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 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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Kent City Schools – Athletic Facilities Tour

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Kent City Schools – Athletic Facilities Tour
Superintendent George Joseph provides a “sneak peek” into the new athletic facilities that are slated to be completed in the fall of 2022. This virtual tour shows the construction of the buildings and outlines the benefits that they will bring to the District.

Kent City Schools – Athletic Facilities Tour

Kent City Schools is a District in Northeast Ohio serving over 3,000 students. In the spring of 2020, a $25 million “No New Tax” construction bond was passed and is being used to make improvements to each school in the community. While the safety, security and educational environment is being enhanced in each building, another component of the project is improving the athletic facilities at Theodore Roosevelt High School.

Superintendent George Joseph gives a virtual tour of the construction progress and outlines the benefits these spaces bring to the District.

A tour given by the superintendent of the new Theodore Roosevelt Athletic Addition

“Right now, the education we are providing our students is excellent, but our facilities don't always match what we are providing. This new athletic facility, along with the other building improvements, will match the education we're providing to our students.”
George Joseph
Superintendent of Kent City Schools

Bond Passage and Vision

Leading up to construction, Kent City Schools partnered with ThenDesign Architecture to create an educational masterplan for the district. This extensive process allowed the administration and planners to work together, identifying the needs and opportunities for each school facility.

Then with the passage of the Bond, it allowed the District to move forward with their facilities plans.

Gratefully, George Joseph, the Superintendent of Kent Schools, stated: “Our “No New Tax” Bond Issue is a unique opportunity for Kent citizens to improve our facilities without raising taxes. Although we constantly maintain and repair our facilities, the district has not had the funding to make substantial building improvements or additions in the last 20 years.”

Mr. Joseph has been a tireless advocate for students and educators in the Kent school system, “Our educators care deeply about students and their academic and emotional success. We are grateful for the support of the Kent community.”

A tour given by the superintendent of the new Roosevelt Stadium Field House

"The new gymnasium complex, stadium synthetic turf and new field house will be a dramatic change at the Theodore Roosevelt High School."
Brad Gellert
Architect

Improved Athletic Facilities

Construction is underway on Theodore Roosevelt High School, with upgrades to its athletic facilities.

The high school gains a 14,000 sf addition on its north side, which includes a new competition gymnasium, entryway, ticket booth, concession stand, athletic storage, locker rooms and an 1,800 sf multipurpose space to be used for wrestling in the winter season.

Cheryl Fisher, an educational planner for TDA who worked closely on this project noted: “They’re one of the few districts of this size and enrollment that only has one gym. They are challenged when trying to fit all the activities scheduled during the day and night during game seasons. Now, multiple activities can take place simultaneously.”

In addition, a new synthetic turf field was installed last summer, and an adjacent field house is being built which includes a concession stand, public restrooms, “spirit shop,” varsity team locker rooms and training room is included. The stadium also received an upgraded sound system and lighting improvements.

Scenes from the construction update at Theodore Roosevelt High School and the new field house
“Kent is one of the few districts of this size and enrollment that only has one gym. They are challenged when trying to fit all the activities scheduled during the day and night during game seasons. Now, multiple activities can take place simultaneously.”
Cheryl Fisher
Educational Planner

Athletic Facilities Tour

“I am pleased to bring a “sneak peek” of these buildings to the community and can’t wait to see our athletes put them to use,” commented Mr. Joseph.

An athletic facilities tour is one way to give everyone a glimpse of these important spaces before they open.

“Right now, the education we are providing our students is excellent, but our facilities don’t match what we are providing,” Mr. Joseph states. “This new athletic facility, along with the other District-wide improvements, will match the education we’re providing to our students.”

Construction will be completed this fall with the new facilities open for the upcoming school year.

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 Moves Forward With Design of New School

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Fairport Harbor EVSD Moves Forward With Design of New School
On May 10th, members of the Fairport Harbor Exempted Village School District, the Fairport Harbor Public Library, and community members gathered to hear about the design process for the new 116,000 sf, $50 million Prek-12 school.

Fairport Harbor Exempted Village Schools Moves Forward With Design of New PreK-12 School

On May 10th, members of the Fairport Harbor Exempted Village School District, representatives of the Fairport Harbor Public Library, community members and students gathered in the Harding Auditorium to hear from representatives of ThenDesign Architecture (TDA) explain the design process for the new school, talk through the project scope, while providing an opportunity for questions.

