Willoughby South High School At Union Village: 4 Entities Under 1 Roof

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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

Union Village in Willoughby, Ohio, incorporates four entities into a single building. This includes Willoughby South High School, Willoughby Middle School, the Lake County West End YMCA, and the David E. Anderson Senior Center, which are all now operating under the same unified structure since the $39,000,000 addition and renovation project was completed in September 2019. 

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.”

Union Village Unified with Bricks

Willoughby YMCA
David E. Anderson Senior Center
Willoughby Middle School
Willoughby South Middle School
Willoughby South High School
Willoughby South High School
Willoughby South High School
Willoughby South High School

Benefits Beyond Being a Building

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
Union Village Groundbreaking Ceremony
Marc Cebrian

Marc Cebrian

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Marc has over thirty years of media production experience with a wide variety of storytelling projects that include commercials, documentaries, and live events. He began his career in the feature film and television industry in Los Angeles, California. Naturally driven by a passion for the creative and analytical, he believes that people should be kind to one another, and strives to live by example.
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Wickliffe Students Design Their Own Playground

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Wickliffe Students Design Their Own Playground
Who better to have a say about what a playground should look like than the children who will use it? Wickliffe Elementary students participated in a visioning session with ThenDesign Architecture and Wickliffe City Schools to share ideas about how to make “an awesome” playground.

Wickliffe Students Design Their Own Playground

As a continuation of the design of the Wickliffe City School District’s new educational facility, and their “Reimagining Education” initiative, representatives of ThenDesign Architecture, educators from Wickliffe Schools, and students met in early 2021 to engage in a session focused on the layout of the school’s new playground. Dozens of students in grades 3-6 met in the cafeteria of the existing elementary school to discuss the best games and equipment to suit their time at recess. Then, they had the opportunity to build their ideal playground out of toothpicks, crayons, and marshmallows, before submitting it to the design team.

Watch the Playground Engagement

"It’s important we create flexibility for students and teachers so we can help them be successful."
Joseph Spiccia
Superintendent of Wickliffe City Schools

Fun With A Lasting Purpose

Upgrading aging facilities by bringing them to modern educational standards is not isolated to classrooms and collaborative spaces. In some ways, the layout of a playground can have just as much impact on the well-being of children as their indoor academic environment because learning continues through play. 

When involved in public architecture, it’s a designer’s responsibility to listen to their clients, even when those clients are in the third grade. The more the architect understands the needs of the space, the better the design can reflect that. The students know what their favorite activities and equipment on the playground are, so this will inform the potential for fun lasting decades. 

“We want to know what the kids think is working well in their school district, but also what can be improved,” noted Project Manager Claire Bank of ThenDesign Architecture. “Some groups were safety focused. It was neat to see how intuitively thoughtful some of the students are. They give us a young, fresh perspective.” 

The Students Had A Fun Time Creating A Fun Space

Wickliffe Playground Engagement
Wickliffe Playground Engagement
Wickliffe Playground Engagement
Wickliffe Playground Engagement
Wickliffe Playground Engagement
Wickliffe Playground Engagement
Wickliffe Playground Engagement
Wickliffe Playground Engagement
Wickliffe Playground Engagement
Wickliffe Playground Engagement
“I think this is going to make a big impact for everyone. They’re going to have so much fun at the new playground.”
Billy
Student

Youthful Perspectives

Engaging with third to sixth-grade students brings them into the design process. Their contagious enthusiasm fueled discussions, sparking more ideas. Multiple playgrounds required multiple designs, and the students joyfully met the challenge. 

Architects learn how important it is to express their creativity in their projects. This session became an art project of its own. Marshmallows, toothpicks, and Post-it Notes became essential design tools as students crafted their ideas into physical forms, letting their imaginations soar with possibilities. 

“The kids really enjoyed the marshmallows. The hard part was getting them to work with it without eating them first.”
Jeff Henderson, RA
ThenDesign Architecture

Educational Design With Smiles and Sweets
Wickliffe Playground Engagement
Wickliffe Playground Engagement
Wickliffe Playground Engagement
Wickliffe Playground Engagement
Wickliffe Playground Engagement
“I feel like it will be much more flexible for what the kids need now.”
Abby
Student

Incorporating Student Suggestions

Architect Jeff Henderson feels these types of engagement with students are essential so that future generations can benefit from today’s educational design efforts. “It’s good to stretch minds. Having a variety of ideas makes for a better design, and their young perspectives keep the architect’s minds fresh.” 

