The Campus of Wickliffe – Designed for Flexible Learning

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The Campus of Wickliffe – Designed for Flexible Learning
From the ground up, the Campus of Wickliffe was designed for flexible learning. The Wickliffe City School District focused on creating educational spaces that would serve the needs of students today and provide adaptability for generations to come.

The Campus of Wickliffe – Designed for Flexible Learning

As part of the “Catalyst for Change” initiative, the 204,000 SF Wickliffe PreK-12 Campus was designed to create flexible learning spaces for the Wickliffe City School District that would be capable of adapting to future educational needs. The district participated in the Expedited Local Partnership Program (ELPP) through the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC), and this $60 million project replaces the aging elementary, middle, and high schools with a single PreK-12 building. In addition, the new facility hosts space for the Family Resource Center, a community center that offers free services to many in need.

The two-story school officially opened at the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year. More than 1,000 community members, state and local government officials, students, educators, and parents came to the Open House and Ribbon Cutting ceremony.

The Campus of Wickliffe was Designed for Flexible Learning

"If a student is ready to excel, our goal has been to ensure we provide them with that opportunity. That all exists under one roof now."
Joseph Spiccia
Superintendent of Wickliffe City Schools

Wickliffe – A District Transforms

Built by Hammond Construction, the Wickliffe PK-12 Campus was designed by ThenDesign Architecture (TDA), with Claire Bank, AIA NCARB, serving as the project manager. She commented on the significance of the campus, “Wickliffe has some unique and powerful ideas for how their district can transform. We were able to design non-traditional spaces that provide more options for the students and educators.”

From the beginning of the design process, a fresh look at learning techniques was necessary. Wickliffe City School Superintendent Joseph Spiccia noted, “The educational program is being retooled to be in line with the flexibility of the future. This building allows us to be dynamic and to change with the needs of our students.”

The Campus of Wickliffe in Action
"A lot of thought was put into how every grade level is customized to the needs of that grade."
Claire Bank, AIA, NCARMB
ThenDesign Architecture

The Community Tours The Wickliffe Campus

Open House attendees were excited to tour the spaces for the first time. Among those there were students who would begin attending the following week. 7th Grade Student Robert commented, “What’s so exciting is that it’s big, and all the classes are new and improved.” Seneca is an 11th-grade cheerleader, “It’s more of a chill place and cool to be in.”

The Wickliffe PK-12 Campus was designed to be forward-thinking, an educational facility designed for flexible learning. The district saw a rare opportunity to incorporate three schools and the Family Resource Center into one building. During the construction phase, they also brought significant change to their classroom educational model by training educators ahead of the building’s completion to facilitate the smoothest transition possible.

The Campus of Wickliffe Open House Event
"They were in three separate buildings. It's a rare opportunity to get to rebuild an entire district all at once."
Claire Bank, AIA, NCARB
ThenDesign Architecture

The re-imagination of education that has taken place at the Wickliffe PK-12 Campus is an example of what is possible with modernized facilities. The district can offer its students the latest technology and present unique educational programming that is only possible by having the entire district together under one roof. Flexible learning opportunities encourage students to diversify their talents and reach their full potential.

The Campus of Wickliffe Ribbon Cutting

"I think the new school will bring everyone together like one big family."
Jules
11th Grade Student
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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Understanding the Impact of Quality Athletic Facilities

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Understanding the Impact of Quality Athletic Facilities
For championship-winning Kirtland Local Schools, the athletics program is not just about playing sports but also giving young people a well-rounded student experience that builds character to help them better prepare for future challenges. Understanding the impact of quality athletic facilities helps Kirtland stand apart from its competition.

Understanding the Impact of Quality Athletic Facilities

When the Kirtland Local School District decided to renovate and redesign the Kirtland High School stadium, the intent was to provide a cutting-edge facility that encouraged opportunities for athletic excellence for their students.

The extensive stadium renovation included a safety-tested artificial turf, a polyurethane track surface, a youth play area beyond the endzone, a video scoreboard, LED stadium lighting, an updated electrical system, and improved stormwater management. The stadium layout was also redesigned by moving the visitor stands outside the track, providing adequate space to accommodate soccer games in addition to football.