The new 116,000 sf school will be located on the existing site for Harding High School. The $50 million dollar project will serve as a PreK-12 school, consolidating the existing high school, junior high and elementary into one building. 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.
"This has been an exciting time for me, it has been a dream of mine for years to get to this point. Our architects, ThenDesign Architecture, worked with us in planning for this bond issue and are ready to start designing our new school."
Domenic Paolo
Superintendent of Fairport Harbor EVSD

Roots of the Fairport Harbor School Construction Project

The District embarked on this project almost 5 years ago in 2017, as they began exploring options for new facilities.

Domenic Paolo, superintendent of Fairport Harbor Schools commented, “This has been an exciting time for me, it has been a dream of mine for years to get to this point. Our architects, ThenDesign Architecture, worked with us in planning for this bond issue and are ready to start designing our new school.”

At the outset of the project, a master planning process set the vision for this project.

The first meeting, held in February of 2017 which was led by the district administration and board members, was attended by 37 stakeholders from the community. The group began to explore options to replace the District’s aging infrastructure and then communicate on the District’s needs.

As an initial step, TDA was hired to validate the District’s building assessments from 2008. This validation process included tours of the buildings for deficiencies, identifying the costs to correct any issues, and then incorporating those findings into the official Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) assessment reports. If the cost to renovate is over 2/3 the cost of new construction, then the OFCC recommends new construction.

Considering the age and necessary repairs to the two schools, the District decided to pursue new construction.

Throughout 2018-2021, TDA and the facility committee explored a variety of site and master plan options for the new consolidated school. Although some sites seemed to offer greater advantages, such as flat ample acreage, there were usually other challenges associated, such as presence of hazardous materials, which ruled out feasibility.

Ultimately, the existing Harding High School site was deemed as the most appropriate site.

To view the full meeting, view the video below:

"The plan is to use the existing high school and middle school building during the two years of construction, then demolish the old building once the new building is complete."
Adam Parris
Architect

Developing Plans

A careful and thoughtful plan was developed and vetted by key stakeholders which included the facility planning committee, the District, TDA, and the OFCC. In fact, OFCC Senior Planner, Bill Prenosil commended the in-depth plan, noting that the project “was likely the most complex, but well thought out planning effort he has worked on to-date.”

In November 2021, the Fairport Harbor School District passed a bond issue to generate $5 million dollars which would go towards the construction of a new PreK-12 school. By participating with the State of Ohio through the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission, the District qualified for state assistance, to fund 93% of the total school construction.

At the May 10th meeting, Cheryl Fisher, an educational planner with TDA commented, “I want to give you what we hope is really exciting news. When we passed the bond in November 2021, we weren’t anticipating the state to provide their 93% for another year or two or three.”

This could mean that the District would construct a small portion of the building, then wait for state funding to construct the remaining portion.

Fisher continues “What we have heard since then is that all of the “stages are set” and we are hopeful for the OFCC funding to come in as early as July 2022. So, that eliminates the need to do a segmented portion of the project, and we can do the entire design of the PreK-12 project at once. That’s very, very exciting news for the community.”

If the OFCC fully funds the project in July, the new school will be built all at once, instead of phasing the construction over several years.

Project Site

The new school will be constructed on the existing site of Harding High School.

Adam Parris, project manager for the new school commented, “The plan is to use the existing high school and middle school building during the two years of construction, then demolish the old building once the new building is complete.”

This is common for projects built near existing schools.

Parris continues, “Students won’t be using a “swing space” or be moved off campus during the project. Construction and education will happen on the same site for two years.”

Formal traffic and site studies will be carried out at the beginning of the project to ensure feasibility of construction on this site.

“This is a challenging site, as you can see, the existing school takes up a portion of the site and the gym addition is facing the football field. We’re fairly limited to what we can do. As architects, we love challenges, and this site has its fair share of challenges for us to work with.”

Despite a challenging construction climate, the team is confident the school and library project will fit on the site and work within the budget established.

To view the presentation, access the information below:

Next Steps

An Educational Visioning Session is a collaborative event that will be held at the end of the school year. Its purpose is to allow architects, the School District and key stakeholders to imagine the ways a new school facility can provide a better educational environment. Information is gathered to establish project goals, design challenges and priorities, along with providing a glimpse into how these new spaces will further the school district’s curriculum.

A detailed report will be released after this event on the District’s website.

