buildings create brighter and more open indoor spaces. Technology is better integrated throughout the buildings through additional electrical access in classrooms, upgraded internet connectivity and equipment access in the media center.
The project timeline for the completion of the four new elementary schools.
A Future Facing District
All four schools are in the “design development” phase, which is slated to be finished in the fall of 2021. As this phase is finished, the design team looks forward to releasing more detailed renderings of the facilities towards the end of the year. Construction is planned to start in early 2022, with all four buildings completed and occupied for the 2023-2024 school year.
Perry Local Schools – Four New Elementary SchoolsDriven by the goal to provide the best educational facilities for their young students, Perry Local Schools is in the midst of an ambitious task; redesigning and constructing all four elementary schools in their district. While it has proven challenging to collaborate on a large-scale design process during a pandemic, the efforts of the Building Focus Group, along with many other community volunteers and educators has provided valuable insight to allow these new schools to serve Perry Local Schools for decades to come.
Perry Local Schools – Four New Elementary Buildings
Driven by the goal to provide the best educational facilities for their young students, Perry Local Schools is in the midst of an ambitious task; the design and construction of four new elementary schools across the district. After passing a bond issue in early 2020, the district partnered with the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission and ThenDesign Architecture to fund and design these new buildings. Addressing the challenge of aging infrastructure in their current facilities, these new schools will provide a better organized school layout, community focused spaces, new technology, and a more comfortable and collaborative environment for students to learn in. Now well into the design process, each school showcases a unique characteristic of the Perry Massillon community, with the buildings slated to be completed by the fall of 2023.
While it has proven challenging to collaborate on a large-scale design process during a pandemic, the efforts of the Building Focus Group, along with many other community volunteers and educators has provided valuable insight to allow these new schools to serve Perry Local Schools for decades to come.
Students from Perry Local Schools speak about the impact good educational facilities can make on learning.
A Challenging Environment
The district currently has five elementary schools, (Genoa, Knapp, PJ Lohr, Watson and Whipple Elementary) each of which serves around 500 students and has been in the community for decades–most having been constructed in the late 1950’s and early 1960s. While well cared for, they are reaching the end of their lifecycle. Ongoing maintenance and repair costs for each building have begun to exceed the costs of new facilities. When this is paired with difficult accessibility for most of the buildings, inadequate parking and bus circulation space, along with dated air handling and electrical systems, it is clear new structures would better serve Perry students.
Additionally, as education has evolved over the decades, spaces within the original buildings became more fragmented and the historic layout of the existing schools no longer worked with the curriculum or met students’ needs. As an example, “special education” and student wellness within most elementary schools has become very important but in historic schools, there is usually very little space allocated for this crucial need.
The technological and organizational limitations of historic schools necessitated new buildings and presented the unique opportunity to reorganize educational spaces and create a modern educational environment for young students.
“We’ve learned relationships are important,” the superintendent said. “In smaller schools it is easier to build a relationship with a young person. You have to build interpersonal positive relationships with kids for them to learn and grow.”
Scott Beatty
Superintendent of Perry Local Schools
The Perry Local Schools: Building Focus Group
A tremendous amount of work went into the developing designs for the four new elementary buildings. To specifically tailor these buildings to suit educators, the district established a “Building Focus Group.” This special group was composed of principals, teachers, special education administrators and representatives from food services, music, and athletics across the four existing schools. This group of 25-30 members met weekly for almost 5 months, to discuss how the new buildings would function. Ryan Schmit, Project Manager for the project commented: “We would meet with the Building Focus Group for an hour or two and go through plan concepts, building feature concepts, talk through pros and cons and then afterwards issue a homework task each week.” He continues, “Each representative would take that assignment back to their groups, then send us additional information. We shaped the buildings according to educators needs. These groups really drove the design of the buildings.”
The involvement from the administration, educators and various community members ensured the design for each school was “staff driven” and was arranged to meet the educational scheme of the district.
The “Building Focus Group,” represented dozens of educators and hundreds of hours of shared design process that was crucial to each new facility.
Concept Imagery for the four new elementary school buildings:
Perry Local Schools – Concept Imagery for the four elementary schools in the district
Unique Identities in the Perry Community
Early in the design process, a “brainstorming committee” was tasked with identifying unique characteristics of the Perry community that could inform the elevations of the buildings. This committee was made of longtime residents, members of the historical society, young people, and alumni of Perry Local Schools. Through many meetings and long conversations, the group identified several qualities of the community which could be reflected in the overall exterior aesthetics of the buildings.
The team identifies four key characteristics. These included Perry’s strong rural and agricultural roots, the patriotic undercurrent in the community, their strong presence in the steel manufacturing industry and the district’s emphasis on performing arts and music in education. These qualities were woven into the architectural exterior of the four new elementary schools to showcase these unique qualities in the community.
Lohr Elementary School – Borrowing aesthetics from rolling fields and the agricultural land that characterizes many acres in the Perry community, the building elevation employs a natural color scheme with masonry patterns on the brick face to replicate the waving fields of corn and wheat commonly found in the surrounding areas.
Southway (Knapp) Elementary School – This school borrows the red brick patterns from historic and current local manufacturing plants, while also surfacing patterns of crisscrossing steel beams on the exterior.
Whipple Elementary School – The façade of this school seeks to reflect American patriotism and a respect for the military through its use of colored masonry. It evokes feelings of pride, formal parades, and appreciation for the freedoms enjoyed in this country.
Watson Elementary School – This school borrows from Perry’s musical tradition by employing contrasting light and dark masonry which evokes an image of musical stanzas to create a playful pattern across the school’s shared spaces.
While each building is unique in its exterior treatment, they share similar layouts, to unify user experience. The exterior patterns root the buildings in the community’s heritage and create a playful and colorful environment for elementary students.
“We shaped the buildings according to educators needs. These groups really drove the design of the buildings.”
Ryan Schmit
Project Manager
New Educational Opportunities
A key design principle for all four schools was to be rooted in the community and allow them to be easily accessed for events and activities. These are “community buildings” and not only do the aesthetics of the exterior signal this, but the parking, entrance and shared spaces were carefully designed to help parents and guests easily navigate each school.
In the early stages of the project, superintendent Scott Beatty remarked: “We’ve learned relationships are important,” the superintendent said. “In smaller schools it is easier to build a relationship with a young person. You have to build interpersonal positive relationships with kids for them to learn and grow.” This led to the decision to ultimately construct four new buildings, within a variety of collaborative features to educate students.
The new schools are flexibly designed to accommodate both traditional education methods along with collaborative learning spaces. Special consideration was given to each building’s “shared spaces,” like the gymnasium and student dining. These can easily be used for a variety of large activities during the day with the gym serving as a large auditorium space. Each school’s media center (library) features special furniture that encourages collaborative group work and adjacent shared rooms where educators can teach outside their classrooms.
The new buildings incorporate better air handling and filtration systems, providing air conditioning and better indoor air quality overall. Daylight is also important and windows in the buildings create brighter and more open indoor spaces. Technology is better integrated throughout the buildings through additional electrical access in classrooms, upgraded internet connectivity and equipment access in the media center.
The project timeline for the completion of the four new elementary schools.
A Future Facing District
All four schools are in the “design development” phase, which is slated to be finished in the fall of 2021. As this phase is finished, the design team looks forward to releasing more detailed renderings of the facilities towards the end of the year. Construction is planned to start in early 2022, with all four buildings completed and occupied for the 2023-2024 school year.
One Key Characteristic Needed by all Architects in Educational DesignEducational design is a rigorous process that involves dedication, technical ability and skill. Developing successful school facilities takes years of work, between district representatives, architects construction professionals and the community. A vast array of talents are used in this type of work, but one key characteristic is needed for any architect in educational design.
One Key Characteristic
“One of the first questions, I ask a potential new employees is, “Why do you like this type of work?” We already know everyone likes collaboration and autonomy, but I want them to dig deeper than that.” says Angela Staedt, PHR, SHRM-CP, Human Resources Director at TDA. Educational design is a rigorous process that involves dedication, technical ability and skill. Developing successful school facilities takes years of work, between district representatives, architects construction professionals and the community. A vast array of talents are used in these projects, but one key characteristic needed for any architect in educational design.
Angie continues, “You can have the most amazing talent in the world and be technically impressive, but if you don’t have curiosity that fuels dedication, then you may not be a good fit in this industry.”
This characteristic informs everything we do as creative professionals and allows us to drive forward despite challenges. We accomplish more than we think because of it. And it is the defining characteristic of our best educators and administrators, so there is no surprise it’s in our architects too.
“Those people who deeply think about this characteristic and explore how it impacts them, they will succeed here. Working collaboratively and autonomously is great,” Angie answers, “but those who are passionate towards education, architecture and communities–they will succeed.”
TDA and What We Do
ThenDesign Architecture (TDA) is an architecture, planning and construction firm, located in downtown Willoughby, operating out of the renovated Junior High School building. During our over 60-year history, we have worked with over 120 passionate school districts in Northeast Ohio, partnering with them to develop unique, innovative, architectural designs that improve the education for the students and communities. Our work is characterized through facilities planning, new construction, building renovation and much more. Our staff is as unique as the districts we serve, and each one brings perspectives and experiences that complement the districts we work with. However, even though we are a diverse team, the one characteristic, passion, fuels all our educational designs.
Join our team!
ThenDesign Architecture is looking for collaborative, innovative team members for a variety of roles including Architects, Revit Modelers, IT Managers, Interior Designers, BIM/Revit Managers. Apply today!
Contact Angie at hr@thendesign.com.
“Passion” – A Key Characteristic
The meaning of the word “passion” has morphed significantly over the years, with it more recently surging in popularity. It is characterized as an “intense enthusiasm for something.” However, even though it now takes a much more positive tone, originally it was derived from the Latin root word “to suffer.”
This somewhat paradoxical meaning makes sense when we understand that our “passion,” that enthusiastic drive, is what helps us make sacrifices to push forward a good cause.
Author Brad Stulberg, describes this condition in his book “The Passion Paradox,” Using the lens of high-performance athletes, he explains that our challenge is to balance a burning desire to achieve, with “overwhelming our sense of balance.” He believes that “Passion isn’t a one-time thing. It is an ongoing practice,” in other words, we are constantly balancing the extremes of drive and sacrifice. That paradox is present in passionate people. Their desire to advance their cause, bleeds into everything they do. “Your passion should not come from the outside. It should come from within.”
This one key characteristic, passion, is a key indicator of success in architecture, especially around educational design. Whether a project manager, or intern, passion is what allows us to succeed.
“Many times we find that once architects start working on educational design, they discover their passion for this work. It’s about giving to the generations of young people who will experience their architecture.”
Chris Smith
President
What Does our Staff Say?
“This isn’t just something I believe, it isn’t something that comes from an HR book, but everyone from the administrative team to our designers have shared this common thread.” From her unique position in HR, Angie recognizes this characteristic in every team member she works with. “It’s coming from our staff who regularly work together as a team. They drive towards the same goal and develop close relationships with one another as well as our clients.
“Passion” is one key characteristic needed by all architects in educational design.
Claire Bank, RA – Project Manager
“I wanted to be in a field that benefited the community, designing buildings that benefited its users. Schools are ingrained in their community and have always served as hubs in some form. Now we are seeing more community aspects woven into them…A lot of people don’t realize how passionate I am about education. I taught Architecture at Kent State for a period of time and I’m also involved in the ACE Mentor Program. I am always trying to find other ways, besides designing schools, to weave education into my work. Maybe it’s genetic, my parents were educators, but I try to weave education into my career as much as possible.”
Ken Monsman, RA, NCARB, CCM, LEED AP BD+ C – Construction Administrator
“There is nothing like seeing students using the spaces we designed at their school. Sitting in class during academic time, using the collaborative areas during lunch and after working in little groups on projects. The space is very flexible and useful for them. Architecture has a profound impact on people. Whether you are experiencing the building as visitor or you use it regularly. It’s very exciting to have a big influence on students by designing their schools. It’s very fulfilling and I’m grateful to have made the decision to join TDA. It has been a good experience for me, there are great people, good management and great projects.”
Cynthia Haight – Interior Designer
“The design of schools is more important today than ever. We have to give our youth a place where they can truly learn and provide their teachers a place that is easy to teach in. That’s the only reason why I feel so passionate about this type of design, it’s fantastic.”
Adam Parris, RA – Project Manager
“When we are given a design problem by a client and solve it, we are appreciated by them. However, you don’t see all the people that are benefited by that space afterwards. In my mind, the best praise you can give to a project is someone who walks in the building, enjoys their time there and walks out feeling like they’ve done what they came to do, and want to come back. Seeing people enjoying the space drives me to continue designing.”
Mackenzie Kicher – Architectural Intern
“Being at TDA was the first time I was exposed to educational design. You most likely went through school but rarely thought about how it works, there’s just so much to it. Designing a science lab is completely different than designing a room for preschoolers or kindergartners. As a student, there is only so much that school can teach you, you just need to get into an office and see how it works. The experiences I have had, I didn’t even know I needed them to be a good architect. Now going back into school, I feel much more passionate about these spaces and confident since I learned them firsthand.”
“Working collaboratively and autonomously is great, but those who are passionate towards education, architecture and communities – they will succeed.”
Angela Staedt, PHR, SHRM-CP
Human Resources Director
Developing this one key Characteristic – Passion
“Staff stay at TDA because they enjoy the people they work with almost as much as what they do every day. One common factor people love it here, is that they realize they are doing something for a much bigger cause creating purpose.” Angie has heard the same comments from many designers at TDA, “It’s something bigger than what they could do alone, it makes a difference in a community for decades, so our work is meaningful.”
If you have a passion or curiosity for educational design, our team would love to connect with you. Passion is a characteristic that can be developed over time but often comes from within. We have found that even if someone isn’t familiar with educational design, once exposed to it, their own passion is ignited and they see the tangible difference they can make in education.
“So this is a continual process, as we develop new skills we can take inspiration from others who have tried things a little differently. Those who drive design forward, and who are passionate about what they do, there is limitless possibility.”
If you are passionate for architecture, and improving the education in communities, both now and for decades to come, we want to hear from you. We are looking for passionate individuals, so visit our Careers page and see how we can work together.
Reach out, and let’s develop a future centered around the passion for good educational design.
Let’s work together to make education better. Interested in speaking with us? Get in touch!
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
One Key Characteristic Needed by all Architects in Educational DesignEducational design is a rigorous process that involves dedication, technical ability and skill. Developing successful school facilities takes years of work, between district representatives, architects construction professionals and the community. A vast array of talents are used in this type of work, but one key characteristic is needed for any architect in educational design.
One Key Characteristic
“One of the first questions, I ask a potential new employees is, “Why do you like this type of work?” We already know everyone likes collaboration and autonomy, but I want them to dig deeper than that.” says Angela Staedt, PHR, SHRM-CP, Human Resources Director at TDA. Educational design is a rigorous process that involves dedication, technical ability and skill. Developing successful school facilities takes years of work, between district representatives, architects construction professionals and the community. A vast array of talents are used in these projects, but one key characteristic needed for any architect in educational design.
Angie continues, “You can have the most amazing talent in the world and be technically impressive, but if you don’t have curiosity that fuels dedication, then you may not be a good fit in this industry.”
This characteristic informs everything we do as creative professionals and allows us to drive forward despite challenges. We accomplish more than we think because of it. And it is the defining characteristic of our best educators and administrators, so there is no surprise it’s in our architects too.
“Those people who deeply think about this characteristic and explore how it impacts them, they will succeed here. Working collaboratively and autonomously is great,” Angie answers, “but those who are passionate towards education, architecture and communities–they will succeed.”
TDA and What We Do
ThenDesign Architecture (TDA) is an architecture, planning and construction firm, located in downtown Willoughby, operating out of the renovated Junior High School building. During our over 60-year history, we have worked with over 120 passionate school districts in Northeast Ohio, partnering with them to develop unique, innovative, architectural designs that improve the education for the students and communities. Our work is characterized through facilities planning, new construction, building renovation and much more. Our staff is as unique as the districts we serve, and each one brings perspectives and experiences that complement the districts we work with. However, even though we are a diverse team, the one characteristic, passion, fuels all our educational designs.
Join our team!
ThenDesign Architecture is looking for collaborative, innovative team members for a variety of roles including Architects, Revit Modelers, IT Managers, Interior Designers, BIM/Revit Managers. Apply today!
Contact Angie at hr@thendesign.com.
“Passion” – A Key Characteristic
The meaning of the word “passion” has morphed significantly over the years, with it more recently surging in popularity. It is characterized as an “intense enthusiasm for something.” However, even though it now takes a much more positive tone, originally it was derived from the Latin root word “to suffer.”
This somewhat paradoxical meaning makes sense when we understand that our “passion,” that enthusiastic drive, is what helps us make sacrifices to push forward a good cause.
Author Brad Stulberg, describes this condition in his book “The Passion Paradox,” Using the lens of high-performance athletes, he explains that our challenge is to balance a burning desire to achieve, with “overwhelming our sense of balance.” He believes that “Passion isn’t a one-time thing. It is an ongoing practice,” in other words, we are constantly balancing the extremes of drive and sacrifice. That paradox is present in passionate people. Their desire to advance their cause, bleeds into everything they do. “Your passion should not come from the outside. It should come from within.”
This one key characteristic, passion, is a key indicator of success in architecture, especially around educational design. Whether a project manager, or intern, passion is what allows us to succeed.
“Many times we find that once architects start working on educational design, they discover their passion for this work. It’s about giving to the generations of young people who will experience their architecture.”
Chris Smith
President
What Does our Staff Say?
“This isn’t just something I believe, it isn’t something that comes from an HR book, but everyone from the administrative team to our designers have shared this common thread.” From her unique position in HR, Angie recognizes this characteristic in every team member she works with. “It’s coming from our staff who regularly work together as a team. They drive towards the same goal and develop close relationships with one another as well as our clients.
“Passion” is one key characteristic needed by all architects in educational design.
Claire Bank, RA – Project Manager
“I wanted to be in a field that benefited the community, designing buildings that benefited its users. Schools are ingrained in their community and have always served as hubs in some form. Now we are seeing more community aspects woven into them…A lot of people don’t realize how passionate I am about education. I taught Architecture at Kent State for a period of time and I’m also involved in the ACE Mentor Program. I am always trying to find other ways, besides designing schools, to weave education into my work. Maybe it’s genetic, my parents were educators, but I try to weave education into my career as much as possible.”
Ken Monsman, RA, NCARB, CCM, LEED AP BD+ C – Construction Administrator
“There is nothing like seeing students using the spaces we designed at their school. Sitting in class during academic time, using the collaborative areas during lunch and after working in little groups on projects. The space is very flexible and useful for them. Architecture has a profound impact on people. Whether you are experiencing the building as visitor or you use it regularly. It’s very exciting to have a big influence on students by designing their schools. It’s very fulfilling and I’m grateful to have made the decision to join TDA. It has been a good experience for me, there are great people, good management and great projects.”