The completed stadium was officially renamed Wilson Stadium after former alum John Wilson. Kirtland Local Schools partnered with ThenDesign Architecture (TDA) to provide architectural and design services by working with school administrators to update the stadium. Marous Brothers Construction was the construction manager at risk. 

After the ribbon cutting ceremony on August 26, the first home football game commenced.

"It's about having great facilities for our kids to get the most out of their performance."
Chad VanArnhem
Superintendent of Kirtland Local Schools

Sports Is Not Just About Sports

Superintendent Chad VanArnhem conducted research proving the correlation between student involvement in extracurricular activities and higher GPAs. He discovered that being engaged outside the classroom helps student effectiveness inside the classroom. School sports programs exercise students’ bodies and minds, assisting in their personal development on the field and off.

Kirtland LSD Athletics Director Matt Paul commented that students will get more out of the programs than just playing a sport. He sees the value of providing an exceptional athletic facility to encourage participation and community support, “I learned from working with teammates and coaches and about life by playing on the field more than I ever did in a classroom.”

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and First Home Football Game
"With athletics, you learn to be a leader. You can learn to get along and be a family with your peers."
Macquire
Football Player

Better, Quicker, and Safer

The renovation of Wilson Stadium was designed with safety in mind. The main component of the project is the high-grade synthetic turf that enhances athletic performance while providing a more reliable play surface. Even two days of historic rain before the first home game was not a concern.

Lead architect Claire Bank, RA, of ThenDesign Architecture, said that the decision to install synthetic turf gained momentum among staff and students, “There has been a lot of excitement around the new turf because it will expand the time players will be able to use the field.” She continued, “Since the field will be synthetic, it can be used during a broader range of weather conditions without creating unsafe conditions or damaging the surface.”

Both soccer and football players noted the stark difference between the new turf and the former grass field. There is a sense of improved speed and agility. The artificial turf is level and consistent across the field, minimizing the risk of rolled ankles and strained hamstrings due to divots or mud.

Wilson Stadium’s new synthetic turf field provides uniform predictability so that athletes can focus on their gameplay and not worry about injuries.

Aerial Photography Courtesy of Marous Brothers Construction
"When you have great athletes, you want facilities that support their journeys and allow them to thrive."
Claire Bank, RA
ThenDesign Architecture

If You Build It, They Will Play

“Kirtland’s successful athletics program is the pride of the local community,” noted Claire Bank. “Driving through Kirtland on a game night, the stadium comes alive. You can feel the enthusiasm in the community for its students. The stadium is vibrant, projecting that classic high school experience. It was an honor to be a part of its transformation.”

The newly renovated Wilson Stadium creates opportunities for athletes to get the most out of their talents. Achieving personal excellence is now matched with a facility to reflect that quality. Respect, selflessness, and perseverance are only a few of the traits students can be exposed to while participating in extracurricular activities like the athletics program at Kirtland.

Wilson Stadium is a modern athletic facility that all Kirtland High School students and their parents can be proud of.

On December 1, the Kirtland High School Football team won the OHSAA Division VI State Championship with a 15-1 record for the 2023 season.

"I now have a sense of pride to show people what we have."
Matt Paul
Athletic Director of Kirtland Local Schools
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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Perry LSD’s Southway Elementary Animation

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Perry LSD's Southway Elementary Animation
Created by ThenDesign Architecture artists, the Southway Elementary animation provided the Perry Local School District with a sneak peek of what the new school will look like once it is completed. Two elementary school students gave their impressions of the rendering and shared their initial reactions to the modernized spaces.

Perry Local School District's Southway Elementary Animation

As part of the design development process for the Perry Local School District, ThenDesign Architecture created a fly-through animation of what the completed Southway Elementary School will look like.

Representing their peers, Perry students, fifth-grader Veda and sixth-grader Jordan were shown the virtual walkthrough video to get their initial reactions and share their thoughts on the new school.

"It's very open. Everyone can find the entrance very easily."
Jordan
6th Grade Student

Perry Local School District's Southway Elementary Animation

Three Elementary Schools in Progress

The Perry Community approved a bond levy in early 2020 to secure funds to update its educational facilities. This successful bond passage, which raised $85 million from the community, was a crucial step in the district’s facility projects. It allowed the district to secure additional funds from the state through the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC), which agreed to provide another $80 million towards the project.