Then, over the summer, the design team will be spending time putting together building components and initial plans for the new school with educator and community engagements planned for the fall of 2022. This crucial feedback informs the overall layout and design of the new school.

For those with questions or feedback on the project, please visit the District’s website to learn more, or submit any questions and feedback you have.

Ryan Caswell

Ryan Caswell

Communications

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Ryan Caswell

Ryan Caswell

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

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Progress Continues on Elementary Schools, Perry Local Schools
In early 2020, the Perry community approved a bond levy to secure funds to build new elementary schools and perform needed renovations to the high school. The design and construction process face unprecedented challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic but move forward with providing the best educational environment for Perry Local School students.

Progress on the Perry Local Schools Building Plans

In early 2020, the Perry Community approved a bond levy to secure funds to update their educational facilities. This came after an intensive engagement process where the Perry Local School District, educators, community members and design professionals gathered to outline goals for education in Perry Township. The community was clear– addressing the need for new elementary schools was the #1 priority.

Due to the successful bond passage, the District raised $85 million from the community which allowed them to secure funds from the state of Ohio, through the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC), who agreed to provide another $80 million towards the project. While the total project is divided into phases, the first phase includes initial renovations to Perry High School and a plan to address the aging elementary schools in the District. At phase 2, when state money is distributed, then build a new middle school and complete the renovations to the Perry High School.

Despite the challenges posed by Covid-19 and material supply shortages, the District is moving forward with constructing new elementary schools, acting on promises made during the Bond campaign, and ensuring the best educational opportunities for students. The project is expected to break ground in the fall of 2022.
"We’ve learned relationships are important...in smaller schools it is easier to build a relationship with a young person. You have to build interpersonal positive relationships with kids for them to learn and grow."
Scott Beatty
Superintendent at Perry Local Schools

The Foundation of the Plan

The District began laying the foundation for the building project in early 2017. They conducted a widespread survey to understand whether the community supported a project that addressed their facilities, and if so, which buildings were a priority. The results were clear, addressing the elementary schools was the #1 priority.

Soon after, the “Building Advisory Group” was formed. The group was comprised of thirty-four individuals who volunteered their time to examine master plans, funding sources, and the educational future of the District. It included township trustees, union representatives, current and former Board of Education members, parents, and educators.

Design and construction professionals then assessed District buildings. Their goal was to determine building needs, cost of renovations and structural soundness. Armed with this information, the Advisory Group examined around a dozen different facilities master plans with the OFCC.

An “educational master plan” is a document that presents different building configurations that would satisfy District needs. It takes into account District enrollment, building assessments, necessary square footage and identifies the amount that the state will co-fund for the project.

While the OFCC recommended consolidating elementaries into much larger buildings, with higher student counts, the community clearly favored solutions that kept student populations lower, in a more intimate setting.

Having received all this information, the District combined it into a phased plan that could create more efficient buildings, make improvements to every building in the District, and honor the community’s desire to address the elementary schools, maintaining their intimate, community-oriented feel.

To fund it, a bond issue was passed in 2020 on the first attempt.

Perry Local Schools - Project Timeline

Download the Project Timeline
“New facilities will definitely foster a love of learning among young students, because we're modernizing very quickly. Upgrading our buildings, making a better learning space, and adapting to how the next generation of kids are learning will definitely help them."
Perry High School Senior

Design Process

Since that time, administrators, educators, and design professionals have been preparing plans for three new elementary schools, located strategically across the community.

While the Covid-19 pandemic presented a challenge to the project, the team persisted through the process. They have conducted over 30 meetings and have been involved for countless hours designing the schools.

During the design process, the District assembled a “Building Focus Group” to provide feedback on the new elementary schools. One purpose of this group was to solicit the community’s feedback on how best to integrate the buildings into their neighborhood locations. Local educators, the Perry Historical Society, administrators, and others provided input on each building. One idea adopted from this group was to use the exterior design for each school to represent a different aspect of the community.

The new schools would each exemplify an aspect of the Perry community. Southway gives a nod to the area’s industrial history, Watson represents music and the arts and Lohr echoes the agricultural roots of the community.