Cynthia Haight – Interior Designer
“The design of schools is more important today than ever. We have to give our youth a place where they can truly learn and provide their teachers a place that is easy to teach in. That’s the only reason why I feel so passionate about this type of design, it’s fantastic.”
Adam Parris, RA – Project Manager
“When we are given a design problem by a client and solve it, we are appreciated by them. However, you don’t see all the people that are benefited by that space afterwards. In my mind, the best praise you can give to a project is someone who walks in the building, enjoys their time there and walks out feeling like they’ve done what they came to do, and want to come back. Seeing people enjoying the space drives me to continue designing.”
Mackenzie Kicher – Architectural Intern
“Being at TDA was the first time I was exposed to educational design. You most likely went through school but rarely thought about how it works, there’s just so much to it. Designing a science lab is completely different than designing a room for preschoolers or kindergartners. As a student, there is only so much that school can teach you, you just need to get into an office and see how it works. The experiences I have had, I didn’t even know I needed them to be a good architect. Now going back into school, I feel much more passionate about these spaces and confident since I learned them firsthand.”
“Working collaboratively and autonomously is great, but those who are passionate towards education, architecture and communities – they will succeed.”
Angela Staedt, PHR, SHRM-CP
Human Resources Director
Developing this one key Characteristic – Passion
“Staff stay at TDA because they enjoy the people they work with almost as much as what they do every day. One common factor people love it here, is that they realize they are doing something for a much bigger cause creating purpose.” Angie has heard the same comments from many designers at TDA, “It’s something bigger than what they could do alone, it makes a difference in a community for decades, so our work is meaningful.”
If you have a passion or curiosity for educational design, our team would love to connect with you. Passion is a characteristic that can be developed over time but often comes from within. We have found that even if someone isn’t familiar with educational design, once exposed to it, their own passion is ignited and they see the tangible difference they can make in education.
“So this is a continual process, as we develop new skills we can take inspiration from others who have tried things a little differently. Those who drive design forward, and who are passionate about what they do, there is limitless possibility.”
If you are passionate for architecture, and improving the education in communities, both now and for decades to come, we want to hear from you. We are looking for passionate individuals, so visit our Careers page and see how we can work together.
Reach out, and let’s develop a future centered around the passion for good educational design.
Let’s work together to make education better. Interested in speaking with us? Get in touch!
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
Memorial Junior High School – An Adaptive Reuse ProjectDowntown Willoughby is home to many historic structures, some of them going back to the 1800’s. Memorial Junior High School is one such building. Built in 1925, ThenDesign Architecture is adaptively re-using this building for our future headquarters. Understand what goes into the decision between renovating a historic structure or building something brand new.
“As architects, we have a professional responsibility to design environmentally sensitive buildings. We also believe strongly in investing in our community. Rehabilitating a historic school building for our new headquarters provided the opportunity to accomplish both.” stated Chris Smith, president of ThenDesign Architecture. Specializing in educational design, and having extensive experience in historic preservation, TDA is perfectly suited to rehabilitate a historic school. The project involved an adaptive reuse of Memorial Junior High School which was originally constructed in the 1920’s into TDA’s new offices. Not only did TDA’s designers have to address concerns around costs, working with the city, planning commission and community, but had to consider the fine line between respecting the historic nature of the building and designing a modern office space.
Tough Decisions
TDA has operated out of historic buildings near Downtown Willoughby, for most of their history. The first building was the St. John House, an old home which the firm moved into in 1991. Then as growth continued, moved to the Carrel Building (1885) in 1998, and now the decision to repurpose and move to Memorial Junior High School (1925) in 2021. The team has always appreciated these spaces and both the aesthetic and historic quality they bring to the fabric of the community.
Memorial, or “Building B,” as many affectionately call it, sat empty for years. It being reimagined, the target of an adaptive reuse project, to become TDA’s new headquarters.
Exterior Photos – ThenDesign Architecture
However, when construction commenced and progressed, community interest has skyrocketed as did public support for the project. We greatly appreciate the outpouring of comments we have received since the beginning of the project.
“Thank you, TDA Architecture! I went there for 9th Grade, and my father-in-law attended the old Willoughby Union High School in the building. Beautiful structure and so many memories!”
“I have respect for any company that takes on such a monumental task to preserve and repurpose a school that is an important part of our city’s history. Thank you!”
“I’m so grateful this lovely, memory-filled bit of Willoughby is being given another opportunity to be a contributor to this charming city. It breaks my heart to see one representation after the next of the design and workmanship of American days gone by torn down and replaced by structures that have no heart nor character. Thank you to all of you who’ve made this happen.”
“So nice to see the building is being repaired and will be occupied by people who appreciate the historical value of the building.”
“What a wonderful way to share your enthusiasm with all of us who care about Willoughby’s charming perseverance! This was such a special place for so many people — including my late dad and brother. Thank you for update!!”
Early on, our staff studied the building and thought deeply about how this existing school could be reimagined and used as a headquarters by an educationally focused architectural firm. This thinking informed the interior spaces, finishes and the construction details. While the construction and renovation process has been challenging, keeping this landmark in the city, reusing the structure, and extending its life through good design has brought many concrete opportunities and intangible benefits for our firm.
Construction Photos – ThenDesign Architecture
“There’s something very special about educational designers being able to repurpose an historic school. This is something symbolic for our team for sure.”
Chris Smith
President of TDA
Construction Updates
A tremendous amount of progress has been made since work commenced in early 2020. After an office wide “Visioning Session” in 2015, the architectural staff worked closely with our interior designers taking feedback from the staff and transforming that into architectural designs. Incorporating technology, expanding workspaces for the designers, adding flexible meeting rooms for collaborative work, and individualized spaces for solitary work, greatly impacts how we can perform educational, planning, and architectural work in the 21st century. Focusing on a concept of education within the building, designers left the structure and utilities exposed. This allows occupants to experience it as a “living architectural museum,” understanding both historic and modern construction techniques.
The “Architectural Studio” is a two-story open space that houses our design teams. This open area supports both collaborative and individual work with room for expansion. Additional offices support additional departments such as Construction Administration, Accounting, Human Resources and Communications. Each one plays a crucial role in educational public design and architecture.
Windows on the façade were upgraded and restored to their original design, featuring rounded half arches. They provide additional insulation against the elements and replace the dated glazing installed in the early 70’s. This brings the building back to its original aesthetic. Utilities such as water, electric and data have been upgraded to support the growing activities of the staff.
An expanded “Flex Café” space provides the flexibility for large or small team meetings, video production and recording, design charettes, along with on-site client meetings that can take place safely when socially distancing.
While the space is nearing completion, the decision to renovate wasn’t an easy one. The team wrestled with whether to use this historic structure in their plans. Ultimately, Chris summed it up well, “Why would we do a renovation rather than just build a new office, especially in this area? Right now, it actually costs us more to renovate the building than it would have to build new, but I think it shows our commitment to the community and to Willoughby…Just because something is new doesn’t mean it’s better.”
Seeing the final renovated space come together, the impact of the reuse is striking.
The decision to renovate an old structure versus build new is a huge decision and one that we have helped many other communities face.
Construction Details – ThenDesign Architecture
Renovate or Adaptive Reuse versus New Construction?
In our K-12 educational design practice, we often collaborate with school districts who are facing the same question we did: “Should we renovate our existing facilities or construct a brand-new building?” This is a difficult question and one that’s not easily answered. However, facilities assessments are one of the many tools we have developed to help districts with this question.
The myriad of considerations are dizzying, but there are a number of overall points to consider.
Bob Orovets, a project architect with TDA, explains there are often three considerations in school design when deciding between renovation or new construction: “The decision sometimes comes down to cost, sometimes it’s the availability of land and sometimes it’s about timing.” He continues: “Often, the cost to retrofit and maintain a building exceeds that of a brand-new building. However, if you want to build a new building, its usually hard to find a piece of land big enough for a school and if you can, the question is, “Is it in the right spot to meet the neighborhood’s needs?”
In addition, architectural technologies have advanced drastically in the last 60 years. Systems for heating and cooling are now high tech, insulation in the walls and windows are much better with new construction and the longevity of roofing membranes is more durable using todays construction methods. Since many schools in Ohio were built in the 50’s and 60’s, environmental factors didn’t play as much of a role and the masonry walls weren’t built with energy efficiency in mind. These structures often lacked heating or cooling systems, so a portion of our renovation work consists of simply installing air conditioning systems into these historic structures. While this can be done successfully, aging building envelopes often leak conditioned air more readily. So, while cost savings happen through retrofitting, maintenance over the years can outweigh savings.
When it comes to both land and timing considerations though, it is a challenge to satisfy both of those at once. Bob recounts, “A lot of times we do schools on the same property, possibly in one corner of the site, so the existing school can operate and then when the new building is done, you can switch over because the school owns the land, and the new building is now finished. Then, the old school is demolished, and you can build sports facilities on this later.” Renovations to a school would mean moving students to an alternate facility to continue their education and if delays happen, it puts educators in a bind. He continues, “So sometimes it’s money-driven, sometimes it’s land-driven, and sometimes its timing-driven. If you are buying land for a new building, be prepared for a wait. It takes time to acquire enough parcels of land and consolidate them into larger portions. You might have to go through rezoning to get the school in a certain area and this could take years.” When it comes to educational design, finding a partner who has done it before is key. Bob, having been through many adaptive reuse, as well as new construction projects sums it up well: “It’s true that nothing’s easy!”
Architectural Character in the City of Willoughby – ThenDesign Architecture
“The project is a significant investment in our city, keeps a great group of professionals in our community and allows for future growth of this expanding design firm. This is a great adaptive reuse of a building that had no other practical use.”
Robert Fiala
Mayor of the City of Willoughby,
Benefits of Rehabilitation, Renovations and Adaptive Reuse
Even though the renovation work at Memorial Junior High School has been challenging, there are several benefits.
Adaptively reusing a historic structure, breathes new life into a “place” in the community. Not only is it more environmentally friendly since there is less waste from demolition, it will potentially attract new activities to an area where they weren’t present before. For Memorial, we seek to extend the activity and energy from the downtown environment further south past Wes Point Park. For this area, it’s just a continuation of our efforts in developing and reenergizing this part of Willoughby.
Speaking about the rehabilitation project, Mayor Fiala of the City of Willoughby and founding partner of TDA who supports continued preservation of the downtown area, commented: “Memorial Junior High School was built in the 1920s. The building was purchased by TDA and is now being renovated. The project is a significant investment in our City, keeps a great group of professionals in our community and allows for future growth of this expanding design firm. This is a great adaptive reuse of a building that had no other practical use.
Buildings like Memorial are part of the historic and cultural fabric community. The construction materials match other surrounding historic buildings creating a cohesive “story” of the City. Since Memorial Junior High School was often photographed, the history of this building will be told well into the future. Many of Willoughby’s residents attended this school going back to the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s, and appreciate the investment in. They view this adaptive reuse project as a way to keep a landmark in Willoughby well into the future.”
While those benefits may seem intangible, the impact on the architects designing future schools, in an historic school holds special significance for the designers. Chris concludes: “Just because something is new doesn’t mean it’s better. In a sense there is an obligation, a responsibility as an architect to be responsible environmentally and responsible towards our community, to retain that history if possible. And let us be honest, there’s something very special about educational designers being able to repurpose an historic school. This is something symbolic for our team for sure.”
Construction Details – ThenDesign Architecture
Key Takeaways:
When considering whether to renovate versus build a new structure, three major considerations are, cost, land availability and timing.
With historic structures that are rooted in a community, intangible factors, such as aesthetic value, environmental context and placemaking may provide reasons to maintain the building through rehabilitation or adaptive reuse.
“Adaptive reuse,” or changing a structure intended use, is more environmentally friendly than demolishing and rebuilding. It uses fewer resources but could cost more in maintenance over the years.
Reimagining an existing structure has the potential to reenergize a neighborhood or community and bring added activity and attention to a locality or city.
Let’s work together to make education better. Interested in speaking with us? Get in touch!
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
Memorial Junior High School – An Adaptive Reuse ProjectDowntown Willoughby is home to many historic structures, some of them going back to the 1800’s. Memorial Junior High School is one such building. Built in 1925, ThenDesign Architecture is adaptively re-using this building for our future headquarters. Understand what goes into the decision between renovating a historic structure or building something brand new.
“As architects, we have a professional responsibility to design environmentally sensitive buildings. We also believe strongly in investing in our community. Rehabilitating a historic school building for our new headquarters provided the opportunity to accomplish both.” stated Chris Smith, president of ThenDesign Architecture. Specializing in educational design, and having extensive experience in historic preservation, TDA is perfectly suited to rehabilitate a historic school. The project involved an adaptive reuse of Memorial Junior High School which was originally constructed in the 1920’s into TDA’s new offices. Not only did TDA’s designers have to address concerns around costs, working with the city, planning commission and community, but had to consider the fine line between respecting the historic nature of the building and designing a modern office space.
Tough Decisions
TDA has operated out of historic buildings near Downtown Willoughby, for most of their history. The first building was the St. John House, an old home which the firm moved into in 1991. Then as growth continued, moved to the Carrel Building (1885) in 1998, and now the decision to repurpose and move to Memorial Junior High School (1925) in 2021. The team has always appreciated these spaces and both the aesthetic and historic quality they bring to the fabric of the community.
Memorial, or “Building B,” as many affectionately call it, sat empty for years. It being reimagined, the target of an adaptive reuse project, to become TDA’s new headquarters.
Exterior Photos – ThenDesign Architecture
However, when construction commenced and progressed, community interest has skyrocketed as did public support for the project. We greatly appreciate the outpouring of comments we have received since the beginning of the project.
“Thank you, TDA Architecture! I went there for 9th Grade, and my father-in-law attended the old Willoughby Union High School in the building. Beautiful structure and so many memories!”
“I have respect for any company that takes on such a monumental task to preserve and repurpose a school that is an important part of our city’s history. Thank you!”
“I’m so grateful this lovely, memory-filled bit of Willoughby is being given another opportunity to be a contributor to this charming city. It breaks my heart to see one representation after the next of the design and workmanship of American days gone by torn down and replaced by structures that have no heart nor character. Thank you to all of you who’ve made this happen.”
“So nice to see the building is being repaired and will be occupied by people who appreciate the historical value of the building.”
“What a wonderful way to share your enthusiasm with all of us who care about Willoughby’s charming perseverance! This was such a special place for so many people — including my late dad and brother. Thank you for update!!”
Early on, our staff studied the building and thought deeply about how this existing school could be reimagined and used as a headquarters by an educationally focused architectural firm. This thinking informed the interior spaces, finishes and the construction details. While the construction and renovation process has been challenging, keeping this landmark in the city, reusing the structure, and extending its life through good design has brought many concrete opportunities and intangible benefits for our firm.
Construction Photos – ThenDesign Architecture
“There’s something very special about educational designers being able to repurpose an historic school. This is something symbolic for our team for sure.”
Chris Smith
President of TDA
Construction Updates
A tremendous amount of progress has been made since work commenced in early 2020. After an office wide “Visioning Session” in 2015, the architectural staff worked closely with our interior designers taking feedback from the staff and transforming that into architectural designs. Incorporating technology, expanding workspaces for the designers, adding flexible meeting rooms for collaborative work, and individualized spaces for solitary work, greatly impacts how we can perform educational, planning, and architectural work in the 21st century. Focusing on a concept of education within the building, designers left the structure and utilities exposed. This allows occupants to experience it as a “living architectural museum,” understanding both historic and modern construction techniques.
The “Architectural Studio” is a two-story open space that houses our design teams. This open area supports both collaborative and individual work with room for expansion. Additional offices support additional departments such as Construction Administration, Accounting, Human Resources and Communications. Each one plays a crucial role in educational public design and architecture.
Windows on the façade were upgraded and restored to their original design, featuring rounded half arches. They provide additional insulation against the elements and replace the dated glazing installed in the early 70’s. This brings the building back to its original aesthetic. Utilities such as water, electric and data have been upgraded to support the growing activities of the staff.
An expanded “Flex Café” space provides the flexibility for large or small team meetings, video production and recording, design charettes, along with on-site client meetings that can take place safely when socially distancing.
While the space is nearing completion, the decision to renovate wasn’t an easy one. The team wrestled with whether to use this historic structure in their plans. Ultimately, Chris summed it up well, “Why would we do a renovation rather than just build a new office, especially in this area? Right now, it actually costs us more to renovate the building than it would have to build new, but I think it shows our commitment to the community and to Willoughby…Just because something is new doesn’t mean it’s better.”
Seeing the final renovated space come together, the impact of the reuse is striking.
The decision to renovate an old structure versus build new is a huge decision and one that we have helped many other communities face.
Construction Details – ThenDesign Architecture
Renovate or Adaptive Reuse versus New Construction?
In our K-12 educational design practice, we often collaborate with school districts who are facing the same question we did: “Should we renovate our existing facilities or construct a brand-new building?” This is a difficult question and one that’s not easily answered. However, facilities assessments are one of the many tools we have developed to help districts with this question.
The myriad of considerations are dizzying, but there are a number of overall points to consider.
Bob Orovets, a project architect with TDA, explains there are often three considerations in school design when deciding between renovation or new construction: “The decision sometimes comes down to cost, sometimes it’s the availability of land and sometimes it’s about timing.” He continues: “Often, the cost to retrofit and maintain a building exceeds that of a brand-new building. However, if you want to build a new building, its usually hard to find a piece of land big enough for a school and if you can, the question is, “Is it in the right spot to meet the neighborhood’s needs?”
In addition, architectural technologies have advanced drastically in the last 60 years. Systems for heating and cooling are now high tech, insulation in the walls and windows are much better with new construction and the longevity of roofing membranes is more durable using todays construction methods. Since many schools in Ohio were built in the 50’s and 60’s, environmental factors didn’t play as much of a role and the masonry walls weren’t built with energy efficiency in mind. These structures often lacked heating or cooling systems, so a portion of our renovation work consists of simply installing air conditioning systems into these historic structures. While this can be done successfully, aging building envelopes often leak conditioned air more readily. So, while cost savings happen through retrofitting, maintenance over the years can outweigh savings.