With three elementary schools currently under construction, PJ Lohr, Watson, and Southway, the district has been providing regular updates to keep the community informed of the progress.

Understanding the benefits these new schools will bring to the district will maintain the project’s momentum, which is necessary to provide students with the best educational environment possible.

Southway Elementary Animation Frames
"I like all the colors and how the tables are different shapes and connect together."
Veda
5th Grade Student
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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Educational Visioning for Brunswick City Schools New High School

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Brunswick City Schools Conducted Educational Visioning for their New High School
On September 20th, students, parents, community members, faith leaders, city officials, and district staff attended an Educational Visioning Session hosted by ThenDesign Architecture at Brunswick High School. This 4-hour session focused on collaboration and brainstorming designs for the district's new high school.

Brunswick City Schools - Educational Visioning for their New High School

On September 20th, students, parents, community members, faith leaders, city officials, and district staff attended an Educational Visioning Session hosted by ThenDesign Architecture at Brunswick High School. This 4-hour session focused on collaboration and brainstorming designs for the district’s new high school. Ideas were discussed for how it can improve every student’s educational experience.

Superintendent Jason Niedermeyer commented: “Today we came together to talk about our vision for Brunswick students, what it looks like from a 21st-century learning perspective, and how we can create a flexible learning environment for our kids. This involves taking what we currently do and transforming it for the betterment of our students.”

With over 80 in attendance, everyone had a say in the design activities. The new, 301,740 sf, 9-12 high school includes an auditorium and replaces the existing school. It will provide a modern educational environment better positioned to accommodate personalized student needs and foster learning and collaboration.

A current high school senior who attended, Michael Romano, was optimistic about the plans. “Today, we’re having a community meeting with different members of our city and community to get ideas of what different groups want for this new high school that will be built. We shared our inputs and came together for the best solution for everyone.”

In small groups, teams worked to develop a vision for the high school, prioritize goals, analyze learning environments, and explore options for space planning.

“Today we came together to talk about our vision for Brunswick students ... and how we can create a flexible learning environment for our kids. This involves taking what we currently do and transforming it for the betterment of our students."
Jason Niedermeyer
Superintendent of Brunswick City Schools

Educational Visioning - Brainstorming for the New School

The session was divided into activities that presented opportunities for attendees to provide input on the project. Since it is early in the design process, architects use this broad feedback to study the similarities between groups of community members and district staff and establish common goals.

The three major activities conducted were:

  • Where Are We Now? – Learning about the project and examining case studies for different high school configurations.
  • Understanding Our Learning Environment – Group work that defined the priorities for the project, and categorized what spaces best supported their priorities through the lens of the “Journey of a Blue Devil.”
  • Putting it all Together – Based on the information developed in the session, groups laid out their solutions for the new school.

These activities are geared towards gathering input that designers will use for the early design phases.

Brunswick CSD Visioning Session
"The new building is going to be a cornerstone for our entire community."
Kim Goessler
Board of Education Member

Where are we now?

“To know where we are headed as a district, it is important to understand where we are now,” commented High School Principal Keith Merrill. He provided an overview of challenges at the current high school. “We want you to work collaboratively, think critically, and problem solve to come up with learning opportunities that overcome the challenges of our current space and come up with solutions for what students need to be successful.”

A few of the biggest challenges he referenced were:

The overall school length. The existing building is 1/4 mile long and is challenging for students to travel through, often resulting in tardiness due to distance.
The outdated heating and cooling systems do not regulate temperatures in many classrooms.
Science Labs that don’t have adequate space for equipment, outlets for technology, and life skills rooms that don’t support modern programming.
Different-sized classrooms with dark environments, no exterior windows, and columns or structural objects that obscure views in some rooms.

“We can all remember those “special spaces,” from our high school experience, and this new school will contain more “special spaces” for all our students in a few short years,” reiterated Mr. Merrill. “Today, part of this design process is figuring out what those can be.”

Educational Visioning with Brunswick City Schools:

School planning is firmly rooted in the academic and curricular goals of each school district. Spaces should reflect how the district teaches students now but allow for flexibility to adapt in the future.