The Building Focus Group also helped identified many important interior features. Some examples include:

  • An independent gymnasium and cafeteria space, which would bring much greater flexibility to the school’s master schedule
  • Separate the “community focused spaces” from academic areas to allow for easier community use in after school activities
  • Minimizing travel distance from classrooms to the restrooms, which is more efficient and reduces behavioral issues
  • Incorporate more natural light into the building, and create easy access to outdoor play spaces

April Board Update

Download the April Board Update

Concept Imagery for the new elementary schools:

Southway P.J. Lohr Watson
"Concepts for the building's exteriors were derived from meetings with members from the Perry historical society, local teachers, administrators, and people involved in the community. They all decided these are some of the elements that reflect who Perry is as a community."
Ryan Schmit
Architect

Architectural Features

In each of the three buildings, the school is organized around a series of zones. The community focused zone includes the gymnasium, student dining, restroom facilities and media center. These are centrally located near the main entrance to provide easy access for community for after school activities. The gymnasium doubles as a performance space, with an included stage which is easily serviced by the school kitchen across the hall. The Media Center features flexible furniture for collaborative work, with two attached small group rooms. The academic zone is a two-story wing where classes are held. Classroom sizes are larger than the current facilities and banks of windows allow for more abundant natural light. Space is also dedicated for future expansion and special education. The zone for building administration is centrally located with areas for guidance counsellors, a health clinic, and staff offices. Safety and security is also enhanced by a secure vestibule which is connected to the main office for visitor check-ins.

In addition to the construction of 3 new elementary schools, the Perry High School is receiving targeted improvements. Starting this summer, the roof will be replaced to extend the life of this building. More updates are coming and will be announced as the project continues.

Perry Local Schools - Project Update Brochure

Download the Perry Local Schools - Project Update Brochure

Next Steps

A tremendous amount of work has gone into the Perry Local Schools Building Project. After receiving feedback from educators, community members and design and construction professionals, these improvements and enhancements will best position the District for the years ahead.

The District will continue planning discussions in the hope of moving dirt the summer or fall of 2022. New developments and progress will be communicated via the District’s webpage. In addition, the District is interested in continuously seeking feedback and input from the community which can be directed to PerryFAQ@perrylocal.org.

The mission of Perry Local schools is, “To emphasize excellence in learning and provide opportunities for every child to realize his/her potential in a safe environment. To encourage students to become responsible, productive citizens and life-long learners.” Understanding the benefits these new schools will bring to the District, maintaining momentum on the project is necessary to provide students with the best educational environment possible.

Let’s work together to make education better. Interested in speaking with us? Get in touch!

Ryan Caswell

Ryan Caswell

Communications

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Ryan Caswell

Ryan Caswell

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

Lexington 7-12 School -Academic Success Under One Roof

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Lexington 7-12 School - Academic Success Under One Roof
In 2019, Lexington Local Schools embarked on a journey to consolidate and redevelop their educational facilities. After a successful bond issue in 2018, combined with extensive educational planning, the district began designs for the new Lexington 7-12 school.

Lexington 7-12 School - Academic Success Under One Roof

In 2019, Lexington Local Schools embarked on a journey to consolidate and redevelop their educational facilities. After a successful bond issue in 2018, combined with extensive educational planning, the district began designs for the new Lexington 7-12 school. This 200,000sf project hosts grades 7-12, dividing them into two academic wings, 7-8 and 9-12. This state-of-the-art facility incorporates a variety of student-centered design principles including open collaborative and flexible spaces, alongside more traditional academic and classroom spaces. The building also houses a new performing arts center that seats 750 guests, 3 gymnasiums and collegiate level baseball and softball fields.

This $56 million dollar school is scheduled to open for the 2022-2023 academic year and will provide expanded educational opportunities for its 1,200 students.
"The district was adamant that academics were the number one focus, but they pride themselves in athletics and the arts."
Scott Alleman
Architect

Educational Visioning - Setting the Right Goals

The average age of District buildings is 69 years old, and this aging infrastructure was increasingly difficult to maintain. The administration felt strongly that new facilities would put the district on a path to success It became clear it was time for the community to consider new school buildings.

In November 2018, district voters approved an 8.6-mill bond issue for $55.95 million to be used for construction costs associated with the project. Working together with the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission through the Expedited Local Partnership Program (ELPP), the district plans to consolidate their 5 existing school buildings into 2 buildings, a 7-12 school and pre-K-6 school. They began designs for the 7-12 building first.

With funding secured, design began in earnest with educational visioning in 2019. The Lexington School District met with educators, community members, and local leaders to determine their educational priorities for their new facilities. 

Visioning combined with touring local schools allowed the administrators and designers to craft a layout that would suit the educational needs of the district.