When it comes to both land and timing considerations though, it is a challenge to satisfy both of those at once. Bob recounts, “A lot of times we do schools on the same property, possibly in one corner of the site, so the existing school can operate and then when the new building is done, you can switch over because the school owns the land, and the new building is now finished. Then, the old school is demolished, and you can build sports facilities on this later.” Renovations to a school would mean moving students to an alternate facility to continue their education and if delays happen, it puts educators in a bind. He continues, “So sometimes it’s money-driven, sometimes it’s land-driven, and sometimes its timing-driven. If you are buying land for a new building, be prepared for a wait. It takes time to acquire enough parcels of land and consolidate them into larger portions. You might have to go through rezoning to get the school in a certain area and this could take years.” When it comes to educational design, finding a partner who has done it before is key. Bob, having been through many adaptive reuse, as well as new construction projects sums it up well: “It’s true that nothing’s easy!”
Architectural Character in the City of Willoughby – ThenDesign Architecture
“The project is a significant investment in our city, keeps a great group of professionals in our community and allows for future growth of this expanding design firm. This is a great adaptive reuse of a building that had no other practical use.”
Robert Fiala
Mayor of the City of Willoughby,
Benefits of Rehabilitation, Renovations and Adaptive Reuse
Even though the renovation work at Memorial Junior High School has been challenging, there are several benefits.
Adaptively reusing a historic structure, breathes new life into a “place” in the community. Not only is it more environmentally friendly since there is less waste from demolition, it will potentially attract new activities to an area where they weren’t present before. For Memorial, we seek to extend the activity and energy from the downtown environment further south past Wes Point Park. For this area, it’s just a continuation of our efforts in developing and reenergizing this part of Willoughby.
Speaking about the rehabilitation project, Mayor Fiala of the City of Willoughby and founding partner of TDA who supports continued preservation of the downtown area, commented: “Memorial Junior High School was built in the 1920s. The building was purchased by TDA and is now being renovated. The project is a significant investment in our City, keeps a great group of professionals in our community and allows for future growth of this expanding design firm. This is a great adaptive reuse of a building that had no other practical use.
Buildings like Memorial are part of the historic and cultural fabric community. The construction materials match other surrounding historic buildings creating a cohesive “story” of the City. Since Memorial Junior High School was often photographed, the history of this building will be told well into the future. Many of Willoughby’s residents attended this school going back to the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s, and appreciate the investment in. They view this adaptive reuse project as a way to keep a landmark in Willoughby well into the future.”
While those benefits may seem intangible, the impact on the architects designing future schools, in an historic school holds special significance for the designers. Chris concludes: “Just because something is new doesn’t mean it’s better. In a sense there is an obligation, a responsibility as an architect to be responsible environmentally and responsible towards our community, to retain that history if possible. And let us be honest, there’s something very special about educational designers being able to repurpose an historic school. This is something symbolic for our team for sure.”
Construction Details – ThenDesign Architecture
Key Takeaways:
When considering whether to renovate versus build a new structure, three major considerations are, cost, land availability and timing.
With historic structures that are rooted in a community, intangible factors, such as aesthetic value, environmental context and placemaking may provide reasons to maintain the building through rehabilitation or adaptive reuse.
“Adaptive reuse,” or changing a structure intended use, is more environmentally friendly than demolishing and rebuilding. It uses fewer resources but could cost more in maintenance over the years.
Reimagining an existing structure has the potential to reenergize a neighborhood or community and bring added activity and attention to a locality or city.
Let’s work together to make education better. Interested in speaking with us? Get in touch!
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
The Big Impact from a Little Green RoofAgainst the backdrop of one of Cleveland’s most popular bars, a small environmental project has made big impacts on the design of a little green roof in dense urban environments.
Against the backdrop of one of Cleveland’s most popular bars, a small environmental project has made big impacts on the design of a little green roof in dense urban environments. In 2013, Claire Bank, an architect with ThenDesign Architecture (TDA), managed a green roof project that was installed on one of Cleveland’s popular “Bike Box” installations and sought to demonstrate a new way to think about sustainability in a concrete jungle. Now, this internationally recognized project has attracted hundreds of professionals annually, showing them a new way to integrate native plant species into an otherwise inhospitable environment.
Challenging Environmental Context
Deep in the Gordan Square Arts District, sits the Happy Dog, one of Cleveland’s most popular bars. This local joint established itself as one of the most welcoming live music venues in Cleveland. Situated on Detroit Ave, in a dense urban environment that historically hosted music and food venues, the owners of the bar, along with partners at the Gordan Square Arts District and local musicians have been able to attract talent from across the country. With a menu that eschews exotic items, they focus on their staple–hot dogs–and offer a dizzying array of homemade and unique toppings. So this menu, with live music and a monthly TEDx style talk with scientists, writers and academics, they maintain their status as an educational, community oriented location.
However, like many venues set in an urban context, this corner bar is adrift in a sea of pavement. Detroit Ave, is a heavily trafficked city street that runs parallel to Lake Erie, through the City of Cleveland, Ohio City and the Gordan Square Arts District. On this busy thoroughfare, semi-trucks, delivery vehicles, city buses, commuter cars, construction trucks and many other vehicles frequent the road. Adding to this activity, is a bike path in this corridor which provides alternate means of transportation and seeks to encourage more pedestrian use.
The impervious city pavement stretches as far as the eye can see. This ground covering is a slick surface that does nothing to slow or capture rainfall that rushes directly into city sewers. During rainy seasons, a common issue in Northeast Ohio, water streams across the road surface, creating flooding and taxes the city sewer systems. Additionally, during winter months, salt, from deicing frozen roads collects in pools and is deadly for most plant material. In addition, vast expanses of pavement contribute to climate change, as the dark asphalt holds on to heat another challenge in urban environments. An overhead canopy of utilities, old signs, fences and telephone poles choke out potential tree covering.
So while there is life and energy in the district, challenges facing most dense urban environments are present here also. However, through intelligent, sustainable design, we can provide nature a way to mitigate rainwater, reclaim runoff, provide shade and beauty.
Enhancing the “Bike Box”
Claire Bank is a registered architect working at TDA and in 2013 was attending Kent State, studying in the graduate Architecture and Urban Design programs. It was here, that her interest in urban design overlapped with Dr. Reid Coffman, an Associate Professor at Kent State, who focused on urban ecology. Since they were located near Cleveland, with its sprawling urban downtown, it was natural to explore ways to improve this environment. Together, they pursued a grant through the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District to fund a green infrastructure project: a small green roof in an unexpected place.”
Claire recounts: “I was doing a number of different research projects around green roofs, so I think the identification of the box and the opportunity came from Dr. Coffman, but I was working with him on a number of other research projects throughout the year, looking actually at green infrastructure for parking garages, which doesn’t sound the most exciting. We were looking at ways to bring green infrastructure into cities that just have so much hardscape and could really use more pervious surface to clean water.”
Thus, Land Studio’s “Bike Boxes” became an unlikely partner in their project. The “Bike Box” was a green transportation project spearheaded by Land Studio, who was focusing on improvements in urban environments. They worked with several local arts and non-profit organizations to repurpose steel shipping containers from Cleveland shipyards and transform them into bike racks in the city. Since each one takes up roughly a single parking space, its goal was to raise awareness for alternate transportation.
Claire and Dr. Coffman’s project centered on taking an existing “bike box” and retrofitted a green roof on it. This was in an effort to create a scalable solution that could mitigate water runoff, provide pervious surface and promote native plant growth.
“So [our] bike box is outside the Happy Dog. It sits in a pretty dense urban neighborhood. There’s a lot of businesses right around it and a lot of street parking of cars as well. So with the initial design and placement of the bike box, it was supposed to take over a parking spot and raise awareness for alternate transportation. It’s like, “Hey, this many bikes could fit in one parking spot” so it is “green transportation.” We also were considering the amount of hardscape and looking to add more pervious surface which gathers water, decreases the flow to storm sewers, cools the surrounding environment and cleans the water. It was the first time that we worked with other organizations pursuing grants to help pay for this improvement. Even the owners of the Happy Dog were excited about the potential to grow culinary toppings for hot dogs potentially on the green roof.”
The Happy Dog, which prides itself as a creative, community friendly, culturally focused venue is now adjacent to urban infrastructure that promotes alternate transportation, sustainable environmental stewardship and has become a laboratory for good design.
Images Courtesy of Kent State University
Green Roof Design
Minor modifications were made to the bike box, but with a small budget of a little over four thousand dollars, they had to make every penny count. “We just started out with the storage container that was turned into a bike shelter. Then we added sides to allow depth for the growing medium. Then we waterproofed it and did a layer of soil and varied the depths of soil to see if different plants did better at different depths. So not only was it designed to be a bike shelter, retain surface water and providing plant material it also was a place to perform plant life experiments in a dense urban environment.”
Many were surprised to learn the green roof doesn’t require much work to maintain it. “Green Roofs scare people, they think it’s going to take a lot of maintenance and that it’s going to leak, but it doesn’t have many layers to it. The planting medium was made of native species and that also doesn’t require maintenance. They survive here and in the years since it was installed they are surviving really well which is interesting.”
Project construction was a huge success due to the efforts of local contractors and volunteers. Claire had coordinated between multiple stakeholders at TDA, but this was one of the first times she took a leadership role. Tasked with finding economical solutions to construction problems, organizing and leading a team of volunteers, and interacting with community members was a big responsibility. Claire recalls, “When you’re planning the project, you think nobody’s going to see this. However, as we were constructing it, everyone in the community saw it and it was pretty obvious that it was good for the community. It was refreshing seeing people that lived in the neighborhood coming out and voicing their support.”
Claire, now a resident in the Detroit Shoreway Neighborhood, sees the bike box regularly now. “It’s been rewarding in the summer, passing by and seeing a lot of interaction with our bike box.”
International Impact and Lessons in Sustainability
Since the project’s completion in 2013, this 149 SF green roof, is an example of sustainable design and was more recently won the “Award of Excellence” from Green Roofs for Healthy Cities. In its small footprint, this green roof demonstrates how cost effective, living architecture in a dense urban environment can integrate with existing infrastructure. It provides stormwater management, reintroduces native plant life, a natural aesthetic and shade into an otherwise difficult environment. Each year, it’s visited by hundreds of professionals and students who are studying it to bring these sustainable principles into their projects. Now maintained by Kent State University, it has contributed to over a dozen research initiatives, including PhD dissertations, journal paper, masters studies and awards. It is a testament of collaboration among stakeholders that leads to a lasting community impact and serves as a laboratory for ecological conservation.
For Claire, as an architect focused on educational design, she draws a variety of lessons from this small project. “I find nature beautiful and that includes plants and vegetation. I’ve always been really interested in how the built environment interacts with the nature. That means integrating nature in the built world to mitigate the impacts of climate change. I think it’s a responsible way to minimize the built environments impact on the natural world.” In terms of deploying these techniques for educational architecture, she notes, “there is an opportunity to use green infrastructure in school districts. All the new schools that are co-funded [by OFCC] have to be LEED Certified. So naturally we’re building in sustainable practices into schools. There’s also more of an educational push for it, where people are aware of a building’s impact on the environment and they’re looking for ways to offset that, while educating those attending the school.”
For now, this small project illustrates how green initiatives don’t need to be pricy or complicated. By partnering with stakeholders, businesses and the community, their team was able to construct an excellent case study for environmental stewardship for use in cities that wish to integrate greenspace and vegetation into the streetscape.
“Having a small project like this, which has such a big impact, gives me hope that it’s achievable at a larger scale. There is no harm in trying to find these opportunities and develop them for the school districts we work with.”
Develop a scalable solution that integrates a small (149 SF), sustainable green roof into the existing infrastructure of an inhospitable urban environment.
The project provides continuing education opportunities and is maintained by the ongoing efforts from Kent State University. It is studied by hundreds of AEC professionals annually. It has also been the subject of over a dozen masters studies, PhD dissertations, journal reviews and awards.
In an aesthetic package, provide a rainwater management solution, that can potentially reduce heat retention in the environment, provide shade to the city street and support alternate transportation.
It serves as a template for how sustainable solutions can be integrated into much larger facilities, providing ecologically responsible construction methods, mitigate rainwater and temperature impacts and use native plant life to soften an otherwise entirely hardscaped environment.
Let’s work together to make education better. Interested in speaking with us? Get in touch!
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
The Big Impact from a Little Green RoofAgainst the backdrop of one of Cleveland’s most popular bars, a small environmental project has made big impacts on the design of a little green roof in dense urban environments.
Against the backdrop of one of Cleveland’s most popular bars, a small environmental project has made big impacts on the design of a little green roof in dense urban environments. In 2013, Claire Bank, an architect with ThenDesign Architecture (TDA), managed a green roof project that was installed on one of Cleveland’s popular “Bike Box” installations and sought to demonstrate a new way to think about sustainability in a concrete jungle. Now, this internationally recognized project has attracted hundreds of professionals annually, showing them a new way to integrate native plant species into an otherwise inhospitable environment.
Challenging Environmental Context
Deep in the Gordan Square Arts District, sits the Happy Dog, one of Cleveland’s most popular bars. This local joint established itself as one of the most welcoming live music venues in Cleveland. Situated on Detroit Ave, in a dense urban environment that historically hosted music and food venues, the owners of the bar, along with partners at the Gordan Square Arts District and local musicians have been able to attract talent from across the country. With a menu that eschews exotic items, they focus on their staple–hot dogs–and offer a dizzying array of homemade and unique toppings. So this menu, with live music and a monthly TEDx style talk with scientists, writers and academics, they maintain their status as an educational, community oriented location.
However, like many venues set in an urban context, this corner bar is adrift in a sea of pavement. Detroit Ave, is a heavily trafficked city street that runs parallel to Lake Erie, through the City of Cleveland, Ohio City and the Gordan Square Arts District. On this busy thoroughfare, semi-trucks, delivery vehicles, city buses, commuter cars, construction trucks and many other vehicles frequent the road. Adding to this activity, is a bike path in this corridor which provides alternate means of transportation and seeks to encourage more pedestrian use.
The impervious city pavement stretches as far as the eye can see. This ground covering is a slick surface that does nothing to slow or capture rainfall that rushes directly into city sewers. During rainy seasons, a common issue in Northeast Ohio, water streams across the road surface, creating flooding and taxes the city sewer systems. Additionally, during winter months, salt, from deicing frozen roads collects in pools and is deadly for most plant material. In addition, vast expanses of pavement contribute to climate change, as the dark asphalt holds on to heat another challenge in urban environments. An overhead canopy of utilities, old signs, fences and telephone poles choke out potential tree covering.
So while there is life and energy in the district, challenges facing most dense urban environments are present here also. However, through intelligent, sustainable design, we can provide nature a way to mitigate rainwater, reclaim runoff, provide shade and beauty.
Enhancing the “Bike Box”
Claire Bank is a registered architect working at TDA and in 2013 was attending Kent State, studying in the graduate Architecture and Urban Design programs. It was here, that her interest in urban design overlapped with Dr. Reid Coffman, an Associate Professor at Kent State, who focused on urban ecology. Since they were located near Cleveland, with its sprawling urban downtown, it was natural to explore ways to improve this environment. Together, they pursued a grant through the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District to fund a green infrastructure project: a small green roof in an unexpected place.”
Claire recounts: “I was doing a number of different research projects around green roofs, so I think the identification of the box and the opportunity came from Dr. Coffman, but I was working with him on a number of other research projects throughout the year, looking actually at green infrastructure for parking garages, which doesn’t sound the most exciting. We were looking at ways to bring green infrastructure into cities that just have so much hardscape and could really use more pervious surface to clean water.”
Thus, Land Studio’s “Bike Boxes” became an unlikely partner in their project. The “Bike Box” was a green transportation project spearheaded by Land Studio, who was focusing on improvements in urban environments. They worked with several local arts and non-profit organizations to repurpose steel shipping containers from Cleveland shipyards and transform them into bike racks in the city. Since each one takes up roughly a single parking space, its goal was to raise awareness for alternate transportation.
Claire and Dr. Coffman’s project centered on taking an existing “bike box” and retrofitted a green roof on it. This was in an effort to create a scalable solution that could mitigate water runoff, provide pervious surface and promote native plant growth.
“So [our] bike box is outside the Happy Dog. It sits in a pretty dense urban neighborhood. There’s a lot of businesses right around it and a lot of street parking of cars as well. So with the initial design and placement of the bike box, it was supposed to take over a parking spot and raise awareness for alternate transportation. It’s like, “Hey, this many bikes could fit in one parking spot” so it is “green transportation.” We also were considering the amount of hardscape and looking to add more pervious surface which gathers water, decreases the flow to storm sewers, cools the surrounding environment and cleans the water. It was the first time that we worked with other organizations pursuing grants to help pay for this improvement. Even the owners of the Happy Dog were excited about the potential to grow culinary toppings for hot dogs potentially on the green roof.”
The Happy Dog, which prides itself as a creative, community friendly, culturally focused venue is now adjacent to urban infrastructure that promotes alternate transportation, sustainable environmental stewardship and has become a laboratory for good design.
Images Courtesy of Kent State University
Green Roof Design
Minor modifications were made to the bike box, but with a small budget of a little over four thousand dollars, they had to make every penny count. “We just started out with the storage container that was turned into a bike shelter. Then we added sides to allow depth for the growing medium. Then we waterproofed it and did a layer of soil and varied the depths of soil to see if different plants did better at different depths. So not only was it designed to be a bike shelter, retain surface water and providing plant material it also was a place to perform plant life experiments in a dense urban environment.”
Many were surprised to learn the green roof doesn’t require much work to maintain it. “Green Roofs scare people, they think it’s going to take a lot of maintenance and that it’s going to leak, but it doesn’t have many layers to it. The planting medium was made of native species and that also doesn’t require maintenance. They survive here and in the years since it was installed they are surviving really well which is interesting.”
Project construction was a huge success due to the efforts of local contractors and volunteers. Claire had coordinated between multiple stakeholders at TDA, but this was one of the first times she took a leadership role. Tasked with finding economical solutions to construction problems, organizing and leading a team of volunteers, and interacting with community members was a big responsibility. Claire recalls, “When you’re planning the project, you think nobody’s going to see this. However, as we were constructing it, everyone in the community saw it and it was pretty obvious that it was good for the community. It was refreshing seeing people that lived in the neighborhood coming out and voicing their support.”
Claire, now a resident in the Detroit Shoreway Neighborhood, sees the bike box regularly now. “It’s been rewarding in the summer, passing by and seeing a lot of interaction with our bike box.”
International Impact and Lessons in Sustainability
Since the project’s completion in 2013, this 149 SF green roof, is an example of sustainable design and was more recently won the “Award of Excellence” from Green Roofs for Healthy Cities. In its small footprint, this green roof demonstrates how cost effective, living architecture in a dense urban environment can integrate with existing infrastructure. It provides stormwater management, reintroduces native plant life, a natural aesthetic and shade into an otherwise difficult environment. Each year, it’s visited by hundreds of professionals and students who are studying it to bring these sustainable principles into their projects. Now maintained by Kent State University, it has contributed to over a dozen research initiatives, including PhD dissertations, journal paper, masters studies and awards. It is a testament of collaboration among stakeholders that leads to a lasting community impact and serves as a laboratory for ecological conservation.