A zipline was one of the student suggestions from the engagement that made it into the final design. At the beginning of the next school year, the students who came up with the idea will be able to enjoy playing on it in their new playground at their new school campus. 

The new Wickliffe PreK-12 School will have its Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on August 26. 

“We want to know what they want so we can give them the best play spaces we can.”
Claire Bank, RA
ThenDesign Architecture
Marc Cebrian

Marc Cebrian

Communications

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Marc has over thirty years of media production experience with a wide variety of storytelling projects that include commercials, documentaries, and live events. He began his career in the feature film and television industry in Los Angeles, California. Naturally driven by a passion for the creative and analytical, he believes that people should be kind to one another, and strives to live by example.
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New Geauga County Office Building To Serve The Community For Decades

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New Geauga County Office Building To Serve The Community For Decades
The 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

  1. 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.
  2. The new facility consolidated fifteen departments under one roof. This provides a streamlined experience for residents seeking assistance from various county services.
  3. Design and construction were conducted during the challenging coronavirus pandemic. Staff accomplished engagements remotely, seeking input and providing updates to residents and stakeholders.
Marc Cebrian

Marc Cebrian

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Jamie Doganiero is a seasoned marketing communications specialist with a keen focus on nurturing seamless client experiences while optimizing communication channels. Her dedication to providing exceptional service stems from her sales and customer service background, allowing her to anticipate and exceed expectations. Alongside her husband and two beloved rescue dogs, Jamie cherishes moments exploring the great outdoors and embracing the adventures that life has to offer.
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Cuyahoga Falls 6-12 Campus Groundbreaking and Site Construction

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Cuyahoga Falls 6-12 Campus Groundbreaking and Site Construction
At the groundbreaking ceremony in September 2022, the Cuyahoga Falls City School district began constructing its new 6-12 campus. The groundbreaking celebration was attended by over 1,000 people, which included staff, students, and the surrounding community.

Cuyahoga Falls Celebrates A Milestone

At the groundbreaking ceremony on September 27, 2022, the Cuyahoga Falls City School district began constructing their new 6-12 campus. This multi-year project will culminate in the completion of a campus that will be home to a 365,000 SF 6-12 school with an auditorium, black box theatre, attached stadium, and practice fields. Built on the Newberry and Bolich schools’ site, this capital project totals $113 million, with $33.6 million of that coming from the State of Ohio, via the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) and being built by Hammond Construction. This state-of-the-art facility provides students and faculty with new technology, expanded academic space, and opportunities for collaboration in a modern, secure environment. 

The groundbreaking celebration was attended by over 1,000 people of all ages, which included staff, students, neighbors, and the surrounding community. Dignitaries who attended and spoke included Mayor Don Walters from the City of Cuyahoga Falls, Representative Casey Weinstein, State Senator Kristina Roegner, and Board of Education Members, including board president Anthony Gomez and Superintendent Dr. Andrea Celico. Special activities included demonstrations from the Cuyahoga Falls High School band, an acapella choir, and the Art Sparks TNT XD dancers. Complimentary refreshments were served, and attendees could take their pictures with hard hats, get their faces painted and “turn a spade of soil” themselves. The night culminated in a formal groundbreaking that ended with fireworks. 

"This night is about who we are as a community. We believe that the students of our community deserve more than what they have had for the past 100 years at Cuyahoga Falls High School."
Anthony Gomez
Board of Education President

Cuyahoga Falls 6-12 Campus Groundbreaking Celebration (Courtesy of Hammond Construction):
"This groundbreaking event is symbolic of our city's commitment to educational excellence for every child in Cuyahoga Falls and marks the beginning of a new era in how we educate children in our community."
Dr. Andrea Celico
Superintendent of Cuyahoga Falls City School District

Completed Site Work

Since the groundbreaking eight months ago, construction teams have busily prepared the site before pouring foundations and erecting the school’s superstructure. While progress may not be evident viewing the site from the street, a tremendous amount of work has been completed. Site engineers have shaped the contours of the site, smoothing, removing, and adding soil in various places to support the building’s footprint. Additionally, a ring road and access lots have been created to aid construction. Now that the primary site plateaus where the building will sit are finished, viewers can see how the mass of the building steps down over the entire footprint. 