ThenDesign Architecture Project Manager Scott Alleman commented, “We gauge where the district is with their educational goals and see how the building layout can accommodate those. It is very important for us.”

Scott highlighted two recent case studies for how a more “Traditional Learning Environment” and “Student-Centered Learning Environment” building layouts work and how they can be potentially blended for the Brunswick City School District.

Future activities sometimes highlight priorities from the community. “During the last activity, we see how people lay out adjacencies, and those are things we sometimes haven’t even thought about yet and wouldn’t unless we heard it from them.”

Case Study Schools - Fremont Ross 9-12 High School and Cuyahoga Falls 6-12 School
"I’m excited because I’m going to go to the new school. My friends should be excited because they’re going to go to the school one day, and they’re going to think it’s super awesome."
Avery
Brunswick Middle School 6th Grade Student

Understanding Our Learning Environment

Superintendent Niedermeyer added perspective to the decisions the group was making. “Think about ‘What is our vision for our students,’ what does that look like from a 21st-century learning perspective and deeper learning for our students?”

Designing a school shouldn’t just accommodate current activities but how education can change in the future. He continues, “How can we create flexible learning environments for our kids as we move forward? How can we take what we currently do and transform that for future generations of students?

Using both digital and written materials, community members were able to prioritize their wishes for components of the new high school.

The top three priorities for this group included:

  1. Student-Centered Learning Environments
  2. Technology
  3. Collaborative Space

Each individual recorded their thoughts on the major components of the building, which will be examined and incorporated as the design progresses.

Each group also worked together to decide what type of learning environment best supported the goals of the School District as defined in the “Journey of a Blue Devil”.

Group preferences on priorities for the new high school

Putting it all Together

The final activity tasked groups with laying out their preferred site plan for the new school. Incorporating the necessary square footage for different interior academic and support spaces, as well as parking and athletics, the groups grappled with site entry, access, and traffic flow of the building. They then reported their decisions to the whole group, answered questions, and provided insight into the major discussion points.

Common themes developed across the groups included:

  • Music spaces and the Performing Arts Center were grouped together
  • 6 groups used departmental organization. 4 groups used grade-level organization
  • Groups often paired Math and Science together, with Language Arts and Social Studies paired together
  • Inclusion of parking by baseball fields, away from Center Road.
  • The gymnasium, music spaces, and auditorium were often paired together or adjacent to each other
    • These were often on the north side of the plan toward outdoor athletics.
  • The media center was often placed adjacent to academic core spaces
  • Classrooms and academic programs were usually on the south side of the plan, towards Center Road.
  • The administration spaces were usually centralized in the plan instead of spread throughout the building.
  • Baseball fields were often grouped together in a clover pattern.

Group developed site plans (Tables 1-10)
"You [community members and staff] are essential members of this process, helping us to design what will be the future home of our kids and our community."
Keith Merrill
Brunswick High School Principal

Next Steps

With Educational Visioning complete, the design team is compiling a summary of the day’s activities and outcome report to be viewed by the community. The outcomes of these activities help inform the new school’s design.

In four hours, over 80 members of the Brunswick community came together to brainstorm and express their ideas for the new school. Capturing a variety of perspectives from attendees allows designers to incorporate changes that can benefit students for years to come.

Board of Education Member Kim Goessler was encouraged by what the new high school could mean for the district. “I think this will be a great opportunity for our students to have access to 21st-century learning capabilities…and provide an opportunity to use new technologies and collaborate together. The new building is going to be a cornerstone for our entire community.”

This fall, architects are working through the schematic design phase. During this phase, initial plans are developed, which will be used for initial cost estimation. Currently, the design team is engaging with district staff to better understand their individual needs for inclusion in the new plans.

View the report below from the Educational Visioning Session to see the group’s findings that day.

Download the Full Educational Visioning Report Here
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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Wickliffe PK-12 Campus Ribbon Cutting

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Wickliffe PK-12 Campus Ribbon Cutting
Over 700 attendees came to Wickliffe, Ohio, to celebrate the new PK-12 Campus grand opening, open house, and ribbon cutting ceremony. After the formal event, parents, students, and community members were invited to tour the school to witness the next generation of educational design.