Project architect, Scott Alleman commented “Lexington is a traditional community and they wanted to establish a forward-thinking model for education.” He continues, “They knew they didn’t simply want “double loaded corridors,” so we worked through a variety of layouts. It became clear what strategies would work best.”

Historical Significance and Layout

The Lexington Ohio community is proud of their rich history in education. The oldest school building in the district was built in the 1890’s and is a part of the existing Junior High School. This building is a patchwork of buildings and renovations built over the decades. The bulk of the school was built in 1930 with the 1890s school, now housing the history department. Major renovations in 1970 were the last major improvement. This along with other aging infrastructure prompted the district to take action. However, in recognition of this history, the district plans to salvage relics from the existing buildings and incorporate these pieces into key spaces of the new school.

During planning, the existing high school site was identified as the best location for the new school. This forced the district and design team to be efficient with spatial designs for the new building. Safety is a major consideration during construction as the new building is being built 30 feet away from the existing building. This allows the construction site to become a “real time” classroom for students as they watched their new school assembled right in front of them.

The high school wing occupies the northside of the building, while the junior high is located on the south side. They are joined together by an elongated student dining collaborative and transitions in flooring material and other interior finishes signify the transition between the two academic spaces.

While both academic wings are organized around collaborative learning spaces, the High School academic wing features a 2 story open collaborative space. Math and Science open to the collaborative space on the second floor, and English, World Languages and Social Studies open to the space on the first floor.
"Lexington is a traditional community and they wanted to establish a forward-thinking model for education." They knew they didn't simply want "double loaded corridors," it became clear what strategies would work best."
Scott Alleman
Architect

Arts and Athletics in the Lexington 7-12 School

“The district was adamant that academics were the number one focus, but they pride themselves in athletics and the arts.” At the educational visioning session, many in the community voiced support for these programs. “The music and arts programs are amazing and were a huge focus of the design process,” recalls Alleman, “they shone through in Educational Visioning and are received well in the community.”

A 750 seat Performing Arts Center and serves as a focal point for the arts program and joins to the student dining space. “This is one of the spaces that gets me really excited. When I stand on stage and look out, even though there aren’t seats yet, you can imagine what it will look like when it’s done” continues Alleman.

In addition to this, the athletic program is receiving a number of enhancements with the new facility.

Enhanced softball fields are located down the hill from the 7-12 building and are anchored by a concessions and storage building centered between the two fields. Each field features bleachers with a press box, mesh backstops and beautiful new scoreboards highlighted in purple and gold, the school’s colors. The fields are connected to the junior high school parking lot by a stairway and processional ramp that provides stunning views of the fields and site while also providing ADA access. The whole complex will provide a streamlined and engaging experience for visitors. These “collegiate level” fields will provide added athletic opportunities for Lexington’s baseball and softball programs.

The new facility also features 3 expanded gymnasiums–a high school competition gymnasium, an auxiliary gymnasium and a junior high school gymnasium. The competition gymnasium has seating capacity for 2,400 people with a mezzanine which will be used for wrestling practices and other activities.

Exciting Spaces / Move in and Next Steps

“I think I am most excited about the student dining space,” states Alleman, “It’s hard to picture now, since it isn’t far along, but entering into that 2-story space will be dramatic as you enter the building.”

Student Dining is central to the scheme, as it can be used by 400 students during lunch periods, connects the academic wings for the high school and junior high school and serves as the lobby for the Performing Arts Center and gymnasiums. “You can program the student dining space to support so many different functions, it’s how you economize the design and make the most of your budget.”

The student dining separates these public spaces from the more private, academic focused areas.

The Lexington 7-12 School is scheduled to be finished this summer and open for the 2022-2023 academic year. At that point, demolition of the existing high school will begin, with sitework finished by the summer of 2023.

Let’s work together to make education better. Interested in speaking with us? Get in touch!

Ryan Caswell

Ryan Caswell

Communications

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Ryan Caswell

Ryan Caswell

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

Internship Experiences: Eleanor Huntley

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Internship Experiences: Eleanor Huntley
Committed to helping educate architects of the future, ThenDesign Architecture (TDA) accepts architectural interns into our office each year. Eleanor Huntley spent her summer months as an architectural intern at TDA. Eleanor, who was initially interested in engineering, decided to study architecture since it provided an opportunity for creative problem solving and its potential to impact everyday life.