View a Design Animation of the new 6-12 Campus:

A Challenging Construction Environment

Scott Alleman, the architectural project manager from ThenDesign Architecture, is familiar with site challenges that could arise from a project of this scale.   

“Working with the soil is the biggest challenge at this point. The team works hard to ensure we are balancing the ‘cut and fill’ when developing site plans. This minimizes how much earth we are moving. It can get expensive when you need to move soil offsite.”

While the soil is being prepared, the team sometimes needs to stabilize and remediate weak soil to support the weight of parking lots and the buildings’ structure. This ensures that as construction progresses, there is a strong foundation. Scott continues, “You often spend a lot of money solving problems with soil, stabilizing the substructure, putting in foundations, and bringing utilities through. Unfortunately, you don’t ‘see’ the money you are investing here. You are literally burying it. It is necessary, though.”

With the site prepared, construction teams will focus on finishing retaining walls, underground electrical and plumbing channels, and structure foundations. Scott continues, “We started in the fall, which isn’t a great time, but the weather has cooperated, and the crew works well together. There are invariably little issues here and there, but we solve those as a team.”

Site Work Progress:

Looking Forward to the New Cuyahoga Falls 6-12 Campus

With the site work wrapping up, construction progress will become much more evident.

“The site work is exciting because it is such a big change,” Scott added, “but soon we are going to see the building take shape. Once the foundations go in, then the walls will start coming up, and the steel roof will go in. While we are still a little way off, progress will start progressing very quickly.”

Cuyahoga Fall City Schools looks forward to the completion of the new facility. Not only will students have greater access to modern technology but also a range of spaces that will enhance their educational experience.

The new campus is set to open during the 2025-2026 school year.  

Marc Cebrian

Marc Cebrian

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Marc has over thirty years of media production experience with a wide variety of storytelling projects that include commercials, documentaries, and live events. He began his career in the feature film and television industry in Los Angeles, California. Naturally driven by a passion for the creative and analytical, he believes that people should be kind to one another, and strives to live by example.
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Fairport Harbor EVSD Celebrates Groundbreaking for Their New School

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Fairport Harbor EVSD Celebrates Groundbreaking for New School
The new PreK-12 school will be located on the existing Harding High School site. It will provide a modern educational environment for future generations of Fairport Harbor students.

Fairport Harbor EVSD Celebrates Groundbreaking for Their New School

Residents, students, teachers and neighbors from Fairport Harbor gathered on May 26th to commemorate the Groundbreaking Ceremony of the school district’s new 116,000 SF PreK-12 facility. This new school, which is located on the existing Harding High School site, will provide a modern educational environment for future generations of Fairport Harbor students.

"A school is more than just bricks and mortar. It’s the people within it that truly bring it to life."
Sherry Maruschak
School Board President

A Culmination of Efforts

This event was the culmination of over ten years of effort led by the district and supported by the local community, teachers, and government officials. The aroma of barbecued hotdogs added to the celebratory atmosphere for the over 200 attendees.

A variety of speakers gave encouraging remarks to memorialize the special occasion, including Harding High School students, and students from McKinley Elementary. Distinguished guests in attendance included FHEVS Board members Karen Bidlack, Justin Levine, and Board VP William Lukshaw, representatives from C.T. Taylor Construction, Project Manager Dennis Kaplan from the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC), Lake County Treasurer Michael Zuren, Lake County Commissioners Richard Regovich, John Hamercheck, and John Plecnik, and representing ThenDesign Architecture was Adam Parris along with members of the communications team who were on site to record the event in video and take photographs. 

School Board President Sherry Maruschak commented, “A school is more than just bricks and mortar. It’s the people within it that truly bring it to life.”