Wickliffe PK-12 Campus Ribbon Cutting

On August 26, 2023, community members, distinguished guests, educators, and students gathered in Wickliffe, Ohio, to celebrate the grand opening of the Wickliffe PreK-12 Campus. Nearly seven hundred attendees were in the Student Commons for the ribbon cutting ceremony.

This two-story, 204,000 SF building incorporates spaces to greatly expand opportunities for the curriculum, provide students with better collaborative spaces, flexible classrooms, and athletic areas, and include a new performing arts center that seats 500. The $60 million project replaces the aging elementary, middle, and high schools with a single PreK-12 school. In addition, the new facility allows expansion of the Family Resource Center, a community center that offers free services to many who are in need.

 

Watch the Wickliffe PK-12 Campus Ribbon Cutting Highlights

"This is not the work simply of the school staff or administration, but the work of an entire community. This is your work."
Joseph Spiccia
Superintendent of Wickliffe City Schools

Welcome Community Members and Distinguished Guests

Among the many distinguished guests were Ohio State Senator Jerry Cirino, Ohio House Representative Daniel Troy, Lake County Commissioners John Plecnik and Richard Regovich, Wickliffe Mayor Joseph Sakacs, Board of Education members, including President Carl Marine, and representatives from the Ohio School Boards Association, ThenDesign Architecture, and Hammond Construction.

Photos Courtesy of Hammond Construction
"We are excited to see the extraordinary educational opportunities that will be afforded to our students now and into the future."
Carl Marine
President of the Board of Education

Two Surprise Awards Announced

As an unexpected treat, Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA) Executive Committee Member Sally Green revealed that two momentous achievements were being presented. Joseph Spiccia was selected as the 2023 Northeast Region Superintendent of the Year.

Then, they designated Don Marn, a school board member, as the “2023 All-Ohioan.” This designation is the most prestigious award possible and made possible due to his 30-year service on the Wickliffe City Schools board of education.

An Event to Remember
"The administrative team wants to express our appreciation to the community for your continuous support and dedication to our students."
Lori Rodman
Head of Schools

The Wickliffe PK-12 Campus was designed by ThenDesign Architecture (TDA), the project being led by Claire Bank, RA. Hammond Construction was the Construction Manager at Risk.

After the ribbon cutting ceremony, parents and students toured the facility to get a hands-on preview of the modernized spaces intentionally created to enhance student learning by optimizing efficiency and comfort for students and teachers. The Wickliffe PK-12 Campus is a shining example of the next generation of educational design.

"Today is particularly exciting because they used to be in three separate buildings. It's a rare opportunity to rebuild an entire district and place them under one roof."
Claire Bank, RA
ThenDesign Architecture

Making A Dream Reality

Construction of the project officially began on May 6, 2021, with a Groundbreaking Ceremony.

Active participation from community members and stakeholders was vital to the design process. One of the more unique events was the Playground Engagement, where students gave valuable input on the layout of their own playgrounds.

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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Kirtland Local Schools Newly Renovated Wilson Stadium Officially Opens

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Kirtland Local Schools Newly Renovated Wilson Stadium Officially Opens
Despite a major storm and power outages in Northeastern Ohio, the Kirtland Local School District persevered and held a ribbon cutting ceremony that officially inaugurated the newly renovated Kirtland High School athletics stadium. The first home football game at Wilson Stadium brought victory to the Hornets.

Kirtland Local School's Newly Renovated Wilson Stadium Officially Opens

Despite a major storm and power outages in Northeastern Ohio, the Kirtland Local School District persevered and held a ribbon cutting ceremony that officially inaugurated the newly renovated Kirtland High School athletics stadium. The completely remodeled and renamed Wilson Stadium opened as planned at the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year.

Kirtland Local Schools partnered with ThenDesign Architecture (TDA) to provide architectural and design services by working with school administrators to update the stadium. Marous Brothers Construction was the construction manager at risk.

With the state-of-the-art stadium featuring a resurfaced polyurethane track, high-quality synthetic turf, efficient LED lighting, a vibrant, cutting-edge digital 14′ by 25′ 15,900-watt scoreboard, and a remodeled press box, the modernized facility will further advance the championship-winning Kirtland High School sports program and become the envy of rival districts throughout the state.