Eleanor Huntley - Architectural Intern

Committed to educating future architects, ThenDesign Architecture (TDA) accepts architectural interns into our office each year. Eleanor Huntley spent her summer months as an intern at TDA. Eleanor, who was initially interested in engineering, decided to study architecture since it provided opportunities for creative problem solving and to affect people’s everyday life. She is driven to explore educational design and improve each student’s experience while impacting their local community.

Reflecting on her time at TDA, Eleanor commented: “I learned to value the communication and collaboration between everyone in the process. There are a lot of people involved, from clients, to construction managers, to consultants and architects. Everyone needs to be satisfied with the project because each building will last for years to come.” Eleanor continues, “It’s very rewarding to feel like the work you are doing actually matters and contributes to society. Since TDA specializes in education and really focuses on the client, they have been very successful in this.”

"It's very rewarding to feel like the work you are doing actually matters and contributes to society ... It's very rewarding to feel like the work you are doing actually matters and contributes to society."
Eleanor Huntley
Architectural Intern

Questions for Eleanor Huntley

What is your typical day like?

For my internship, I worked with James Cowan, a project manager, and Jeff Henderson on the East Tech Culinary Program Renovation. They have both been wonderful, teaching me as we go, and to collaborate with on this project. We are in design development and when construction starts, I hope to come back to see more of that process.

Typically, each morning, I reorient myself on tasks for the day and begin working in Revit. The morning is when I can complete assignments from the previous days discussions. This could be adjusting classroom and furniture layouts, or producing new renderings. I do a lot of renderings! Then in the afternoon, we meet together and work through any changes we received from the client. Since this project is built in Revit, I update the model, produce new floor plans and send them to the client for any changes. The next day it begins all over again!

How was the internship different than you expected?

This is my first professional internship with an architecture firm. I had some experience as a senior in high school, but it was from the client’s perspective and the work was largely limited to my high school. At TDA, I am working directly on an architectural model.

I came to this internship expecting to do background work and maybe sit in a few meetings. I thought the project manager or principal architect would primarily work with the client. It was a huge surprise when I was given an important role. During my time, I attended a lot of meetings, corresponded with our clients, and they knew me by name. I was so excited when I got my first phone call!

What was memorable about your time at TDA?

I just really loved the environment and culture at TDA. The people are super genuine to one another. All the interns were great too. I loved working with them, and hanging out after work with them. It was a unique environment and culture compared to the other firms that I’ve shadowed.

The new office is especially exciting, it is such an open space. I was sitting at one of the collaborative tables, which was a little nerve wracking at first, but it was also nice to see everyone working. I think it encouraged in-person collaboration and made communication much easier. It was really exciting.

What lessons did you learn in this internship?

A value that all architects should have, and TDA does really well, is to communicate and collaborate with everyone in the project. There’s a lot of people involved whether it’s a client, construction manager, consultant or architect. Everyone needs to be satisfied when the project is finished because it’s something that will last for years to come. Each building is a product of many people’s input.

Also, education is always changing and flexibility needs to be a priority in new schools. I think since TDA specializes in education and really focuses on their clients, they have been very successful in their projects. That communication and attention is something I want to carry forward in my career.

This is my first professional internship with an architecture firm. I had a senior one in high school that lasted an entire year. Again, it was more on the client side, but I got to visit firms, shadow a whole bunch of different projects, but the primary work was in my high school. So this is the first one where I’m in the Revit model and I’m doing work for the client myself.

I’ve worked most closely with Jeff and James for this, and they’ve been wonderful to collaborate with and teach me as we go. I came into this internship in the beginning of the summer with the expectation that I’d be more on the “back door” or the “back end” of it. So it’s exciting to be really, really involved in the team. I got to come up with a couple ideas that we’re moving forward with. I designed the storefront and where windows can go, that the chefs were super excited for. So it was really rewarding for me to see my work be shown to the client and the client get excited about it. You know, so I loved that.

I think a value that all architects should have, I think TDA really does have, is that “communication and collaboration.” I mean, there’s a lot of people involved in a project, because this is something that’s likely going to last for years to come. Education’s always changing, so there needs to be flexibility for change. I think TDA by specializing in education and really focusing on the client, I think they’re really successful in that. And that’s something that should be taken, with not only myself, but with any architect I believe.

It’s very rewarding to feel like the work we’re doing actually does matter and is really contributing as opposed to just giving “the intern” busy work to maybe learn about the culture and the process, but not necessarily influence the project if that makes sense. I just really loved the environment at TDA, and the culture. I think the people are super genuine to one of another. The other interns were great and I loved working with them and hanging out with them. It’s the kind of environment and culture that I think makes TDA really unique compared to other firms that I’ve seen and shadowed and worked with a little bit, especially in the new office. I think makes things super exciting for everybody.