Fairport Harbor EVSD Celebrates Groundbreaking
"This is what this community came together to support. To set the next hundred years in this village."
Timothy Manross
Mayor of Fairport Harbor

Benefits for the Community

The needs of the Fairport Harbor students have eventually outgrown the over 100-year-old buildings, which have stood in the village for generations. Ohio State Representative Daniel Troy noted, “You are able to improve the learning atmosphere for your students with a new modern facility … and I salute you for voting for the bond issue that made this possible.”

Timothy Manross, Mayor of Fairport Harbor, observed, “This is what this community came together to support. To set the next hundred years in this village.”

The citizens of the Fairport Harbor EVSD community funded this monumental effort by taking on 7% of the cost, with the State of Ohio covering the remaining 93%.

The Fairport Harbor EVSD  Groundbreaking was a celebration, and inspiring, as Superintendent Domenic Paolo announced that he was proud to serve as a conduit between Fairport’s first superintendent R.A. Greig and its newest superintendent Bill Billington, who will begin his position in July. “I am very excited for this opportunity, and I’m very excited to work with all of you.”

Once the project is complete, it will include a new Fairport Harbor Public Library, which will be attached to the main building and is tentatively scheduled to open for the 2025-2026 school year.

View a Building Animation of the new PreK-12 School:

Ryan Caswell

Ryan Caswell

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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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Brecksville-Broadview Heights CSD Opens New Elementary School

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Brecksville-Broadview Heights City School District Opens New Elementary School
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.

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 project has come a long way since the groundbreaking in the middle of 2020.

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.

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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Rock Fest at Bolich Middle School – Cuyahoga Falls CSD

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Rock Fest at Bolich Middle School
The team isn’t just working on drawings and cost estimates for the new building. Scott Alleman, project manager for the new school commented, "While we are working really hard to make deadlines, every once in a while, we take a break from our desks to engage with students during the process."

Bolich Rock Fest

On May 24th, during “Rock Fest” at Bolich Middle School, designers met with two groups of 6th graders to explain the importance of geotechnical borings. Project Manager Scott Alleman for the new Cuyahoga Falls 6-12 school commented, “Understanding the soil makeup and how it supports new buildings is an integral part of the design and construction process.”

The team isn’t just working on drawings and cost estimates for the new building though. “While we are working really hard to make deadlines, every once in a while, we take a break from our desks to engage with students during the process.”

"I am really excited to explain this process to them, I am not a geotechnical engineer, but I think we can make it relatable and fun."
Scott Alleman
Project Manager

Rock Fest and Soil Borings

“Rock Fest” was an event hosted in Bolich Middle school, where educators in the science fields focused on earth science, rocks, and soil for several days towards the end of the school year. The timing tied in well with the design and construction process of the new school.

Recently consultants were conducting soil borings on the new campus site to better understand how the soil on the site will affect construction. If soil can’t support the building, then expensive stabilization methods will need to be used.

“Without the proper soil support, the building could collapse. Having a good foundation, ensures it will stand for a very long time.” Each session ended with groups of students making their own soil sample.

“I am really excited to explain this process to them, I am not a geotechnical engineer, but I think we can make it relatable and fun.”

Students at Bolich Middle School had an opportunity to "model" a soil sample and better understand their project site.

"While we are working really hard to make deadlines, every once in a while, we take a break from our desks to engage with students during the process."
Scott Alleman
Project Manager

After the session, students asked questions about the size, design, and layout of their new school. Questions ranged from the building’s cost, to how they will enter, to whether it will have air conditioning. Students enjoyed proposing new names for the school and are looking forward to seeing further work on the Bolich site this fall.

Scott concludes, “I think it’s important to teach students about everything that goes into their new school. It’s a big change for the District, and these sorts of opportunities make the process more real to them.”

Attending classes were all in 6th grade. They will be the first high school class to use the new building.

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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Fairport Harbor EVSD Participates in an Educational Visioning Session

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Fairport Harbor EVSD Members Participate In An Educational Visioning Session
Fairport Harbor EVSD administration members, educators, parents, and students attended an Educational Visioning Session hosted by ThenDesign Architecture.

Fairport Harbor EVSD – Educational Visioning Update

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

Fairport Harbor Educational 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 After Educational Visioning

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.

View the report from the visioning session to better understand the findings of the group that day. 

Fairport Harbor EVSD Groundbreaking Ceremony

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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