On August 26, Kirtland Local School District Superintendent Chad VanArnhem welcomed guests by playing a special pre-recorded introduction on the brand-new scoreboard, demonstrating the sharp video and crisp sound. “As we stand before this renovated stadium, our anticipation for the future knows no bounds,” he told the crowd. “This exquisite facility is poised to host countless milestones in the years ahead.”

A New Era of Excellence Begins

“Having an amazing new field and stadium will continue the athletic excellence and push forward the academic excellence that Kirtland High School and all of our schools in Lake County are known for,” noted Lake County Commissioner John Plecnik.

Among the attendees to give special comments at the newly renovated Wilson Stadium, Kirtland Schools Athletic Director Matt Paul acknowledged the challenge brought by the recent storm, “I was going to start by saying I was 100% sure we’d never have to move another game now that we have the synthetic turf. And then yesterday happened, and I was in full panic mode. I am so glad…we’re here today.”

“What an exciting evening. I'm so excited for our football team, cheerleaders, and band to be able to showcase this beautiful facility that we have just finished up.”
Chad VanArnhem
Superintendent of Kirtland Local Schools

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Fans Flood the New Wilson Stadium

The celebratory atmosphere of the standing-room-only packed stadium was enhanced by the palpable excitement of the season’s first home football game, which took place after the ribbon cutting.

In true Hornet’s fashion, the football team brought their all onto the playing field before the cheering crowd, and beat their opponents, scoring the first win of the season.

An Evening of Excitement

Playing to Win

The student-athletes who played a game in the new stadium shared their thoughts on the artificial turf and being in a redesigned stadium. “We feel better and quicker,” noted Will, a 12th-grade football player. “It’s a better environment. Everyone is excited about the turf. It’s great.”

Maia is a girls’ soccer team member, “Not only is it awesome to be able to play on a turf field my senior year, but it’s about the true measure of success beyond the scoreboard. It’s about the values we uphold, the friendships we forge, and the lessons we learn on and off the field.”

Thanks to the passing of a levy and the generous contributions from the local Kirtland community, the renovated cutting-edge Wilson Stadium is a versatile facility that will host soccer, football, and track and field competitions for decades to come.

Football Football Football
"I could say I've always been proud to be a Hornet, but I haven't always been proud of our facilities. But now I am. I'm very proud of this stadium."
Matt Paul
Athletic Director of Kirtland Local Schools

Photo Courtesy of Marous Brothers Construction

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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Fairport Harbor EVSD Campus Walkthrough

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Fairport Harbor EVSD Campus Walkthrough
As part of the architectural design process, an animated walkthrough for Fairport Harbor's new school interior was presented to two high school juniors, Charlie and Hannah. They were the first in the district to see the design renderings and provided their impressions.

Fairport Harbor EVSD Campus Walkthrough

As part of the architectural design process, an animated walkthrough for Fairport Harbor’s new school interior was presented at the August School Board Meeting. The virtual walkthrough included commentary from two high school juniors, Charlie and Hannah.

The new Fairport Harbor Exempted School District’s PreK-12 Campus 116,000 SF building replaces the existing Harding High School, McKinley Elementary and attached Fairport Harbor Public Library. This new modern educational and library environment will be enjoyed by the community and future generations of Fairport Harbor students.

Fairport Harbor EVSD Campus Walkthrough Video Animation

"This new facility will give this community a sense of pride for the next century, just like the previous school gave the community a sense of pride for the last century. It will provide all students with the opportunity to thrive in a 21st century learning environment, be proud of their accomplishments, and their future."
William Billington
Superintendent of Fairport Harbor EVSD

A Virtual Tour

The students were the first in the district to see the design renderings and were recorded by ThenDesign Architecture (TDA) staff to provide their impressions and creative ideas on how to use the modernized spaces. Both were excited for future students who will occupy the new campus.

The video highlighted areas that included the main entrance, the public library and media center, the two gymnasiums, various ELA classrooms, a courtyard, and the two-level student dining and performance space.

Student Recording In Session

Fairport Harbor EVSD Students
Fairport Harbor EVSD Public Library & Media Center
Fairport Harbor EVSD Students
Fairport Harbor EVSD Dining & Performance Space
Fairport Harbor EVSD Students
Fairport Harbor EVSD Dining ELA
Fairport Harbor EVSD Students
Fairport Harbor EVSD Students

Creative Ideas For Future Students

Charlie hoped future students would utilize the expanded public library and media center to host more local community events. Upon seeing the courtyard, Hannah thought it would be an ideal location for dances or provide opportunities for a school garden club.