Let’s work together to make education better. Interested in speaking with us? Get in touch!

Eleanor Huntley

Eleanor Huntley

Architectural Intern

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Eleanor Huntley

Eleanor Huntley

Eleanor Huntley spent her summer months as an architectural intern at TDA. Eleanor, who was initially interested in engineering, decided to study architecture since it provided an opportunity for creative problem solving and affect people's everyday life.

Richmond Heights Upper School – A School in Flight

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Richmond Heights Upper School – A School in Flight
The Richmond Heights Upper School is an 88,000 sf educational facility located in the city of Richmond Heights, Ohio and serves 420 students in grades 7-12. Designed with the concept of "aviation" in mind, this modern school uses a mixture of curved metal panels and light brick to evoke feelings of lightness, movement, and flight.

Richmond Heights Upper School – A School in Flight

The Richmond Heights Upper School is an 88,000 sf educational facility located in the city of Richmond Heights, Ohio and serves 420 students in grades 7-12. Adjacent to the Cuyahoga County airport, the school was designed with the concept of “aviation” in mind. It uses a mixture of curved metal panels and light brick to evoke feelings of lightness, movement, and flight. It is home to School Board offices and a branch of the Cuyahoga County library , which is a major component for students and the local community. Technology and flexibility play a major role in the school’s design which is evident in the extended learning area and other student oriented spaces. The new school expands District athletic capabilities with two gymnasiums for the high school and middle school, along with STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics) focused areas such as a “Clean Makerspace ” and “Technology Commons.”

Superintendent Dr. Renee Willis, who led the project for the District feels this facility has the opportunity to transform the community. “It’s the crown jewel of this community and has become a catalyst for a renaissance in Richmond Heights, which is on its way to ‘bigger and better.’ The students, the community, and the library all rallied around this project and made it become a reality.”

This educational facility becomes a technological focal point for Richmond Heights students to further their education, collaborate with peers and receive training in many STEAM related programs.
"It's the crown jewel of this community and has become a catalyst for a renaissance in Richmond Heights, which is on its way to ‘bigger and better.’"
Dr. Renee Willis
Superintendent at Richmond Heights Local Schools

Educational Visioning for the Richmond Heights Upper School

In January of 2018, the District and TDA hosted an Educational Visioning session with Richmond Heights Local Schools to explore the educational goals for the new school. Held in the gymnasium of the existing Richmond Heights High School, dozens of educators, designers and District administrators participated in a series of exercises which would serve as a foundation for the design of the new school. They identified the successes and challenges of existing facilities, documented goals for the new building and collaborated in an interactive exercise that allowed attendees to layout the new site and explore spatial relationships between the main components of the building.

James Cowan, the project manager for the Richmond Heights Upper School recalled: “First, we listened to the community and made sure we understood what was most important to them. In terms of spaces and usage but also in terms of safety and security.” Considering security in a building that had both “public” and “private” areas was paramount, “This was a huge component to consider from day one. We had to understand how to best separate public spaces like the gymnasium, Media Center and Student Dining from the more private academic oriented spaces.”

Many of these relationships were established in the Educational Visioning Session and many community meetings throughout the design process.

“Through an Educational Visioning Session and multiple community meetings, we listened to feedback and incorporated their concerns into the design. This was in terms of safety and how spaces should function, even at different times of day.”

Richmond Heights Upper School, Educational Visioning
"In this school, we provided a blend of modern and traditional spaces for the District to educate their students in."
James Cowan
Project Manager

Design Concepts and Features of the Upper School

Since the school is located adjacent to the Cuyahoga County Airport, this provided the inspiration for building materials and design cues. Sweeping curved metal panels accent the exterior and create a feeling of lightness. This gives the sense that the structure could “take off” at any moment and roots it in the aviation aesthetic. This sense of dynamic movement is carried over into the interior using a central corridor which connects the major spaces in the building. This central spine is activated by full scale wall graphics and provides select views into more public spaces through glass curtain walls. Furniture in public spaces includes soft seating that compliments the modern environment.

A partnership between Richmond Heights Local School District and the county airport allows for additional academic programs that introduce high school students to the aviation industry. Space in the school is dedicated to teaching aviation by providing hands on experience with unmanned aerial vehicles and flight simulator equipment.