For Claire, as an architect focused on educational design, she draws a variety of lessons from this small project. “I find nature beautiful and that includes plants and vegetation. I’ve always been really interested in how the built environment interacts with the nature. That means integrating nature in the built world to mitigate the impacts of climate change. I think it’s a responsible way to minimize the built environments impact on the natural world.” In terms of deploying these techniques for educational architecture, she notes, “there is an opportunity to use green infrastructure in school districts. All the new schools that are co-funded [by OFCC] have to be LEED Certified. So naturally we’re building in sustainable practices into schools. There’s also more of an educational push for it, where people are aware of a building’s impact on the environment and they’re looking for ways to offset that, while educating those attending the school.”
For now, this small project illustrates how green initiatives don’t need to be pricy or complicated. By partnering with stakeholders, businesses and the community, their team was able to construct an excellent case study for environmental stewardship for use in cities that wish to integrate greenspace and vegetation into the streetscape.
“Having a small project like this, which has such a big impact, gives me hope that it’s achievable at a larger scale. There is no harm in trying to find these opportunities and develop them for the school districts we work with.”
Develop a scalable solution that integrates a small (149 SF), sustainable green roof into the existing infrastructure of an inhospitable urban environment.
The project provides continuing education opportunities and is maintained by the ongoing efforts from Kent State University. It is studied by hundreds of AEC professionals annually. It has also been the subject of over a dozen masters studies, PhD dissertations, journal reviews and awards.
In an aesthetic package, provide a rainwater management solution, that can potentially reduce heat retention in the environment, provide shade to the city street and support alternate transportation.
It serves as a template for how sustainable solutions can be integrated into much larger facilities, providing ecologically responsible construction methods, mitigate rainwater and temperature impacts and use native plant life to soften an otherwise entirely hardscaped environment.
Let’s work together to make education better. Interested in speaking with us? Get in touch!
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
“Architectural Programming” – How a K-12 School Building is Planned”Just how do you plan a new school building?” We get that question a lot from districts and owners at the beginning of their projects. Through our relationships with clients across Northeast Ohio, we have developed systems for success that address the design process known as “architectural programming.”
The architectural design process is intense and spans months, with designers considering a building from many perspectives. Naturally, many of our clients ask, “What is the most important aspect of designing such a big building?”
The answer surprises most of our clients.
A foundational element of building design isn’t in the architectural drafting, detailing or 3D modeling. It’s not in the problem solving sessions or even a thorough and detailed understanding of construction techniques. Those are all significant, but the most important aspect begins well before a building is considered. It is realized early on in the design process and revealed in simple conversations, it’s known as “Architectural Programming.”
Abby Rainieri is the Educational Design Lead at ThenDesign Architecture and regularly engages with districts and architects in the pre-design phase called “Architectural Programming.” Having completed many successful projects, she has developed flexible processes for this phase that include determining project funding, community surveys, public engagement and OFCC design compliance.
Abby recounts, “Many times, our clients come to us, not even knowing what to ask for. This leads us to help them discover what they need and what to ask for. We call it “problem seeking.” It’s a lot of listening, data collecting, assessing a facility and trying to understand the problems they are trying to solve. We encourage conversations and explore multiple solutions with the goal of putting projects on an overall path to success. A lot of the biggest things we need to grapple with as we move into programming and schematic design are established in early planning conversations about the project. It sets the tone for the rest of the design process.”
Design Phases Simplified:
Master Planning and Architectural Programming
“Master Planning” proceeds “Programming” and is also a crucial time for conversation. During “Master Planning,” we seek to understand the unique educational needs of a school district, the condition of their existing facilities, their budgetary needs and any other curriculum requirements. Armed with this context, we have an all-encompassing understanding of who the project will serve. Only then, can we begin programming.
To better grasp “architectural programming,” consider how computer programming works. Software designers need to consider how a proposed program should work, then write the complicated computer code to allow it to function. Throughout this process, they consider how an “end user” ultimately experiences that program and are responsible for making sure the features work for a wide variety of users. When updates are needed, they ensure these additions work cohesively with the existing software.
“Architectural programming” is quite similar. Early in the process, architects and designers work with future building users, clients and stakeholders to understand the features and functions desired for the finished building. Keeping in mind user experience, they create a list of ingredients, (square footage and spaces) that will make up the new building.
At this point, we aren’t even considering a building yet. We are brainstorming and talking through how the building should function in the future and its role in the community. We imagine the key activities inside and ensure enough space is allocated for those purposes. It’s only then that we can start to think about architecture. Once we have a clear idea for how the building should function and a list of needed spaces and their square footage to accomplish these functions, then we can start to think about architectural forms and materials.
The more effort put into the programming phase, the more likely the project emerges successful.
“Many times, our clients come to us, not even knowing what to ask for. So that leads us to help them discover what they need and what to ask for. We call it “problem seeking.”
Abby Rainieri
“As we [document necessary spaces] we move into engagement and work sessions. Our “Educational Visioning Sessions,” are a piece of this, along with staff engagement. We take different user groups or a core team on tours of new buildings, so they can see how other districts have solved space problems. In this initial concept phase, we are getting further into planning and feedback. After that, we begin the traditional kind of architectural process of making diagrams and drawing plan iterations, then continue engagement with the community, the board and the staff.”
OFCC and Project Funding
How each project is funded also plays an integral role in the building process. Many districts find that partnering with the OFCC (Ohio Facilities Construction Commission) allows them to receive financial assistance and be able to build structures that would have been out of reach if they tried to do it alone.
Since 1999, the OFCC has provided over $700 million to districts across Ohio and has been involved in opening over 1,200 new or renovated school buildings. This is a common way districts pursue state funding based on their needs for future facilities. However, rarely does the OFCC fund a project in its entirety. District administrators still need to convince voters to approve school construction bond tax hikes to cover some building construction costs.
How does this impact the programming design phase? In order to qualify for assistance, the school design must follow guidelines directly from the OFCC to ensure the educational needs of the building are met. These guidelines come in the form of a “Program of Requirements” guideline or PORs. The POR is essentially a checklist of spaces and square footage that need to be allocated inside the building. Since each district is different, there are a number of POR options to consider. One option is a “Traditional POR.” This is the most rigid in terms of square footage and spacial requirements, another option is a “Partial Order Reduction POR,” this allows some flexibility in spatial requirements and allocating square footage. Another type of POR is the “High Performance Learning Environment (HPLE) POR” which gives the most flexibility in the design of educational spaces. However this plan needs to be accompanied by rigorous curriculum documentation and support from the district with professional development for teachers which include plans on how to use the spaces in their new curriculum. While flexible in design, this requires the most district planning early on to ensure the new space will work for students.
PORs directly influence architectural design, since they are the starting point–a list of spaces and square footages which need to be included in the building. It is the job of a creative designer to make the most of these spaces within the district’s given budget.
Engaged Learning Environments
“Within the traditional POR, there have been times when districts wanted to create extended learning areas. They wanted to create collaborative learning areas, but they’re not going to go through a documentation and educational visioning process for an HPLE. (Imagine a spectrum of traditional PORs on the left and contemporary student centered learning (HLPE PORs) on the right, some districts may fall in the middle of that spectrum.) We can work within the Traditional POR to make some extended learning spaces.
For the last five to ten years, a lot of districts have wanted to create extended learning areas or flexible learning spaces in their buildings. Since there wasn’t always a vehicle to do that within the “Traditional POR,” we carved away 10% chunks of some of the academic spaces, we’d gather those chunks up in what we called “donor square footage” and we would create those other types of learning spaces that they wanted. There are ways to manipulate and move within the Traditional POR and still design unique learning environments. Another example is to move the space dedicated to a media center or computer lab into classrooms or to other collaborative spaces, so students wouldn’t be confined to a central area but could access these resources in their classrooms. So, there is some flexibility in these plans, all of this planning and initial design takes place during architectural programming.”
Technically, programming is establishing the spatial relationships, quantities and functional solutions for an end user.
Abby Rainieri
Even though the OFCC is known for assisting with funding for public projects, they also help with comprehensive guidance throughout the project, from groundbreakings, to the demolition of old facilities, then to the completion and opening of the new building. They have resources to help smaller districts complete a large project such as a new school building.
“In order to ensure spaces are compliant with the OFCC standards, the architect partners with the OFCC, particularly in the early phases of design. “There’s either going to be a project administrator from the OFCC an OFCC planner, or what’s called an RPC (a Regional Programming Consultant) to check in on progress. So they’re essentially acting as eyes to review and make sure you’re following all the OFCC requirements. They’re the ones that are going to review square footages, and your overall building square footage once we start submitting drawings, to make sure you meeting requirements.”
Open Collaborative Learning Environments:
Architectural Programming: How a School Building is Designed
Having been through the programming phase many times as a registered architect, Abby places a huge important on this initial phase of design. “Technically, programming is establishing the spatial relationships, quantities and functional solutions for an end user.
As architects and designers, I think sometimes, we are too eager to jump into architecture. Sometimes the building owners are too. They’re excited, they want to see pretty pictures and almost immediately want to start planning a groundbreaking ceremony. However, if we set up an approach to program the building intentionally and with an open mind, we setup the successful integration between defining all the necessary spaces and the schematic design. We can create the best, most useful and interesting spaces this way. So that’s why I think architectural programming is so important.”
It’s important to recognize how much of it is about communication and gathering and analyzing data … ultimately we get to design something that serves, kids and young people.
Abby Rainieri
The design phase “programming” is key to a successful project. In this phase the architect, district, and community can imagine (or reimagine) what their building should be. Without being bound by costs, or materials, they can think broadly about how this structure can function, improving the lives of the community and students. Then armed with a list of spaces and square footage, the designer begins laying out diagrams to show relationships between spaces-which are the beginnings of successful architecture.
“Most of those actions, that I just described really don’t have anything to do with architecture. They integrate nicely with it, when we’re ready to go there. But it’s important to recognize how much of it is about communication and gathering and analyzing data. Then with the understanding that this is all K-12 architecture, ultimately we get to design something that serves kids and young people. I mean, come on, that’s just the coolest thing–and why I do this.”
Key Takeaways:
The pre-design phase know as “Architectural Programming,” is a time for conversations focused on how the future space should work.
Conversations between the architect, owner and district are the key to success.
When working with the OFCC, their guidelines will affect what spaces are included in the final building.
As “Architectural Programming” is completed, architects build a list of necessary spaces and square footages for the building. From this information, they create diagrams noting the relationships between spaces.
This pre-design phase sets the tone for the rest of the project. Ideas and needs from these conversations will be “programmed” into the future building.
Let’s work together to make education better. Interested in speaking with us? Get in touch!
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
“Architectural Programming” – How a K-12 School Building is Planned”Just how do you plan a new school building?” We get that question a lot from districts and owners at the beginning of their projects. Through our relationships with clients across Northeast Ohio, we have developed systems for success that address the design process known as “architectural programming.”
The architectural design process is intense and spans months, with designers considering a building from many perspectives. Naturally, many of our clients ask, “What is the most important aspect of designing such a big building?”
The answer surprises most of our clients.
A foundational element of building design isn’t in the architectural drafting, detailing or 3D modeling. It’s not in the problem solving sessions or even a thorough and detailed understanding of construction techniques. Those are all significant, but the most important aspect begins well before a building is considered. It is realized early on in the design process and revealed in simple conversations, it’s known as “Architectural Programming.”
Abby Rainieri is the Educational Design Lead at ThenDesign Architecture and regularly engages with districts and architects in the pre-design phase called “Architectural Programming.” Having completed many successful projects, she has developed flexible processes for this phase that include determining project funding, community surveys, public engagement and OFCC design compliance.
Abby recounts, “Many times, our clients come to us, not even knowing what to ask for. This leads us to help them discover what they need and what to ask for. We call it “problem seeking.” It’s a lot of listening, data collecting, assessing a facility and trying to understand the problems they are trying to solve. We encourage conversations and explore multiple solutions with the goal of putting projects on an overall path to success. A lot of the biggest things we need to grapple with as we move into programming and schematic design are established in early planning conversations about the project. It sets the tone for the rest of the design process.”
Design Phases Simplified:
Master Planning and Architectural Programming
“Master Planning” proceeds “Programming” and is also a crucial time for conversation. During “Master Planning,” we seek to understand the unique educational needs of a school district, the condition of their existing facilities, their budgetary needs and any other curriculum requirements. Armed with this context, we have an all-encompassing understanding of who the project will serve. Only then, can we begin programming.
To better grasp “architectural programming,” consider how computer programming works. Software designers need to consider how a proposed program should work, then write the complicated computer code to allow it to function. Throughout this process, they consider how an “end user” ultimately experiences that program and are responsible for making sure the features work for a wide variety of users. When updates are needed, they ensure these additions work cohesively with the existing software.
“Architectural programming” is quite similar. Early in the process, architects and designers work with future building users, clients and stakeholders to understand the features and functions desired for the finished building. Keeping in mind user experience, they create a list of ingredients, (square footage and spaces) that will make up the new building.
At this point, we aren’t even considering a building yet. We are brainstorming and talking through how the building should function in the future and its role in the community. We imagine the key activities inside and ensure enough space is allocated for those purposes. It’s only then that we can start to think about architecture. Once we have a clear idea for how the building should function and a list of needed spaces and their square footage to accomplish these functions, then we can start to think about architectural forms and materials.
The more effort put into the programming phase, the more likely the project emerges successful.
“Many times, our clients come to us, not even knowing what to ask for. So that leads us to help them discover what they need and what to ask for. We call it “problem seeking.”
Abby Rainieri
“As we [document necessary spaces] we move into engagement and work sessions. Our “Educational Visioning Sessions,” are a piece of this, along with staff engagement. We take different user groups or a core team on tours of new buildings, so they can see how other districts have solved space problems. In this initial concept phase, we are getting further into planning and feedback. After that, we begin the traditional kind of architectural process of making diagrams and drawing plan iterations, then continue engagement with the community, the board and the staff.”
OFCC and Project Funding
How each project is funded also plays an integral role in the building process. Many districts find that partnering with the OFCC (Ohio Facilities Construction Commission) allows them to receive financial assistance and be able to build structures that would have been out of reach if they tried to do it alone.
Since 1999, the OFCC has provided over $700 million to districts across Ohio and has been involved in opening over 1,200 new or renovated school buildings. This is a common way districts pursue state funding based on their needs for future facilities. However, rarely does the OFCC fund a project in its entirety. District administrators still need to convince voters to approve school construction bond tax hikes to cover some building construction costs.
How does this impact the programming design phase? In order to qualify for assistance, the school design must follow guidelines directly from the OFCC to ensure the educational needs of the building are met. These guidelines come in the form of a “Program of Requirements” guideline or PORs. The POR is essentially a checklist of spaces and square footage that need to be allocated inside the building. Since each district is different, there are a number of POR options to consider. One option is a “Traditional POR.” This is the most rigid in terms of square footage and spacial requirements, another option is a “Partial Order Reduction POR,” this allows some flexibility in spatial requirements and allocating square footage. Another type of POR is the “High Performance Learning Environment (HPLE) POR” which gives the most flexibility in the design of educational spaces. However this plan needs to be accompanied by rigorous curriculum documentation and support from the district with professional development for teachers which include plans on how to use the spaces in their new curriculum. While flexible in design, this requires the most district planning early on to ensure the new space will work for students.
PORs directly influence architectural design, since they are the starting point–a list of spaces and square footages which need to be included in the building. It is the job of a creative designer to make the most of these spaces within the district’s given budget.
Engaged Learning Environments
“Within the traditional POR, there have been times when districts wanted to create extended learning areas. They wanted to create collaborative learning areas, but they’re not going to go through a documentation and educational visioning process for an HPLE. (Imagine a spectrum of traditional PORs on the left and contemporary student centered learning (HLPE PORs) on the right, some districts may fall in the middle of that spectrum.) We can work within the Traditional POR to make some extended learning spaces.
For the last five to ten years, a lot of districts have wanted to create extended learning areas or flexible learning spaces in their buildings. Since there wasn’t always a vehicle to do that within the “Traditional POR,” we carved away 10% chunks of some of the academic spaces, we’d gather those chunks up in what we called “donor square footage” and we would create those other types of learning spaces that they wanted. There are ways to manipulate and move within the Traditional POR and still design unique learning environments. Another example is to move the space dedicated to a media center or computer lab into classrooms or to other collaborative spaces, so students wouldn’t be confined to a central area but could access these resources in their classrooms. So, there is some flexibility in these plans, all of this planning and initial design takes place during architectural programming.”
Technically, programming is establishing the spatial relationships, quantities and functional solutions for an end user.
Abby Rainieri
Even though the OFCC is known for assisting with funding for public projects, they also help with comprehensive guidance throughout the project, from groundbreakings, to the demolition of old facilities, then to the completion and opening of the new building. They have resources to help smaller districts complete a large project such as a new school building.
“In order to ensure spaces are compliant with the OFCC standards, the architect partners with the OFCC, particularly in the early phases of design. “There’s either going to be a project administrator from the OFCC an OFCC planner, or what’s called an RPC (a Regional Programming Consultant) to check in on progress. So they’re essentially acting as eyes to review and make sure you’re following all the OFCC requirements. They’re the ones that are going to review square footages, and your overall building square footage once we start submitting drawings, to make sure you meeting requirements.”
Open Collaborative Learning Environments:
Architectural Programming: How a School Building is Designed
Having been through the programming phase many times as a registered architect, Abby places a huge important on this initial phase of design. “Technically, programming is establishing the spatial relationships, quantities and functional solutions for an end user.
As architects and designers, I think sometimes, we are too eager to jump into architecture. Sometimes the building owners are too. They’re excited, they want to see pretty pictures and almost immediately want to start planning a groundbreaking ceremony. However, if we set up an approach to program the building intentionally and with an open mind, we setup the successful integration between defining all the necessary spaces and the schematic design. We can create the best, most useful and interesting spaces this way. So that’s why I think architectural programming is so important.”
It’s important to recognize how much of it is about communication and gathering and analyzing data … ultimately we get to design something that serves, kids and young people.
Abby Rainieri
The design phase “programming” is key to a successful project. In this phase the architect, district, and community can imagine (or reimagine) what their building should be. Without being bound by costs, or materials, they can think broadly about how this structure can function, improving the lives of the community and students. Then armed with a list of spaces and square footage, the designer begins laying out diagrams to show relationships between spaces-which are the beginnings of successful architecture.