The presentation to the school board on August 22 was the public unveiling of the renderings. These concepts will continue to be developed as design phases continue. The PreK-12 Campus opens for the 2025-2026 school year.

Fairport Harbor EVSD High School Juniors Charlie and Hannah

Fairport Harbor EVSD Students

Fairport Harbor EVSD Celebrates the Groundbreaking for Their New School

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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Rocky River City Schools Celebrates Their New Media Center

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Rocky River City Schools Celebrates Their New Media Center
On August 15th, 2023 Rocky River City Schools opened the doors to their newly renovated Media Center in the Middle School. This roughly 3,500 sf space features a new modular floor plan with flexible furniture and technology upgrades, it opens officially for the 2023-2024 school year.

Rocky River City Schools - New Media Center

On August 15th, 2023 Rocky River City Schools opened the doors to their newly renovated Media Center in the Middle School. Attended by dozens that included the school administration, school board, members of the Rocky River Education Foundation, local media, teachers and students, all got to experience the space firsthand. This roughly 3,500 sf space features a new modular floor plan with flexible furniture and technology upgrades, it opens officially for the 2023-2024 school year.

It is the result of efforts between the school district, design and construction professionals and furniture designers and manufacturers.

Students can use this as a library, they can get books here, read, listen to media, use the maker space, Lego's, whatever they want to do creatively.
Sam Gifford
Executive Director of Facilities Operations Rocky River City Schools

An Opportunity for Flexible Space

Sam Gifford, Executive Director of Facilities Operations was excited to refresh this space for new, modern purposes. “The library was a state-of-the-art space when it was designed 23 years ago, but it’s just not now. We redeveloped it using a more modular plan, so it can be organized so several classes can be there at once. You can setup the mobile tables anyway you need to better use the great technology. This all happens in a comfortable space with great acoustics. It’s a welcoming environment for our students who want to use the library.”

This new renovation allows the district to use more programming in the library than before.

Brad Gellert with ThenDesign Architecture was the project manager and worked through the plans for the new media center as the project developed. “The district was interested in activating a space that wasn’t used as much as it could be. Now, as the district changes their curriculum and approach over the years, it can respond much more flexibly than before and can be arranged in many different configurations.”
We used school branded colors in the ceiling to tie in the overall aesthetic. Then we pulled in pops of maroon so the new space flowed into the rest of the school.
Nicole Monaco
Interior Designer, ThenDesign Architecture

Furniture and Color Palette

The furniture that was selected replaces older tables and chairs which were difficult to arrange to suit different class needs. Supplied by KI, pieces include rocking style chairs and easily movable tables and seating that can be arranged for small group work. They can be raised and lowered to create tiered workspaces where needed.

Interior finishes of the space was an important aspect for designers.

Nicole Monaco, an interior designer who worked on the project noted, “Some room finishes, like the existing book shelves on the perimeter of the space, we couldn’t remove. So we found textures that incorporated those color schemes and tied into the new reception desk.” School colors played a big part of the color palette. “We used school branded colors in the ceiling to tie in the overall aesthetic. Then we pulled in pops of maroon so the new space flowed into the rest of the school.”

This refresh will better activate a school space. Legos, technology, books and 3D printers all have stations in the space. This media center can also be used as a “makers space,” using digital tools for projects.

As the district changes their curriculum and approach over the years, this space can respond more flexibly than before, and be arranged in many different configurations.
Brad Gellert
Architect, ThenDesign Architecture

Gifford continues, “Students can use it as a library, they can get books here, read, listen to media, use the maker space, the Lego’s whatever they want to do creatively. We are also excited to see different classrooms come and use this bigger space. Multiple classes could come together, perhaps social studies, English, science, all can study together and do cross-curricular teaching.”

The space is completed just as the year is beginning.

“It turned into a very dynamic space, with activity and motion, versus just a library. Now we have dedicated space to really do those things.”

Ryan Caswell

Ryan Caswell

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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.