Lexington 7-12 School -Academic Success Under One Roof

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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.

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 Lexington’s 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!

Ryan Caswell

Ryan Caswell

Communications

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Ryan Caswell

Ryan Caswell

Ryan is a communications specialist who is passionate about using digital media to further the goals of organizations and communities in Northeast Ohio. With a background in construction and a degree in architecture, he spent over a decade in corporate video production and brings this mindset to videography, editing, photography and content marketing. He is passionate about supporting the arts, and can be found hiking in the parks system.

Student-Centered Learning: A Catalyst for Revolutionizing Contemporary Education Design

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Student-Centered Learning: A Catalyst for Revolutionizing Contemporary Education Design
Student-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.

Different Approaches to Education

Education in the 1950's
Education in the 1990's
Education in the 21st Century

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

Traditional Classroom Layout
21st Century Classroom Layout
"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!

Ryan Caswell

Ryan Caswell

Communications

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Ryan Caswell

Ryan Caswell

Ryan is a communications specialist who is passionate about using digital media to further the goals of organizations and communities in Northeast Ohio. With a background in construction and a degree in architecture, he spent over a decade in corporate video production and brings this mindset to videography, editing, photography and content marketing. He is passionate about supporting the arts, and can be found hiking in the parks system.
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Oberlin City Schools Elementary School Ribbon Cutting

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Oberlin City Schools Elementary School Ribbon Cutting
The 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

Celebrating a New, Sustainable Elementary School

The facility cost $17.8 million dollars and was a collaborative project that brought together Oberlin residents, Oberlin City School Staff, the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission, City Government, Oberlin College, Greenspace Construction, and ThenDesign Architecture. The project responds to the schools IB curriculum and includes a number of forward-thinking design elements.

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.”

Ryan Caswell

Ryan Caswell

Communications

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Ryan Caswell

Ryan is a communications specialist who is passionate about using digital media to further the goals of organizations and communities in Northeast Ohio. With a background in construction and a degree in architecture, he spent over a decade in corporate video production and brings this mindset to videography, editing, photography and content marketing. He is passionate about supporting the arts, and can be found hiking in the parks system.
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ThenDesign Architecture Relocates to Memorial Junior High School

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ThenDesign Architecture Relocates to Memorial Junior High for New Offices in Willoughby
With 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.”

TDA Staff developed spaces inside the historic building based on usage.
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.

"Welcome Back" Staff Event - ThenDesign Architecture
"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!

Ryan Caswell

Ryan Caswell

Communications

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Ryan Caswell

Ryan Caswell

Ryan is a communications specialist who is passionate about using digital media to further the goals of organizations and communities in Northeast Ohio. With a background in construction and a degree in architecture, he spent over a decade in corporate video production and brings this mindset to videography, editing, photography and content marketing. He is passionate about supporting the arts, and can be found hiking in the parks system.
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New Campus Groundbreaking at Wickliffe City Schools

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New Campus Groundbreaking at Wickliffe City Schools
Community 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.

Ryan Caswell

Ryan Caswell

Communications

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Ryan Caswell

Ryan Caswell

Ryan is a communications specialist who is passionate about using digital media to further the goals of organizations and communities in Northeast Ohio. With a background in construction and a degree in architecture, he spent over a decade in corporate video production and brings this mindset to videography, editing, photography and content marketing. He is passionate about supporting the arts, and can be found hiking in the parks system.
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Perry Local Schools – Four New Elementary Schools

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Perry Local Schools - Four New Elementary Schools
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; 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 Schools

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.

Whipple Elementary School
P.J. Lohr Elementary School
Knapp Elementary School
Watson Elementary School
"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 schools:

P.J. Lohr Whipple Knapp Watson

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.

An architectural diagram showing the spacial layout of the new elementary schools.
A site plan for the Whipple Elementary School.
"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.

To stay up to date on future construction announcements, visit the Perry Local Schools website.

Ryan Caswell

Ryan Caswell

Communications

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Ryan Caswell

Ryan Caswell

Ryan is a communications specialist who is passionate about using digital media to further the goals of organizations and communities in Northeast Ohio. With a background in construction and a degree in architecture, he spent over a decade in corporate video production and brings this mindset to videography, editing, photography and content marketing. He is passionate about supporting the arts, and can be found hiking in the parks system.
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One Key Characteristic Needed by all Architects in Educational Design

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One Key Characteristic Needed by all Architects in Educational Design
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 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!

Ryan Caswell

Ryan Caswell

Communications

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Ryan Caswell

Ryan Caswell

Ryan is a communications specialist who is passionate about using digital media to further the goals of organizations and communities in Northeast Ohio. With a background in construction and a degree in architecture, he spent over a decade in corporate video production and brings this mindset to videography, editing, photography and content marketing. He is passionate about supporting the arts, and can be found hiking in the parks system.

Memorial Junior High – An Adaptive Reuse Project

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Memorial Junior High School - An Adaptive Reuse Project
Downtown 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!

Ryan Caswell

Ryan Caswell

Communications

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Ryan Caswell

Ryan Caswell

Ryan is a communications specialist who is passionate about using digital media to further the goals of organizations and communities in Northeast Ohio. With a background in construction and a degree in architecture, he spent over a decade in corporate video production and brings this mindset to videography, editing, photography and content marketing. He is passionate about supporting the arts, and can be found hiking in the parks system.
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