“Most of those actions, that I just described really don’t have anything to do with architecture. They integrate nicely with it, when we’re ready to go there. But it’s important to recognize how much of it is about communication and gathering and analyzing data. Then with the understanding that this is all K-12 architecture, ultimately we get to design something that serves kids and young people. I mean, come on, that’s just the coolest thing–and why I do this.”
Key Takeaways:
The pre-design phase know as “Architectural Programming,” is a time for conversations focused on how the future space should work.
Conversations between the architect, owner and district are the key to success.
When working with the OFCC, their guidelines will affect what spaces are included in the final building.
As “Architectural Programming” is completed, architects build a list of necessary spaces and square footages for the building. From this information, they create diagrams noting the relationships between spaces.
This pre-design phase sets the tone for the rest of the project. Ideas and needs from these conversations will be “programmed” into the future building.
Let’s work together to make education better. Interested in speaking with us? Get in touch!
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
Citizen Architect – Robert Fiala, AIARobert Fiala is the founding partner of ThenDesign Architecture (TDA) and the mayor of Willoughby, Ohio. He was recognized as a “Citizen Architect” by the American Institute of Architects and featured in an article detailing his path from architecture to public service.
Citizen Architect – Robert Fiala, AIA
Robert Fiala is the founding partner of ThenDesign Architecture (TDA) and the mayor of Willoughby, Ohio. During his 40-year career in architecture, he has been primarily involved with publicly funded projects, with an emphasis on K-12 educational facilities and civic architecture. Recently he was recognized as a “Citizen Architect” by the American Institute of Architects and featured in an article detailing his path from architecture to public service.
TDA continues to be driven by an “insatiable desire to learn” and the need to improve communities through relationship building, public engagement and design. These principles were the foundations for starting a business with a focus on enriching lives through design. This evolved into a love of public service.
Much of his time was spent designing public works and engaging with communities. This gave him a unique perspective on the positive social and economic impacts of planning and design. This has greatly informed his mayoral role.
“Those opportunities were my testing ground, they showed me that I loved public service and that there are many ways to be a voice and an advocate.”
-Robert Fiala
Recognized as a “Citizen Architect” by the
American Institute of Architects
The American Institute of Architects defines a “Citizen Architect” as a member who uses their talent, insight, and experience to make positive contributions to their community. This is done primarily through engaging in the administrative and legislative political process and embodying the ideals of public service.
The article recounts his path working as an architect and his transition to public service.
The public service bug had bitten Fiala years earlier, however, as his firm worked with leaders in education throughout the state to plan new school projects. “I felt the excitement of engaging with the community,” Fiala said. “I also had an epiphany: I realized that, as architects, we are trained to problem-seek and -solve, then to communicate our solutions. However, with the unique tools that we, as designers, possess, we are rarely at the table in public policy and planning discussions and decisions.”
Through its founding and early years, Fiala made sure tda was built on a different operating model. In fact, under his direction, TDA’s design philosophy—“Think, Design, Act”—had a community- and public policy-oriented feel. The firm is driven by an “insatiable desire to learn” and “to create tailor-made design solutions.” In other words, to accomplish what public officials attempt to accomplish: identifying and executing a shared vision.
Citizen Architect – Robert Fiala, AIARobert Fiala is the founding partner of ThenDesign Architecture (TDA) and the mayor of Willoughby, Ohio. He was recognized as a “Citizen Architect” by the American Institute of Architects and featured in an article detailing his path from architecture to public service.
Citizen Architect – Robert Fiala, AIA
Robert Fiala is the founding partner of ThenDesign Architecture (TDA) and the mayor of Willoughby, Ohio. During his 40-year career in architecture, he has been primarily involved with publicly funded projects, with an emphasis on K-12 educational facilities and civic architecture. Recently he was recognized as a “Citizen Architect” by the American Institute of Architects and featured in an article detailing his path from architecture to public service.
TDA continues to be driven by an “insatiable desire to learn” and the need to improve communities through relationship building, public engagement and design. These principles were the foundations for starting a business with a focus on enriching lives through design. This evolved into a love of public service.
Much of his time was spent designing public works and engaging with communities. This gave him a unique perspective on the positive social and economic impacts of planning and design. This has greatly informed his mayoral role.
“Those opportunities were my testing ground, they showed me that I loved public service and that there are many ways to be a voice and an advocate.”
-Robert Fiala
Recognized as a “Citizen Architect” by the
American Institute of Architects
The American Institute of Architects defines a “Citizen Architect” as a member who uses their talent, insight, and experience to make positive contributions to their community. This is done primarily through engaging in the administrative and legislative political process and embodying the ideals of public service.
The article recounts his path working as an architect and his transition to public service.
The public service bug had bitten Fiala years earlier, however, as his firm worked with leaders in education throughout the state to plan new school projects. “I felt the excitement of engaging with the community,” Fiala said. “I also had an epiphany: I realized that, as architects, we are trained to problem-seek and -solve, then to communicate our solutions. However, with the unique tools that we, as designers, possess, we are rarely at the table in public policy and planning discussions and decisions.”
Through its founding and early years, Fiala made sure tda was built on a different operating model. In fact, under his direction, TDA’s design philosophy—“Think, Design, Act”—had a community- and public policy-oriented feel. The firm is driven by an “insatiable desire to learn” and “to create tailor-made design solutions.” In other words, to accomplish what public officials attempt to accomplish: identifying and executing a shared vision.
New Educational Wickliffe CampusWickliffe City Schools has been ambitiously planning the new educational Wickliffe Campus to house students in a Pre-K through 12th grade facility which will replace the aging city schools in their area. We are honored to present a video animation of the new facility, narrated by Wickliffe High School students.
Wickliffe City School District has been ambitiously planning the new educational Wickliffe Campus to house students in a Pre-K through 12th grade facility which will replace the aging city schools in their area. Engaging with the community, the district has been presenting their educational vision which seeks to address the challenges that students face, ensuring they receive the best educational opportunities possible.
Working together with Wickliffe City School District, we are honored to present a video animation of the new facility. Narrated by Wickliffe High School students, viewers can get an inside look at how the new facility will impact future attendees.
https://youtu.be/3T9NHT1dcPc
Education in Wickliffe, Ohio:
In a News Herald article in early 2020, Wickliffe School District Superintendent, Joseph Spiccia identified his “four E philosophy, Employed, Enrolled, Enlisted or an Entrepreneur” and focused on ensuring these are present in every graduating class. These beliefs are part of a larger motivation to build a future ready education model for all students going through Wickliffe Schools. He and Julie Ramos, the Director of Strategic Innovation, are driven to develop student outcome and seek to expand the format and educational opportunities in the district.
In 2019, voters approved a $60 million bond issue, which allows for the construction of a new pre-k through 12 educational campus which will serve as the single school building for the district. It will replace the aging elementary, middle and high schools. The two story, 204,000 SF building incorporates spaces that will greatly expand opportunities for the curriculum, provide students better collaborative spaces, flexible classrooms and athletic areas, adjacent to a new performing arts center that seats 500. In addition, the new facility allows expansion of the Family Resource Center, a community center that offers free services to many who are in need.
“We need to make sure the curriculum and the programs are broad enough to meet the needs of this diverse group of students.”
Joseph Spiccia
Wickliffe School District Superintendent
“Our priorities are to ensure our students are future ready,” states Superintendent Joe Spiccia. “We need to make sure the curriculum and the programs are broad enough to meet the needs of this diverse group of students. Another priority is to create a culture and environment that takes great advantage of the wonderful tradition of the community yet moves the community forward progressively.”
Project Renderings:
Construction is slated to begin in late spring of 2021 and will take around 2 years to construct. The new facility is scheduled to open for the start of the 2023-2024 school year. We appreciate the opportunity to work with districts to realize their educational goals and develop spaces, such as the new educational Wickliffe Campus which will serve students for decades to come.
Let’s work together to make education better. Interested in speaking with us? Get in touch!
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
New Educational Wickliffe CampusWickliffe City Schools has been ambitiously planning the new educational Wickliffe Campus to house students in a Pre-K through 12th grade facility which will replace the aging city schools in their area. We are honored to present a video animation of the new facility, narrated by Wickliffe High School students.
Wickliffe City School District has been ambitiously planning the new educational Wickliffe Campus to house students in a Pre-K through 12th grade facility which will replace the aging city schools in their area. Engaging with the community, the district has been presenting their educational vision which seeks to address the challenges that students face, ensuring they receive the best educational opportunities possible.
Working together with Wickliffe City School District, we are honored to present a video animation of the new facility. Narrated by Wickliffe High School students, viewers can get an inside look at how the new facility will impact future attendees.
https://youtu.be/3T9NHT1dcPc
Education in Wickliffe, Ohio:
In a News Herald article in early 2020, Wickliffe School District Superintendent, Joseph Spiccia identified his “four E philosophy, Employed, Enrolled, Enlisted or an Entrepreneur” and focused on ensuring these are present in every graduating class. These beliefs are part of a larger motivation to build a future ready education model for all students going through Wickliffe Schools. He and Julie Ramos, the Director of Strategic Innovation, are driven to develop student outcome and seek to expand the format and educational opportunities in the district.
In 2019, voters approved a $60 million bond issue, which allows for the construction of a new pre-k through 12 educational campus which will serve as the single school building for the district. It will replace the aging elementary, middle and high schools. The two story, 204,000 SF building incorporates spaces that will greatly expand opportunities for the curriculum, provide students better collaborative spaces, flexible classrooms and athletic areas, adjacent to a new performing arts center that seats 500. In addition, the new facility allows expansion of the Family Resource Center, a community center that offers free services to many who are in need.
“We need to make sure the curriculum and the programs are broad enough to meet the needs of this diverse group of students.”
Joseph Spiccia
Wickliffe School District Superintendent
“Our priorities are to ensure our students are future ready,” states Superintendent Joe Spiccia. “We need to make sure the curriculum and the programs are broad enough to meet the needs of this diverse group of students. Another priority is to create a culture and environment that takes great advantage of the wonderful tradition of the community yet moves the community forward progressively.”
Project Renderings:
Construction is slated to begin in late spring of 2021 and will take around 2 years to construct. The new facility is scheduled to open for the start of the 2023-2024 school year. We appreciate the opportunity to work with districts to realize their educational goals and develop spaces, such as the new educational Wickliffe Campus which will serve students for decades to come.
Let’s work together to make education better. Interested in speaking with us? Get in touch!
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
Memorial Junior High School – Evolution of an Historic BuildingHistoric buildings often have very storied pasts. What might have started as one type of building may eventually evolve into something very different. When dealing with these structures, architects can find imaginative and creative ways to repurpose them. Memorial Junior High School in Willoughby, Ohio is one example of the evolution of an historic building.
Space to Work, Collaborate, Mentor and Lead
Memorial Junior High School in downtown Willoughby is the future home of ThenDesign Architecture. We are rehabilitating this structure, modernizing the spaces and technology, restoring damaged surfaces and finishes, intending to move our offices here and experiencing firsthand the evolution of an historic building.
Public architecture is rich with opportunities to collaborate with stakeholders. At the start of most of our projects, we advocate for “Educational Visioning Sessions.” These collaborative events bring together a variety of stakeholders including, educators, students, administrators from the school district, architects and the community to imagine what their new building could be. To kick off our own rehabilitation project, we did the same.
The Historic 1923 Building
According to the initial plans of Memorial Junior High School drafted in 1923 by architect Franz C. Warner, a popular educational designer in Cleveland, the building was relatively simple in design. This 2-story symmetrical building resembles an arrow in its floor plan. Four classrooms are located on the first floor, one being a “Domestic Science,” space, another dedicated for “Manual Training” and another 2 generic rooms were situated at the front of the building. These rooms were all connected by a corridor which led to the boys and girl’s locker rooms, along with the main gym. Through the years, this gym served as a lunchroom, a large gathering space and athletic space. The second floor largely replicated the first, with 4 classrooms, a small library and space for additional student lockers.
Future additions were designed at the ends of the building, but these were never completed in the original structure.
Since beginning the project, we have received dozens of stories from people in the community who recount stories of their time in this building. The school made an impact in the lives of the students who traversed its halls, first as a Junior High School, then a high school annex and finally a career center.
With that in mind, great care was taken to preserve this local landmark in Willoughby, as the historic building goes through its next evolution in our area.
Staff Visioning
In 2017, TDA conducted a visioning session with our staff to identify the best ways to utilize the new space. Held at the Paradigm Center, a professional development center at Mentor Public Schools, key design team members prepared presentations and activities to engage the staff on how we can use our new building. This opportunity allowed us to put our “visioning sessions” into practice in a personal way. The day long activity engaged our staff to identify the challenges and opportunities in the new space.
We engaged our staff with a variety of questions, like “How do we want to gather?” “How do we want to share?,” “How do we want to communicate?,” How do we want to produce?,” “How do we want to focus?” and “How do we want to organize?” All this was to draw out feedback on how the new space could be used as a modern architectural office.
Throughout the day, we created lists of existing challenges, needs and requests. Then as an exercise, drew solutions on site and floor plans to address these points.
While we may never get the jacuzzi, on staff chef, weekly DJ, fireplaces, video games or a bank of lava lamps but it never hurts to dream.
However, a key question in engagement was “How do we want to work?.” This question touched on many aspects of the interior of the space and three key points became apparent.
Identifying Building Challenges
First, redesigning the building to support flexible spaces was key. Our design teams work on a variety of projects and each has their own schedules, needs, meetings and stakeholders. So, having a building layout that supports spontaneous meetings and demonstrations was important. Many designers appreciated their dedicated workspaces, but in collaborative design, there isn’t always a need for privacy. So, to support this, we created a variety of spaces that could be used for private individual work or repurposed for open team meetings.
Second, technology plays a huge role in our architectural efforts. Computer infrastructure stores CAD drawings, project imagery and administrative documents which need to be accessible at all times. High powered computers render animations, exporting video productions and graphical presentations. These need to be accessed both locally and remotely. With this in mind, preparing a building that was designed circa 1923, to accept all the modern, internet connected devices is a huge challenge. Since faster and more comprehensive technology was needed, extra time was spent developing a connectivity plan. Ethernet cable runs, the number and placement of Wi-Fi hotspots, conference room connectivity and signal transmission through old construction materials was closely considered. Seamlessly retrofitting technology in the school was a big part of the project and these needs certainly weren’t considered in the 20’s when the building was constructed.
Third, even though the architecture industry is moving towards being paperless, modern architects still have to print and lay out large format multipage documents for review. We still have a large need for storage and spaces to layout these documents and mark them up. (Anyone who has seen our current space understands how important that is!) In addition to this, over half of our staff wanted to find ways to move around during the day. Anyone working in a modern office can attest to fatigue from sitting all day. In order to satisfy this, the over 20,000 sqft building allows for large areas for document review, outdoor spaces, stairs for exercise, a materials library and plenty of open space in the studio allows designers to move freely, reviewing hardcopy work in designated areas while focusing on digital work at their desks.
Having identified the challenges with our current space, we could better understand how to respond to the changing nature of architectural work in our new office.
The Evolution of an Historic Building
In order to incorporate these challenges and opportunities, we developed interior spaces to satisfy each need.
Reception: The new entryway is designed to display a modern space to greet clients and showcase our work. Adjacent to it is a proper mail room for incoming and outgoing drawings and communications. With over a dozen projects running concurrently, we regularly send document packages, RFQ’s, printed boards and other time sensitive materials. Dedicated spaces for these two functions makes for a much better first impression!
Architectural Studio: The largest space in the building is designed as an architectural studio. Located in the former gymnasium, we removed a large portion of the ceiling, making it a 2-story space and allowing for visual connection between the two floors. It is where the majority of architects, interior designers and planners have their desk spaces. It can be creatively reconfigured to accommodate either social distancing or to fit a more employees as needs dictate.
Mezzanine: On the second floor, it hosts additional designers along with separate work areas or “caves” located at the back of the space. Designed with private work in mind, they provide a flexible space for conference calls or where isolation and focus is required.
Flex Café: This large space is the result of combining two historic classrooms together. This flexible open area allows staff to gather as a creative team in discussions, design charrettes, large scale teaching activities or areas for team meetings, demonstrations and training. It also provides a different venue for a flexible work area to move around, when you need to get away from your desk.
Kaehr Conference Room: This conference room is our largest and where client meetings and conference calls are held. Located on the front of the building, this technologically advanced room is equipped with the A/V gear needed to broadcast our larger internal teams and connect them to our clients offsite.
While these plans may evolve in terms of color or texture up until we move in, these spaces depict how the Memorial Junior High School continues to show the evolution of an historic building. We look forward to moving into the space showing its completion next year.
Let’s work together to make education better. Interested in speaking with us? Get in touch!
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
Memorial Junior High School – Evolution of an Historic BuildingHistoric buildings often have very storied pasts. What might have started as one type of building may eventually evolve into something very different. When dealing with these structures, architects can find imaginative and creative ways to repurpose them. Memorial Junior High School in Willoughby, Ohio is one example of the evolution of an historic building.
Space to Work, Collaborate, Mentor and Lead
Memorial Junior High School in downtown Willoughby is the future home of ThenDesign Architecture. We are rehabilitating this structure, modernizing the spaces and technology, restoring damaged surfaces and finishes, intending to move our offices here and experiencing firsthand the evolution of an historic building.
Public architecture is rich with opportunities to collaborate with stakeholders. At the start of most of our projects, we advocate for “Educational Visioning Sessions.” These collaborative events bring together a variety of stakeholders including, educators, students, administrators from the school district, architects and the community to imagine what their new building could be. To kick off our own rehabilitation project, we did the same.
The Historic 1923 Building
According to the initial plans of Memorial Junior High School drafted in 1923 by architect Franz C. Warner, a popular educational designer in Cleveland, the building was relatively simple in design. This 2-story symmetrical building resembles an arrow in its floor plan. Four classrooms are located on the first floor, one being a “Domestic Science,” space, another dedicated for “Manual Training” and another 2 generic rooms were situated at the front of the building. These rooms were all connected by a corridor which led to the boys and girl’s locker rooms, along with the main gym. Through the years, this gym served as a lunchroom, a large gathering space and athletic space. The second floor largely replicated the first, with 4 classrooms, a small library and space for additional student lockers.
Future additions were designed at the ends of the building, but these were never completed in the original structure.
Since beginning the project, we have received dozens of stories from people in the community who recount stories of their time in this building. The school made an impact in the lives of the students who traversed its halls, first as a Junior High School, then a high school annex and finally a career center.
With that in mind, great care was taken to preserve this local landmark in Willoughby, as the historic building goes through its next evolution in our area.
Staff Visioning
In 2017, TDA conducted a visioning session with our staff to identify the best ways to utilize the new space. Held at the Paradigm Center, a professional development center at Mentor Public Schools, key design team members prepared presentations and activities to engage the staff on how we can use our new building. This opportunity allowed us to put our “visioning sessions” into practice in a personal way. The day long activity engaged our staff to identify the challenges and opportunities in the new space.
We engaged our staff with a variety of questions, like “How do we want to gather?” “How do we want to share?,” “How do we want to communicate?,” How do we want to produce?,” “How do we want to focus?” and “How do we want to organize?” All this was to draw out feedback on how the new space could be used as a modern architectural office.
Throughout the day, we created lists of existing challenges, needs and requests. Then as an exercise, drew solutions on site and floor plans to address these points.
While we may never get the jacuzzi, on staff chef, weekly DJ, fireplaces, video games or a bank of lava lamps but it never hurts to dream.
However, a key question in engagement was “How do we want to work?.” This question touched on many aspects of the interior of the space and three key points became apparent.
Identifying Building Challenges
First, redesigning the building to support flexible spaces was key. Our design teams work on a variety of projects and each has their own schedules, needs, meetings and stakeholders. So, having a building layout that supports spontaneous meetings and demonstrations was important. Many designers appreciated their dedicated workspaces, but in collaborative design, there isn’t always a need for privacy. So, to support this, we created a variety of spaces that could be used for private individual work or repurposed for open team meetings.
Second, technology plays a huge role in our architectural efforts. Computer infrastructure stores CAD drawings, project imagery and administrative documents which need to be accessible at all times. High powered computers render animations, exporting video productions and graphical presentations. These need to be accessed both locally and remotely. With this in mind, preparing a building that was designed circa 1923, to accept all the modern, internet connected devices is a huge challenge. Since faster and more comprehensive technology was needed, extra time was spent developing a connectivity plan. Ethernet cable runs, the number and placement of Wi-Fi hotspots, conference room connectivity and signal transmission through old construction materials was closely considered. Seamlessly retrofitting technology in the school was a big part of the project and these needs certainly weren’t considered in the 20’s when the building was constructed.
Third, even though the architecture industry is moving towards being paperless, modern architects still have to print and lay out large format multipage documents for review. We still have a large need for storage and spaces to layout these documents and mark them up. (Anyone who has seen our current space understands how important that is!) In addition to this, over half of our staff wanted to find ways to move around during the day. Anyone working in a modern office can attest to fatigue from sitting all day. In order to satisfy this, the over 20,000 sqft building allows for large areas for document review, outdoor spaces, stairs for exercise, a materials library and plenty of open space in the studio allows designers to move freely, reviewing hardcopy work in designated areas while focusing on digital work at their desks.
Having identified the challenges with our current space, we could better understand how to respond to the changing nature of architectural work in our new office.
The Evolution of an Historic Building
In order to incorporate these challenges and opportunities, we developed interior spaces to satisfy each need.
Reception: The new entryway is designed to display a modern space to greet clients and showcase our work. Adjacent to it is a proper mail room for incoming and outgoing drawings and communications. With over a dozen projects running concurrently, we regularly send document packages, RFQ’s, printed boards and other time sensitive materials. Dedicated spaces for these two functions makes for a much better first impression!
Architectural Studio: The largest space in the building is designed as an architectural studio. Located in the former gymnasium, we removed a large portion of the ceiling, making it a 2-story space and allowing for visual connection between the two floors. It is where the majority of architects, interior designers and planners have their desk spaces. It can be creatively reconfigured to accommodate either social distancing or to fit a more employees as needs dictate.
Mezzanine: On the second floor, it hosts additional designers along with separate work areas or “caves” located at the back of the space. Designed with private work in mind, they provide a flexible space for conference calls or where isolation and focus is required.
Flex Café: This large space is the result of combining two historic classrooms together. This flexible open area allows staff to gather as a creative team in discussions, design charrettes, large scale teaching activities or areas for team meetings, demonstrations and training. It also provides a different venue for a flexible work area to move around, when you need to get away from your desk.
Kaehr Conference Room: This conference room is our largest and where client meetings and conference calls are held. Located on the front of the building, this technologically advanced room is equipped with the A/V gear needed to broadcast our larger internal teams and connect them to our clients offsite.
While these plans may evolve in terms of color or texture up until we move in, these spaces depict how the Memorial Junior High School continues to show the evolution of an historic building. We look forward to moving into the space showing its completion next year.
Let’s work together to make education better. Interested in speaking with us? Get in touch!
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
“Educational Visioning Sessions” – Imagining Better Ways to EducateEducational Visioning Sessions are collaborative planning events, that allow architects, educators and students to ensure a future school construction project is successful. Working together, they identify goals, priorities and design solutions from a wide variety of perspectives. A robust Educational Visioning session encourages attendees to imagine better ways to educate generations of students through good design.
“Educational Visioning Sessions” are collaborative events that allow architects, school districts and the community to imagine all the ways a new school facility can provide better student opportunities. Early in the design process, they establish project goals, design challenges and priorities, along with introducing the architects and solidify relationships between stakeholders. It also provides a glimpse into how these new spaces will further the school district’s curriculum. During Educational Visioning Sessions, we are free to think openly, unencumbered with budget numbers, square footage totals and headcounts. We can imagine how this new building will positively affect our district, our educators, and the future of our community.
Facility Design – A Big Decision
According to the 2020 Facilities & Construction Brief by Spaces4Learning, educational spending has continually increased since 2013. As of 2019, the United States spends $98 billion dollars on educational construction projects annually. As the US population increases, so does the need for schools, colleges and research institutions. With the educational landscape shifting rapidly over the last several years due to technology changes, updated facilities are a necessity, attracting the best students and educators. Even though capital investment has generally increased, facilities’ needs have outpaced funding. The project backlog is unending and makes relationships between educational institutions and the AEC industry more important than ever.
While the decision to begin a new school construction project (including renovations to existing buildings) is thrilling, it is also incredibly stressful. Often years of preparation go into it, with dozens of people involved. Steps such as securing funding, passing bond issues, levies, existing facility assessments and master planning all lead up to the decision to build a new school. Since all budgets are limited, it’s necessary for every dollar spent to bring the maximum return for each district.
“Problem Seeking”
Abby Raineri, a lead designer at TDA regularly engages with districts and architects early in the design process. She is familiar with seeking out the needs of each district.
“Many times, our clients come to us, not even knowing what to ask for. So that leads us to help them discover what they need and what to ask for. We call it “problem seeking.” It’s a lot of listening, data collecting, assessing a facility, and trying to figure out the problems they are trying to solve. We encourage conversations and explore multiple solutions with the goal of putting projects on an overall path to success. A lot of the biggest things we need to grapple with as we move into programming and schematic design, are established in early planning conversations about the project. It sets the tone for the rest of the design process.”
If communication between the district, community and architect aren’t realized, then the project is primed for failure. These relationships drive a projects success. By getting a wide variety of perspectives and identifying any roadblocks early on, it ensures the new school satisfies both the present and future needs of the community.
Educational Visioning Sessions
Early phases of design include an Educational Visioning Session. These unique events bring teachers, students, administrators, board members, local safety forces, community members and clergy together to discuss the project and ultimately serve as the genesis of the design. It’s not uncommon to have over 100 people in attendance taking part in these initial conversations. Ideas for the future building generated by participants are shared in round-table discussions and other interactive group activities. Grassroots ideas from those who will use the new structure are distilled and streamed into future plans. This is a time for architects to listen and capture the concerns and goals from these groups that will inform our design process.
They are a collaborative activity that results in a comprehensive planning tool for an educational institution. This session, often scheduled for the project kickoff, runs concurrently with the programming phase, usually long before we are thinking about the building’s shape. Everything is thrown against the wall (before we have designed walls to throw things at).
While all Educational Visioning Sessions are uniquely tailored to our clients, they can range from a few hours or last an entire day, depending on needs. They include presentations from the design team on the current state of education, the district’s desired curriculum, the current facilities and their limitations and cover plans for the future facility. The team presents case studies for how similar districts have handled facility upgrades, before we break out into small group discussions and other hands-on activities. These activities are designed to capture unique ideas for design solutions and get a sense of the visual direction for the project.
While our current circumstances don’t allow us to meet in large groups in the same way, we have a fully staffed communications department that enables us to perform these engagement sessions through staff polling, video production and other digital feedback activities.
This collaboration is why districts return to us again and again to provide architectural and planning services. We listen to our client’s needs and empower them to drive the initial designs and produce a completely unique building. This diversity of input is a hallmark of our design strategy and one element that strengthens our portfolio.
“Many times, our clients come to us, not even knowing what to ask for. So that leads us to help them discover what they need and what to ask for. We call it “problems seeking.”
ABBY RAINERI
Registered Architect
Continuing Education
Engagement doesn’t stop at the Visioning Sessions early in the project but continues throughout the design process. During the planning and construction phases of design, TDA engages educators in training sessions as the project’s completion approaches. At these events, project designers, along with future occupants, attend a series of meetings dedicated to coaching and professional development. These sessions also include, brainstorming activities and interactive projects, that are geared towards training educators and administrators on ways to engage students in their new building. They are invaluable for collaboratively rethinking the way educational spaces can be used to promote student learning. This crucial component is a link between the early Educational Visioning Sessions and a fully occupied building.
Abby notes the importance of continually mining feedback from stakeholders. “Early on during the “programming phase” of building design, we move into engagement and work sessions. Our “Educational Visioning Sessions,” are a piece of this, along with staff engagement. We take different user groups or a core team on tours of new buildings, so they can see how other districts have solved space problems. In this initial concept phase, we are getting further into planning and feedback. After that, we begin the traditional kind of architectural process of making diagrams and drawing plan iterations, then continue engagement with the community, the board and the staff.”
Then, through exit interviews and teacher surveys, we measure how these architectural designs impact the education experience. We have found significant benefits such as reduced behavioral issues in the classroom, increased teaching time, and additional opportunities for student collaboration. All of these ensure that each student receives the best education possible.
We encourage student engagement throughout the process and have led student oriented charettes allowing them to help design new playgrounds, walk the construction site for facility updates and take an active role in construction by placing stones in a structure’s foundation before the floor slab is poured or by signing their names on beams before installation.
In addition, we hold community meetings during Schematic Design and Design Development to update the public on the building layout, getting their feedback on how the exterior of the building develops. We believe that professional educators should influence the design of the interior of the building and the community determines the exterior aesthetic. We have developed a number of interactive exercises to gauge what aesthetic the community feels most strongly about.
In short, we intentionally emphasize the needs of people and their experience as much as the building itself.
“So, it was a process of even delineating which goals were important to them or not. The architect shouldn’t necessarily drive the stakeholder’s goals. It’s their building, so they need to tell us what’s important.”
ED SHEARSON
Registered Architect
Ideas Come from Anywhere
We find that great ideas often come from very unconventional places. Chris Smith, TDA’s president recalled an instance where ideas on school security came from a third-grade student. He recounts: “We believe good ideas can come from anywhere and that means from anybody…We’ve had the strangest ideas come from the coolest places. When we were investigating school security and the potential of armed intruders, we were on the forefront of designing those guidelines. We actually got an idea from a young student in one of our collaborative processes and our Educational Visioning Sessions. They came up with an idea to color code the building so that if there was an intruder in their elementary school, they could say “the bad person is in the red part of the building or the blue part of the building.” That led to some very intuitive design standards that are still enforced today and it came from a third-grade student. So, the educational design process with school buildings in general is a very collaborative process, not only collaborative with our own designers but with the public at large.”
In another instance on the recently opened Garrett Morgan High School, the idea to split the building into two sections [public and school related functions] with a connecting bridge, came from a councilman involved at an educational visioning session. Jeff Henderson, a lead architect on the project mentioned: “We were on a very urban, commercial street, Detroit Ave. There was a desire not to have parking along the street, but still keep the front entrance there. That would force occupants to park on the opposite side of the site and walk all the way around the building. The councilman that was involved says, “I don’t want anybody to have to walk around the building, I want them to walk to the front door, which wants to be on Detroit Ave.” So that comment in part, resulted in the solution where we fractured the building into 2 sections and put a bridge on the second floor. This allowed everybody to circulate right from the parking lot, underneath the building and into the front door. So that was a big design challenge that was addressed in a collaborative session.”
Ed Shearson, who served as Project Manager on that building recalled: “There was a large stakeholder meeting early on in the project and it involved representatives from Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD), the City of Cleveland, Gordon Square Planning Commission and local residents. We developed an inventory of goals for the site and they voted on that. Just because the architect notes a goal, that doesn’t mean it’s a goal the stakeholders share. So, it was a process of even delineating which goals were important to them or not. The architect shouldn’t necessarily drive the stakeholder’s goals. It’s their building, so they need to tell us what’s important.”
We believe that this collaboration and relationship building makes our process unique and successful. Educational Visioning Sessions establish a clear vision forward and how a district can use their new building to benefit students. It is an opportunity to build trust, develop support and champions for the project and incorporate the needs of the stakeholders into the finished building.
Key Takeaways
Relationships and communication (especially early on) are crucial to identifying design problems and implementing solutions.
“Educational Visioning Sessions” are key to brainstorming how a new building project will impact the community. This is also a time to talk through the district’s goals for implementing the curriculum in their new spaces.
By engaging in a variety of interactive activities, among various stakeholders, we can ensure everyone’s voice is heard and the concerns are prioritized.
Educators should take part in these important sessions. It allows them to provide direct input on future designs of their new building. They can also see how new spaces could be used to enhance their education plans.
Interesting design ideas can come from anyone, not just professional designers. By including a wide variety of stakeholders, (students, administrators, parents, and community members) these sessions grant additional perspectives on large projects and ensures the final designs are tailored to that community.
Let’s work together to make education better. Interested in speaking with us? Get in touch!
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
“Educational Visioning Sessions” – Imagining Better Ways to EducateEducational Visioning Sessions are collaborative planning events, that allow architects, educators and students to ensure a future school construction project is successful. Working together, they identify goals, priorities and design solutions from a wide variety of perspectives. A robust Educational Visioning session encourages attendees to imagine better ways to educate generations of students through good design.
“Educational Visioning Sessions” are collaborative events that allow architects, school districts and the community to imagine all the ways a new school facility can provide better student opportunities. Early in the design process, they establish project goals, design challenges and priorities, along with introducing the architects and solidify relationships between stakeholders. It also provides a glimpse into how these new spaces will further the school district’s curriculum. During Educational Visioning Sessions, we are free to think openly, unencumbered with budget numbers, square footage totals and headcounts. We can imagine how this new building will positively affect our district, our educators, and the future of our community.
Facility Design – A Big Decision
According to the 2020 Facilities & Construction Brief by Spaces4Learning, educational spending has continually increased since 2013. As of 2019, the United States spends $98 billion dollars on educational construction projects annually. As the US population increases, so does the need for schools, colleges and research institutions. With the educational landscape shifting rapidly over the last several years due to technology changes, updated facilities are a necessity, attracting the best students and educators. Even though capital investment has generally increased, facilities’ needs have outpaced funding. The project backlog is unending and makes relationships between educational institutions and the AEC industry more important than ever.
While the decision to begin a new school construction project (including renovations to existing buildings) is thrilling, it is also incredibly stressful. Often years of preparation go into it, with dozens of people involved. Steps such as securing funding, passing bond issues, levies, existing facility assessments and master planning all lead up to the decision to build a new school. Since all budgets are limited, it’s necessary for every dollar spent to bring the maximum return for each district.
“Problem Seeking”
Abby Raineri, a lead designer at TDA regularly engages with districts and architects early in the design process. She is familiar with seeking out the needs of each district.
“Many times, our clients come to us, not even knowing what to ask for. So that leads us to help them discover what they need and what to ask for. We call it “problem seeking.” It’s a lot of listening, data collecting, assessing a facility, and trying to figure out the problems they are trying to solve. We encourage conversations and explore multiple solutions with the goal of putting projects on an overall path to success. A lot of the biggest things we need to grapple with as we move into programming and schematic design, are established in early planning conversations about the project. It sets the tone for the rest of the design process.”
If communication between the district, community and architect aren’t realized, then the project is primed for failure. These relationships drive a projects success. By getting a wide variety of perspectives and identifying any roadblocks early on, it ensures the new school satisfies both the present and future needs of the community.
Educational Visioning Sessions
Early phases of design include an Educational Visioning Session. These unique events bring teachers, students, administrators, board members, local safety forces, community members and clergy together to discuss the project and ultimately serve as the genesis of the design. It’s not uncommon to have over 100 people in attendance taking part in these initial conversations. Ideas for the future building generated by participants are shared in round-table discussions and other interactive group activities. Grassroots ideas from those who will use the new structure are distilled and streamed into future plans. This is a time for architects to listen and capture the concerns and goals from these groups that will inform our design process.
They are a collaborative activity that results in a comprehensive planning tool for an educational institution. This session, often scheduled for the project kickoff, runs concurrently with the programming phase, usually long before we are thinking about the building’s shape. Everything is thrown against the wall (before we have designed walls to throw things at).
While all Educational Visioning Sessions are uniquely tailored to our clients, they can range from a few hours or last an entire day, depending on needs. They include presentations from the design team on the current state of education, the district’s desired curriculum, the current facilities and their limitations and cover plans for the future facility. The team presents case studies for how similar districts have handled facility upgrades, before we break out into small group discussions and other hands-on activities. These activities are designed to capture unique ideas for design solutions and get a sense of the visual direction for the project.
While our current circumstances don’t allow us to meet in large groups in the same way, we have a fully staffed communications department that enables us to perform these engagement sessions through staff polling, video production and other digital feedback activities.
This collaboration is why districts return to us again and again to provide architectural and planning services. We listen to our client’s needs and empower them to drive the initial designs and produce a completely unique building. This diversity of input is a hallmark of our design strategy and one element that strengthens our portfolio.
“Many times, our clients come to us, not even knowing what to ask for. So that leads us to help them discover what they need and what to ask for. We call it “problems seeking.”
ABBY RAINERI
Registered Architect
Continuing Education
Engagement doesn’t stop at the Visioning Sessions early in the project but continues throughout the design process. During the planning and construction phases of design, TDA engages educators in training sessions as the project’s completion approaches. At these events, project designers, along with future occupants, attend a series of meetings dedicated to coaching and professional development. These sessions also include, brainstorming activities and interactive projects, that are geared towards training educators and administrators on ways to engage students in their new building. They are invaluable for collaboratively rethinking the way educational spaces can be used to promote student learning. This crucial component is a link between the early Educational Visioning Sessions and a fully occupied building.
Abby notes the importance of continually mining feedback from stakeholders. “Early on during the “programming phase” of building design, we move into engagement and work sessions. Our “Educational Visioning Sessions,” are a piece of this, along with staff engagement. We take different user groups or a core team on tours of new buildings, so they can see how other districts have solved space problems. In this initial concept phase, we are getting further into planning and feedback. After that, we begin the traditional kind of architectural process of making diagrams and drawing plan iterations, then continue engagement with the community, the board and the staff.”
Then, through exit interviews and teacher surveys, we measure how these architectural designs impact the education experience. We have found significant benefits such as reduced behavioral issues in the classroom, increased teaching time, and additional opportunities for student collaboration. All of these ensure that each student receives the best education possible.
We encourage student engagement throughout the process and have led student oriented charettes allowing them to help design new playgrounds, walk the construction site for facility updates and take an active role in construction by placing stones in a structure’s foundation before the floor slab is poured or by signing their names on beams before installation.
In addition, we hold community meetings during Schematic Design and Design Development to update the public on the building layout, getting their feedback on how the exterior of the building develops. We believe that professional educators should influence the design of the interior of the building and the community determines the exterior aesthetic. We have developed a number of interactive exercises to gauge what aesthetic the community feels most strongly about.
In short, we intentionally emphasize the needs of people and their experience as much as the building itself.
“So, it was a process of even delineating which goals were important to them or not. The architect shouldn’t necessarily drive the stakeholder’s goals. It’s their building, so they need to tell us what’s important.”
ED SHEARSON
Registered Architect
Ideas Come from Anywhere
We find that great ideas often come from very unconventional places. Chris Smith, TDA’s president recalled an instance where ideas on school security came from a third-grade student. He recounts: “We believe good ideas can come from anywhere and that means from anybody…We’ve had the strangest ideas come from the coolest places. When we were investigating school security and the potential of armed intruders, we were on the forefront of designing those guidelines. We actually got an idea from a young student in one of our collaborative processes and our Educational Visioning Sessions. They came up with an idea to color code the building so that if there was an intruder in their elementary school, they could say “the bad person is in the red part of the building or the blue part of the building.” That led to some very intuitive design standards that are still enforced today and it came from a third-grade student. So, the educational design process with school buildings in general is a very collaborative process, not only collaborative with our own designers but with the public at large.”
In another instance on the recently opened Garrett Morgan High School, the idea to split the building into two sections [public and school related functions] with a connecting bridge, came from a councilman involved at an educational visioning session. Jeff Henderson, a lead architect on the project mentioned: “We were on a very urban, commercial street, Detroit Ave. There was a desire not to have parking along the street, but still keep the front entrance there. That would force occupants to park on the opposite side of the site and walk all the way around the building. The councilman that was involved says, “I don’t want anybody to have to walk around the building, I want them to walk to the front door, which wants to be on Detroit Ave.” So that comment in part, resulted in the solution where we fractured the building into 2 sections and put a bridge on the second floor. This allowed everybody to circulate right from the parking lot, underneath the building and into the front door. So that was a big design challenge that was addressed in a collaborative session.”
Ed Shearson, who served as Project Manager on that building recalled: “There was a large stakeholder meeting early on in the project and it involved representatives from Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD), the City of Cleveland, Gordon Square Planning Commission and local residents. We developed an inventory of goals for the site and they voted on that. Just because the architect notes a goal, that doesn’t mean it’s a goal the stakeholders share. So, it was a process of even delineating which goals were important to them or not. The architect shouldn’t necessarily drive the stakeholder’s goals. It’s their building, so they need to tell us what’s important.”
We believe that this collaboration and relationship building makes our process unique and successful. Educational Visioning Sessions establish a clear vision forward and how a district can use their new building to benefit students. It is an opportunity to build trust, develop support and champions for the project and incorporate the needs of the stakeholders into the finished building.
Key Takeaways
Relationships and communication (especially early on) are crucial to identifying design problems and implementing solutions.
“Educational Visioning Sessions” are key to brainstorming how a new building project will impact the community. This is also a time to talk through the district’s goals for implementing the curriculum in their new spaces.
By engaging in a variety of interactive activities, among various stakeholders, we can ensure everyone’s voice is heard and the concerns are prioritized.
Educators should take part in these important sessions. It allows them to provide direct input on future designs of their new building. They can also see how new spaces could be used to enhance their education plans.
Interesting design ideas can come from anyone, not just professional designers. By including a wide variety of stakeholders, (students, administrators, parents, and community members) these sessions grant additional perspectives on large projects and ensures the final designs are tailored to that community.
Let’s work together to make education better. Interested in speaking with us? Get in touch!
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
Groundbreaking on a New Geauga County Office BuildingThenDesign Architecture gathered with over 30 people in Claridon township to celebrate the groundbreaking of a new Geauga County office building to house city services.
On a windy day in late October, over 30 people gathered in Claridon township to celebrate the groundbreaking on a new Geauga County office building that will house city services. Beginning construction marks another milestone in the 4-plus year process for this project. In attendance were several county commissioners, such as the Board of Commissioners President, Tim Lennon, along with other county commissioners, Ralph Spidalieri, James Dvorak and others. The ceremony was led by County Administrator, Gerry Morgan, who gave remarks and it also included an appearance from Jerry Cirino, a county commissioner in neighboring Lake County. Those involved in the construction process, NV5’s Mark Seifried, ThenDesign Architecture’s Robert Fiala and Don Dreier of Donley’s Independence Construction spoke to support the project.
https://youtu.be/4L8f0N6MhWg
With a planned building occupancy in 2022, the 3-story office building is over 115,000 square feet and consolidates over a dozen Geauga County services in one building. With an exterior designed to complement the wooded site, this completed building will streamline the communication process between departments, encourage greater collaboration and provide an improved working environment to serve Geauga County for years to come. Those who spoke recognized the efforts of past commissioners, who purchased the land in the 1970’s, and dedicated it in the 1980’s.
Gerry Morgan, County Administrator praised the county leadership and their partners for guiding the project through ups and downs, addressing various roadblocks but pressing forward with development, ensuring a new building was feasible. A continual theme throughout the ceremony was praise for the dynamic team that made this large scale project possible. It was only through this collaboration that a successful design was created and that the team could move forward together with construction.
Tim Lennon praised the project, along with the collaborative efforts of University Hospitals and Geauga County: “There is much synergy between the hospital [University Hospitals] and County Services. You have the department of Aging, Job and Family Services, Veteran Services, just to name a few. The future potential for where we are standing today is huge…this can be a destination for residents of Geauga County and beyond, providing not only Health and County Services, but potentially business opportunities as well.”
“This is a big day, an historic day. A milestone of brick and mortar. This building will be a building of service to the people, and it will show a sense of community, a sense of pride, and it will help produce the Geauga way of life.”
James Dvorak
Geauga County Commissioner
NV5, an architectural and engineering firm which serves as an owner’s representative will continue to work with ThenDesign Architecture (TDA) and Donley’s Independence Construction to see the project through completion. Representatives from all the respective firms attended, looking forward to what the new Geauga County office will mean for the county.
Lake County recently completed a 5-story office building in Painesville, Ohio that consolidated many county services under one roof. Jerry Cirino described the benefits of this approach. “What’s most important, and I think it’ll be the same for you, is it has allowed us to provide better services, more efficient services to the taxpayers of our county. I’m sure your residents are going to find the same thing here. The flow of information, the flow of paying fees and getting documentation done is going to be much improved by having more under one roof. So, you’ll enjoy that, the taxpayers will enjoy it and I’m looking forward to seeing the progress of this project, until its completion.”
The architect’s renderings show open interiors, views to the exterior and a variety of common areas and meeting spaces for office workers. Many of those in attendance looked forward to relocating and enjoying the updated interior of the facility.
Project Renderings:
In a testament to the fiscal responsibility of the administrators involved in this project, it is being funded out of the current general fund budget, so there will no new taxes as a result of the new facility. Tim Lennon states: “I have to mention that I am very proud of that from the very beginning discussions four years ago, the commissioners made it criteria “number one” that we do this project within current general fund budget. That means no new taxes. No new taxes! That’s a heck of a statement to make in today’s day and age in government and with the scope and size of this project. That is unheard of.”
An overall tone of cooperation was present among the commissioners in attendance. Ralph Spidalieri, a Geauga County Commissioner, commented: “It is pretty humbling to see all of the people that are here representing Geauga County from our different departments and residents of this community. Everybody that seems to be a part of this community, wants to see us continue to move forward.” James Dvorak, another commissioner stated: “I look forward to watching this building being constructed, and for the future, when this building will provide a great space for the County employees to work to provide the necessary services to the citizens of this great county. Yes, this is a big day, an historic day. A milestone of brick and mortar. This building will be a building of service to the people, and it will show a sense of community, a sense of pride, and it will help produce the Geauga way of life.”
The new Geauga County office building, located at Ravenswood and Merritt Roads, is slated to be completed in 2022. For additional information, visit the Geauga Maple Leaf’s article.
Let’s work together to make education better. Interested in speaking with us? Get in touch!
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
Groundbreaking on a New Geauga County Office BuildingThenDesign Architecture gathered with over 30 people in Claridon township to celebrate the groundbreaking of a new Geauga County office building to house city services.
On a windy day in late October, over 30 people gathered in Claridon township to celebrate the groundbreaking on a new Geauga County office building that will house city services. Beginning construction marks another milestone in the 4-plus year process for this project. In attendance were several county commissioners, such as the Board of Commissioners President, Tim Lennon, along with other county commissioners, Ralph Spidalieri, James Dvorak and others. The ceremony was led by County Administrator, Gerry Morgan, who gave remarks and it also included an appearance from Jerry Cirino, a county commissioner in neighboring Lake County. Those involved in the construction process, NV5’s Mark Seifried, ThenDesign Architecture’s Robert Fiala and Don Dreier of Donley’s Independence Construction spoke to support the project.
https://youtu.be/4L8f0N6MhWg
With a planned building occupancy in 2022, the 3-story office building is over 115,000 square feet and consolidates over a dozen Geauga County services in one building. With an exterior designed to complement the wooded site, this completed building will streamline the communication process between departments, encourage greater collaboration and provide an improved working environment to serve Geauga County for years to come. Those who spoke recognized the efforts of past commissioners, who purchased the land in the 1970’s, and dedicated it in the 1980’s.
Gerry Morgan, County Administrator praised the county leadership and their partners for guiding the project through ups and downs, addressing various roadblocks but pressing forward with development, ensuring a new building was feasible. A continual theme throughout the ceremony was praise for the dynamic team that made this large scale project possible. It was only through this collaboration that a successful design was created and that the team could move forward together with construction.
Tim Lennon praised the project, along with the collaborative efforts of University Hospitals and Geauga County: “There is much synergy between the hospital [University Hospitals] and County Services. You have the department of Aging, Job and Family Services, Veteran Services, just to name a few. The future potential for where we are standing today is huge…this can be a destination for residents of Geauga County and beyond, providing not only Health and County Services, but potentially business opportunities as well.”
“This is a big day, an historic day. A milestone of brick and mortar. This building will be a building of service to the people, and it will show a sense of community, a sense of pride, and it will help produce the Geauga way of life.”
James Dvorak
Geauga County Commissioner
NV5, an architectural and engineering firm which serves as an owner’s representative will continue to work with ThenDesign Architecture (TDA) and Donley’s Independence Construction to see the project through completion. Representatives from all the respective firms attended, looking forward to what the new Geauga County office will mean for the county.
Lake County recently completed a 5-story office building in Painesville, Ohio that consolidated many county services under one roof. Jerry Cirino described the benefits of this approach. “What’s most important, and I think it’ll be the same for you, is it has allowed us to provide better services, more efficient services to the taxpayers of our county. I’m sure your residents are going to find the same thing here. The flow of information, the flow of paying fees and getting documentation done is going to be much improved by having more under one roof. So, you’ll enjoy that, the taxpayers will enjoy it and I’m looking forward to seeing the progress of this project, until its completion.”
The architect’s renderings show open interiors, views to the exterior and a variety of common areas and meeting spaces for office workers. Many of those in attendance looked forward to relocating and enjoying the updated interior of the facility.
Project Renderings:
In a testament to the fiscal responsibility of the administrators involved in this project, it is being funded out of the current general fund budget, so there will no new taxes as a result of the new facility. Tim Lennon states: “I have to mention that I am very proud of that from the very beginning discussions four years ago, the commissioners made it criteria “number one” that we do this project within current general fund budget. That means no new taxes. No new taxes! That’s a heck of a statement to make in today’s day and age in government and with the scope and size of this project. That is unheard of.”
An overall tone of cooperation was present among the commissioners in attendance. Ralph Spidalieri, a Geauga County Commissioner, commented: “It is pretty humbling to see all of the people that are here representing Geauga County from our different departments and residents of this community. Everybody that seems to be a part of this community, wants to see us continue to move forward.” James Dvorak, another commissioner stated: “I look forward to watching this building being constructed, and for the future, when this building will provide a great space for the County employees to work to provide the necessary services to the citizens of this great county. Yes, this is a big day, an historic day. A milestone of brick and mortar. This building will be a building of service to the people, and it will show a sense of community, a sense of pride, and it will help produce the Geauga way of life.”
The new Geauga County office building, located at Ravenswood and Merritt Roads, is slated to be completed in 2022. For additional information, visit the Geauga Maple Leaf’s article.
Let’s work together to make education better. Interested in speaking with us? Get in touch!
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
Design Collaboration is a NecessityExcellent design ideas can come from the most unlikely places. Throughout TDA’s design process, we engage individuals of all types in our projects. Chris Smith, TDA’s president, shares his insight into our process, the designers, and collaboration in public architecture.
In architecture, design collaboration is a necessity for a project’s outcome. This is especially important when designing buildings such as a school or municipal office. As in virtually every other creative endeavor, combining deep technical experience with a process that identifies challenges and incorporates feedback produces the most successful results.
Chris Smith, the president at ThenDesign Architecture, started in 1998 as a 28-year-old intern. Having come from a large, international design firm, he was drawn to the idea that through thoughtful, insightful and selfless design, architects could improve the lives of students by creating better spaces.
TDA: Why are you passionate about designing educational architecture?
Chris Smith: Architecture can be a very self-focused, egotistical profession. Since there’s artistry to it, the artist’s name rides along with the project and often times is the name of the firm itself. What attracted me to TDA from the beginning was that it wasn’t named after the leadership of the firm, but rather a concept that we were in the “thinking business,” not simply the “drawing business.” So now that I am the president of the company, not having my name on the door continues the legacy for what drew me here in the first place.
Our focus is the design of publicly owned facilities such as schools, municipal buildings, and recreation centers. We’re not charged with designing for one person; we’re tasked with designing for the greater public good. That involves collaborating with the community, with students, with teachers, with parents and the community at large, groups you may not think have a voice in architectural design. Our “client” is ultimately the many generations of students who will learn and thrive in these spaces.
I find that I am most gratified when I can help others succeed. Creating a lasting piece of architecture that improves student’s lives, impacting more people than we ever could touch physically. So that just builds on our core value of always seeking ways to help others succeed.
If you talk to any teacher or educator you find out that 98% of their job is finished if they can inspire a child to learn. If we can help in any small way … then we’re helping our teachers achieve their mission.
-Chris Smith
How does TDA encourage a collaborative design process?
Chris Smith: The design process at TDA is unique in our industry. In a typical firm, often an architect or designer singularly authors the design. However, we believe collaborative design produces a better product for our publicly-owned facilities. We approach our projects as a design team, with several architects working together. This diversity of perspective is what makes our design solutions strong. Even though there is a project manager who leads the group, the end result is never a single person’s idea.
We also engage with our clients and school communities throughout the project and really try to identify design challenges and opportunities early in the project. It’s that “problem-seeking” curiosity which drives our design process. Collaboration is a necessity and identifying where we can improve a district’s curriculum and student engagement through architectural design is the goal of this process. Sometimes that engagement takes a long time. However, it helps us better understand the district while simultaneously improving our designs.
Our philosophy is when your building is finished, you will have authored the design. So that’s why we don’t have our names on our doors or even titles on our business cards. Only through collaborative and selfless design can we truly create spaces for the greater good.
We believe that good ideas can come from anywhere and anybody. We’ve had the strangest ideas come from the coolest places.
-Chris Smith
How do educators and communities participate in our collaborative design process?
Chris Smith: If you talk to any teacher or educator you find out that 98% of their job is finished if they can inspire a child to learn. If we can help in any small way by creating an inspirational space, something that makes a teacher’s job easier or a student’s job more fun, then we’re helping our teachers achieve their mission.
There is a symbiotic relationship that inherently exists between a school district and their community. The community trusts the district to educate their children in a safe, effective, and efficient manner. The district trusts the community to provide the funding and support to do so. In the design process, we believe this trust between the school district and the community plays a large role in a successful project. It is incumbent upon the community to trust the professional educators to drive the layout of the spaces within the building. Likewise, the district must trust the community to provide valuable feedback on the exterior aesthetics of the building–how the site could best integrate with pedestrians, bicyclists and motor vehicles, location of playgrounds and ball fields. Only through the recognition, promotion and incorporation of this trust can a project involve all stakeholders in the design of a new school facility.
Our philosophy is when your building is finished, you will have authored the design.
-Chris Smith
What is an example of an unlikely design idea and where did it come from?
Chris Smith: We believe that good ideas can come from anywhere and anybody. So when we conduct “in-house charrettes” and collaborative design sessions, we don’t limit these to just the architects and administrators. Anybody is welcome to participate. We’ve had the strangest ideas come from the coolest places.
Some years back, we were investigating school security [the potential of armed intruders] and we were on the forefront of designing security guidelines for school buildings in Ohio. During one of our Educational Visioning Sessions, we received a brilliant idea from a young student. The student came up with an idea to color code the building so that if there was an intruder in their elementary school, they could call the authorities and state, “The bad person is in the red part of the building and moving into the blue part of the building.” That led to some very intuitive design standards that are still employed today. That wonderful idea came from a third-grade student. So, the educational design process surrounding school buildings is a very collaborative process, not only between our professional architects and designers, but amongst all stakeholders.
TDA, as a group of creative professionals, work to design and build the “next generation” educational and municipal facilities that are environmentally friendly, contextually rooted and inspiring to inhabit. Understanding that collaboration is a necessity, we look forward to working together with school districts, educators, and communities to design the educational facilities of the future.
Let’s work together to make education better. Interested in speaking with us? Get in touch!
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
Design Collaboration is a NecessityExcellent design ideas can come from the most unlikely places. Throughout TDA’s design process, we engage individuals of all types in our projects. Chris Smith, TDA’s president, shares his insight into our process, the designers, and collaboration in public architecture.
In architecture, design collaboration is a necessity for a project’s outcome. This is especially important when designing buildings such as a school or municipal office. As in virtually every other creative endeavor, combining deep technical experience with a process that identifies challenges and incorporates feedback produces the most successful results.
Chris Smith, the president at ThenDesign Architecture, started in 1998 as a 28-year-old intern. Having come from a large, international design firm, he was drawn to the idea that through thoughtful, insightful and selfless design, architects could improve the lives of students by creating better spaces.
TDA: Why are you passionate about designing educational architecture?
Chris Smith: Architecture can be a very self-focused, egotistical profession. Since there’s artistry to it, the artist’s name rides along with the project and often times is the name of the firm itself. What attracted me to TDA from the beginning was that it wasn’t named after the leadership of the firm, but rather a concept that we were in the “thinking business,” not simply the “drawing business.” So now that I am the president of the company, not having my name on the door continues the legacy for what drew me here in the first place.
Our focus is the design of publicly owned facilities such as schools, municipal buildings, and recreation centers. We’re not charged with designing for one person; we’re tasked with designing for the greater public good. That involves collaborating with the community, with students, with teachers, with parents and the community at large, groups you may not think have a voice in architectural design. Our “client” is ultimately the many generations of students who will learn and thrive in these spaces.
I find that I am most gratified when I can help others succeed. Creating a lasting piece of architecture that improves student’s lives, impacting more people than we ever could touch physically. So that just builds on our core value of always seeking ways to help others succeed.
If you talk to any teacher or educator you find out that 98% of their job is finished if they can inspire a child to learn. If we can help in any small way … then we’re helping our teachers achieve their mission.
-Chris Smith
How does TDA encourage a collaborative design process?
Chris Smith: The design process at TDA is unique in our industry. In a typical firm, often an architect or designer singularly authors the design. However, we believe collaborative design produces a better product for our publicly-owned facilities. We approach our projects as a design team, with several architects working together. This diversity of perspective is what makes our design solutions strong. Even though there is a project manager who leads the group, the end result is never a single person’s idea.
We also engage with our clients and school communities throughout the project and really try to identify design challenges and opportunities early in the project. It’s that “problem-seeking” curiosity which drives our design process. Collaboration is a necessity and identifying where we can improve a district’s curriculum and student engagement through architectural design is the goal of this process. Sometimes that engagement takes a long time. However, it helps us better understand the district while simultaneously improving our designs.
Our philosophy is when your building is finished, you will have authored the design. So that’s why we don’t have our names on our doors or even titles on our business cards. Only through collaborative and selfless design can we truly create spaces for the greater good.
We believe that good ideas can come from anywhere and anybody. We’ve had the strangest ideas come from the coolest places.
-Chris Smith
How do educators and communities participate in our collaborative design process?
Chris Smith: If you talk to any teacher or educator you find out that 98% of their job is finished if they can inspire a child to learn. If we can help in any small way by creating an inspirational space, something that makes a teacher’s job easier or a student’s job more fun, then we’re helping our teachers achieve their mission.
There is a symbiotic relationship that inherently exists between a school district and their community. The community trusts the district to educate their children in a safe, effective, and efficient manner. The district trusts the community to provide the funding and support to do so. In the design process, we believe this trust between the school district and the community plays a large role in a successful project. It is incumbent upon the community to trust the professional educators to drive the layout of the spaces within the building. Likewise, the district must trust the community to provide valuable feedback on the exterior aesthetics of the building–how the site could best integrate with pedestrians, bicyclists and motor vehicles, location of playgrounds and ball fields. Only through the recognition, promotion and incorporation of this trust can a project involve all stakeholders in the design of a new school facility.
Our philosophy is when your building is finished, you will have authored the design.
-Chris Smith
What is an example of an unlikely design idea and where did it come from?
Chris Smith: We believe that good ideas can come from anywhere and anybody. So when we conduct “in-house charrettes” and collaborative design sessions, we don’t limit these to just the architects and administrators. Anybody is welcome to participate. We’ve had the strangest ideas come from the coolest places.
Some years back, we were investigating school security [the potential of armed intruders] and we were on the forefront of designing security guidelines for school buildings in Ohio. During one of our Educational Visioning Sessions, we received a brilliant idea from a young student. The student came up with an idea to color code the building so that if there was an intruder in their elementary school, they could call the authorities and state, “The bad person is in the red part of the building and moving into the blue part of the building.” That led to some very intuitive design standards that are still employed today. That wonderful idea came from a third-grade student. So, the educational design process surrounding school buildings is a very collaborative process, not only between our professional architects and designers, but amongst all stakeholders.
TDA, as a group of creative professionals, work to design and build the “next generation” educational and municipal facilities that are environmentally friendly, contextually rooted and inspiring to inhabit. Understanding that collaboration is a necessity, we look forward to working together with school districts, educators, and communities to design the educational facilities of the future.
Let’s work together to make education better. Interested in speaking with us? Get in touch!
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
Reimagining Memorial Junior High School – A New ChapterAt a time when historic buildings are sometimes not valued, a small piece of downtown Willoughby is being repurposed as an architecturally symbolic landmark in our city.
Across the nation, cities large and small are faced with the difficult decision of how to deal with structures dating from the turn of the century. In many cases these structures haven’t been maintained well, with damaged facades and interiors which are difficult to use in modern settings. When the costs to update it outweigh the building’s usefulness, it will either sit vacant or be demolished. However, as these beautiful old structures disappear, so does the history and collective story surrounding that structure. Entire neighborhoods can suffer when landmarks that define a particular “place” are erased.
One landmark in Willoughby Ohio, is Memorial Junior High School. Sitting between the converging roads of River and Center Street, this old school faces downtown Willoughby and can easily be seen from Wes Point Park and by pedestrians. The building which has been standing for 95 years, appears in many of Willoughby’s early photography and is known by almost everyone in the community.
Named “Memorial” after soldiers who died in battle since the Civil War, this brick structure was a school for junior high school students at its initial opening in 1925. As the population of Willoughby grew in the late 1950’s, a new high school was built on Shankland Road on the site of the former Chandler Farm. The former high school next door became the Junior High School and Memorial became its annex. It continued to serve as the Junior High School until 1972, when it transitioned to a vocational school and career center.
For the last several years, the building has fallen into disrepair and sat abandoned and vacant—until recently.
Exterior:
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ThenDesign Architecture (TDA) is reimagining Memorial Junior High School near downtown Willoughby to renovate the structure and move our offices to that location.
TDA, is an architectural, planning and design firm that has operated in Willoughby for almost 70 years. For the last 21 years, we were in the Carrel Building, another historic structure constructed in 1885. With the expansion of our 60 + staff and operations, we needed a new home.
Our two partners of the firm, Chris Smith and Bob Fiala, have led the firm’s growth and expansion. Chris Smith who serves as our president, joined the firm in 1998, and was named partner in 2004, as part of a well-crafted succession plan. Bob Fiala, who currently serves as the Mayor of Willoughby, is no longer involved in the day to day operations but provides strategic oversight and helps to maintain the culture. They both appreciate the historic character of downtown and sought to maintain that aesthetic with this new facility.
In fact, the project manager for the building’s renovation, Jeff Henderson is a longtime member of the community and former Memorial Junior High School Alumni. He never thought he would come back to school this way, but we feel we couldn’t have picked a better leader for the design team.
Studio Space:
While there are significant challenges associated with renovating this beautiful 24,000 sqft structure for our use, the design team is working to maintain both the unique characteristics of the building, while updating and modernizing the facility for the 21st century. Our design philosophy on this site involves showcasing the many intricate details of construction that went into the building. As our team developed designs for both the interior and exterior of the space, we found many opportunities to highlight the historic construction materials, while modernizing it for a fast paced, technically progressive architecture firm. Instead of finishing the construction details, many of the old ceilings, walls and finishes throughout the structure are remaining exposed. This in effect makes our new headquarters a living museum, showcasing not only current architectural designs but historic ones as well.
The completed reimagining of Memorial Junior High School includes an open mezzanine studio space with high open ceilings, a multipurpose recording studio, an open and flexible gathering space and classroom along with boardrooms and offices. Technologically, the building is being retrofitted with high speed internet connections, audio, and video hookups, along with the electrical connections needed to support all the advanced tools in the creative design fields. This unique office environment is designed with modern workspaces in mind, while preserving and celebrating the character of the historic building. This is a complete reimagining of Memorial Junior High School.
Interior Spaces and Stairwells:
With TDA’s role in educational facilities’ design and our involvement in downtown Willoughby, this move has been both a symbolic and practical one for us. Having worked with over 120 school districts in Cleveland and the surrounding areas, educators and administrators rely on our expertise in architecture, master planning and educational visioning. We felt a strong connection to this beautiful historic school building when considering locations for our new facility. Not only can we renovate this piece of history, cementing its future in the community, but also celebrate the significance of using a historic school as our new headquarters to continue innovating in educational design.
In order to stay updated on construction and future plans, subscribe to our newsletter and social channels to see what is next for this beautiful structure and the ever-changing field of education.
Building Details:
Do you have memories of this historic building? We would love to hear them.
Reach out and let us know.
ThenDesign Architecture
Let’s work together to make education better. Interested in speaking with us? Get in touch!
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Reimagining Memorial Junior High School – A New ChapterAt a time when historic buildings are sometimes not valued, a small piece of downtown Willoughby is being repurposed as an architecturally symbolic landmark in our city.
Across the nation, cities large and small are faced with the difficult decision of how to deal with structures dating from the turn of the century. In many cases these structures haven’t been maintained well, with damaged facades and interiors which are difficult to use in modern settings. When the costs to update it outweigh the building’s usefulness, it will either sit vacant or be demolished. However, as these beautiful old structures disappear, so does the history and collective story surrounding that structure. Entire neighborhoods can suffer when landmarks that define a particular “place” are erased.
One landmark in Willoughby Ohio, is Memorial Junior High School. Sitting between the converging roads of River and Center Street, this old school faces downtown Willoughby and can easily be seen from Wes Point Park and by pedestrians. The building which has been standing for 95 years, appears in many of Willoughby’s early photography and is known by almost everyone in the community.
Named “Memorial” after soldiers who died in battle since the Civil War, this brick structure was a school for junior high school students at its initial opening in 1925. As the population of Willoughby grew in the late 1950’s, a new high school was built on Shankland Road on the site of the former Chandler Farm. The former high school next door became the Junior High School and Memorial became its annex. It continued to serve as the Junior High School until 1972, when it transitioned to a vocational school and career center.
For the last several years, the building has fallen into disrepair and sat abandoned and vacant—until recently.
Exterior:
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ThenDesign Architecture (TDA) is reimagining Memorial Junior High School near downtown Willoughby to renovate the structure and move our offices to that location.
TDA, is an architectural, planning and design firm that has operated in Willoughby for almost 70 years. For the last 21 years, we were in the Carrel Building, another historic structure constructed in 1885. With the expansion of our 60 + staff and operations, we needed a new home.
Our two partners of the firm, Chris Smith and Bob Fiala, have led the firm’s growth and expansion. Chris Smith who serves as our president, joined the firm in 1998, and was named partner in 2004, as part of a well-crafted succession plan. Bob Fiala, who currently serves as the Mayor of Willoughby, is no longer involved in the day to day operations but provides strategic oversight and helps to maintain the culture. They both appreciate the historic character of downtown and sought to maintain that aesthetic with this new facility.
In fact, the project manager for the building’s renovation, Jeff Henderson is a longtime member of the community and former Memorial Junior High School Alumni. He never thought he would come back to school this way, but we feel we couldn’t have picked a better leader for the design team.
Studio Space:
While there are significant challenges associated with renovating this beautiful 24,000 sqft structure for our use, the design team is working to maintain both the unique characteristics of the building, while updating and modernizing the facility for the 21st century. Our design philosophy on this site involves showcasing the many intricate details of construction that went into the building. As our team developed designs for both the interior and exterior of the space, we found many opportunities to highlight the historic construction materials, while modernizing it for a fast paced, technically progressive architecture firm. Instead of finishing the construction details, many of the old ceilings, walls and finishes throughout the structure are remaining exposed. This in effect makes our new headquarters a living museum, showcasing not only current architectural designs but historic ones as well.
The completed reimagining of Memorial Junior High School includes an open mezzanine studio space with high open ceilings, a multipurpose recording studio, an open and flexible gathering space and classroom along with boardrooms and offices. Technologically, the building is being retrofitted with high speed internet connections, audio, and video hookups, along with the electrical connections needed to support all the advanced tools in the creative design fields. This unique office environment is designed with modern workspaces in mind, while preserving and celebrating the character of the historic building. This is a complete reimagining of Memorial Junior High School.
Interior Spaces and Stairwells:
With TDA’s role in educational facilities’ design and our involvement in downtown Willoughby, this move has been both a symbolic and practical one for us. Having worked with over 120 school districts in Cleveland and the surrounding areas, educators and administrators rely on our expertise in architecture, master planning and educational visioning. We felt a strong connection to this beautiful historic school building when considering locations for our new facility. Not only can we renovate this piece of history, cementing its future in the community, but also celebrate the significance of using a historic school as our new headquarters to continue innovating in educational design.
In order to stay updated on construction and future plans, subscribe to our newsletter and social channels to see what is next for this beautiful structure and the ever-changing field of education.
Building Details:
Do you have memories of this historic building? We would love to hear them.
Reach out and let us know.
ThenDesign Architecture
Let’s work together to make education better. Interested in speaking with us? Get in touch!
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
ThenDesign Architecture: Imagining Better Ways to EducateThenDesign is located in downtown Willoughby and has been a pioneer in educational design for over 30 years. Get to know our team!
ThenDesign Architecture (TDA) is an architectural, planning and interior design firm that has been involved in cutting edge educational and municipal facility design, established 68 years ago. A firm with over 50 employees, it is comprised of licensed architects, architectural designers, construction managers, interior designers and communications specialists. Focused on the evolving design of educational buildings, TDA employees specialize in community master planning, architectural design, construction management, project financing, bond campaign assistance, as well as marketing, public relations and video production. Since the company’s inception, TDA has worked with over 120 school districts, along with the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) in Northeast Ohio and established themselves as leaders in school design–by rethinking how educational spaces can be imagined we encourage districts to begin imagining better ways to educate.
The firm, headed by two partners, Bob Fiala and Chris Smith, have assembled a group of international creative professionals in the Cleveland area that come from 7 different countries, which employ skillsets that span the AEC industry. Their design philosophy is simple. “Think, Design, Act.” They are driven by an insatiable desire to learn and ask a series of “What if?” questions. They seek to deeply understand the needs of a project and doing so create a “tailor made solution.” This is woven into the fabric of the community, fostering a sense of “place” in its environmental context.
Some History
TDA was originally founded as Huston Associates in 1951 by the late architect, Bruce Huston. Based in Willoughby, Huston Associates was a recognized leader in educational facility design. In 1989, Huston retired and Robert (Bob) Fiala, a former employee of Huston Associates, became the managing partner and renamed the firm ThenDesign Architecture. In 1998, Chris Smith joined the firm. He was named partner in 2004 as part of a well-crafted succession plan.
Mr. Fiala, the firm’s founding partner, now is also the recently elected Mayor of the City of Willoughby. He feels a deep responsibility to build an economically strong and vibrant city and give back by to the community through his tireless service, civic leadership and the promotion of education and the arts. Even though he no longer works directly, in the day to day operations of TDA, he continues to provide strategic leadership and enhance the firm’s culture. He brings a deep belief that by designing the best education and municipal buildings possible, we can impact the lives of people in our community for years to come.
Good Design Matters
We believe that good design begins with intentional thinking and this mindset transcends architecture to touch everything we do. We can find good design anywhere, whether it is “rocking out” to an inspiring guitar ballad, enjoying challenging park trail or holding our favorite coffee mug. Good design enriches lives. We recognize our responsibility to enhance the environment through our architectural efforts. From schools and hotels to sports parks and retirement centers, we have fun in the collaborative, creative process. We love challenging educators, stakeholders and the public to be a part of our projects, by collaborating and imagining better ways to educate. By using this approach, we strengthen the fabric of each community, ensuring a useful structure for many decades to come.
A common question we get from clients and the public is: “Who designs your building?” While, many architectural firms have one “primary designer,” this often results in every building looking the same, despite the fact it’s grounded in a completely different place. TDA is different in design approach. Each building we produce is a collaborative effort among our designers, consultants, and many in the community.
We recognize our responsibility to enhance the environment through our architectural efforts. From schools and hotels to sports parks and retirement centers, we have fun in the collaborative, creative process.
ThenDesign Architecture
“Educational Visioning Sessions”
Early phases of design include “Educational Visioning Sessions.” These unique events bring together teachers, students, administrators, board members, local safety forces and local clergy to discuss the project, imagine possibilities and ultimately serve as the genesis of the design. Ideas and concerns generated by these participants are captured as they are shared in round-table discussions and other activities. Grassroots ideas from those who will actually be using the new structure are distilled and ultimately presented to decision-makers (whether that is a school superintendent, mayor or other administrative representative). We encourage all parties involved to begin imagining better ways to educate. This is why TDA is different. This is why districts return to us again and again to provide architectural services–because we listen to our client’s needs. We empower them to drive the initial designs which results in a product that best meets their needs and produces a completely unique building.
This diversity of input is a hallmark of our design strategy and one element that strengthens our portfolio.
Imagining Better Ways to Educate
Design doesn’t stop at the built world, it continues throughout the education process. During the planning and construction phases of design, TDA engages educators who ultimately will use the new building in training sessions in anticipation of the project’s completion. At these events, a team of project designers, along with future occupants, attend a series of meetings dedicated to coaching and professional development. These sessions include, brainstorming activities and interactive projects, all geared towards training educators and administrators on the best ways to engage students in these new spaces. They are invaluable for collaboratively rethinking the way educational spaces can be used to promote student learning. This crucial component is a link between the early “Educational Visioning Sessions” and a fully occupied building. Then, through exit interviews and teacher surveys, we measure how these architectural designs impact the education experience. We have found significant benefits such as reduced behavioral issues in the classroom, increased teaching time, and additional opportunities for student engagement. All of these ensure that each student receives the best education possible.
In short, we intentionally emphasize the people and their experience as much as the building itself.
Virtual Staff Meeting
TDA, as a group of creative professionals, work to design and build the “next generation” educational and municipal facilities that are environmentally friendly, contextually rooted and inspiring to inhabit.
Chris Smith
At the core of our practice, we believe people are the most important aspect of every project. Whether it is satisfying our clients, or celebrating and empowering our diverse staff, a “people first design” permeates our culture and designs.
Our staff constantly pushes boundaries in design, acquiring new techniques, implementing technology and building support for your long-term plans.
We are not only designers, but educators and want to help every client understand the process and how it affects them for years to come.
Driving Architecture, Education and Community
TDA, as a group of creative professionals, work to design and build the “next generation” educational and municipal facilities that are environmentally friendly, contextually rooted and inspiring to inhabit.
We continue to address the challenges facing school districts, educators, and communities of the future and are committed to imagining better ways to educate.
Let’s work together to make education better. Interested in speaking with us? Get in touch!
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