“Students are excited because they’re engaged in new programs,” said Dr. Willis, she is particularly excited about these new programs for students. “There’s no longer just traditional reading, writing, and arithmetic, you now have innovative electives that excite students. Our teachers are also connecting those electives to their core teachings.”

The architecture combined with new programs, elevates educational opportunities for students in the District.

One challenge that designers faced with this project was incorporating a significant 9′ elevation change from the north end of the site to the south. To prevent costly extensive sitework, the central corridor was constructed to slope across the building. This slope, being ADA compliant, eliminated the need for stairs at various points in the school and further emphasized the concept of movement throughout building.

The school responds to the site elevation changes and its contextual surroundings. Near an existing elementary school on the east side of the site, the Richmond Heights Upper School reduces to a single story so as not to tower over the shorter school . The circulation paths were designed so elementary school students could have access to the new upper school. It also takes advantage of existing traffic patterns, using existing roads for bus transportation and library access. Additionally, the schools’ new athletic facilities and locker rooms were carefully placed to allow students easy access to the existing track and field.

Richmond Heights Upper School, Classrooms and Building Details
"It's surreal, because I remember stomping the streets, knocking on doors, speaking to homeowners’ associations, trying to sell a vision and now the vision has come to reality."
Dr. Renee Willis
Superintendent at Richmond Heights Local Schools

Cuyahoga County Library

A unique feature of the new school is the inclusion of a branch of the Cuyahoga County Library. This public space provides opportunities for both community access and student collaboration. During design, the Richmond Heights Local School District, along with the Cuyahoga County Public Library provided input on the library’s design. The location of this 5,600 sf branch was carefully chosen, and allowed the library to have its own separate entrance while also connecting to the Upper School’s entrance lobby. The library features small group rooms for use by the community , including the YMCA’s Silver sneakers program, with technology-rich connectivity. Easy parking is provided for public access, even while school is in session.

At the “Unity in the Community Back-to-School Extravaganza,” an open house for the school, educators, students, vendors and community members all came to tour the facility, to learn more about the District, support local businesses and celebrate National Night Out, among other activities.

At the event, Superintendent Willis talked about her hopes for an impact on the broader region. “People in the community are excited about the school and hopefully other ideas come from this because I want it to be a city school collaborative.”

The school having been designed with a focus on technology, flexibility and collaboration presents many future opportunities for student and residents.

Richmond Heights Upper School, "Unity in the Community" and the Cuyahoga County Public Library

Designed with Flexibility in Mind

A hallmark of the Richmond Heights Upper School is flexibility. The student dining space is an excellent example of this. During the school day, the space is used for student dining, while in the evening, it can transform into a community space that can be rented out. This assembly space is outfitted with wall mounted mechanized seating for 210 people. A raised platform serves as a stage with lighting and acoustics to support both school or presentation functions.

Middle School academic spaces feature overhead doors that can open into an extended learning area. Educators can open their classrooms and combine with other educators to collaborate on large group projects.

The school’s “Technology Commons” provides a flexible environment for students to meet in smaller informal groups and use the learning stair for presentations. Connected to the Tech Commons is a “Makers Lab” that includes 3D printers, and other modern digital creation tools. These spaces further promote the concept of movement and activity since glass curtain walls allow visibility to the central corridor.

“How do we transform what was yesterday, into what see today…and what we want to see tomorrow?

James Cowan believes that flexible building design can help students incorporate technology to face challenges they will see in the future. “It is hard to respond to changes in technology since it moves so quickly, but we can definitely provide space for students to explore technology. In this school, we provided a blend of modern and traditional spaces for the District to educate their students in.”

James credits the wide variety of stakeholders and leadership from the District.

“This is partially a result of the input we had from stakeholders such as the school board, superintendent , community, students, educators, consultants and interior design teams. Everyone was asking themselves—‘How can we have a balanced, realistic approach for a unique school district like Richmond Heights Local Schools?’

Richmond Heights Upper School, STEAM focused "Clean Makerspace" and the new gymnasium facilities.

"There's no longer just traditional reading, writing, and arithmetic, you now have innovative electives that excite students. Our teachers are also connecting those electives to their core teachings."
Dr. Renee Willis
Superintendent at Richmond Heights Local Schools

Impacting the Community with the Richmond Heights Upper School

“A student’s experience is the most important part of school design, thinking about that is the “bread and butter” of an educational architect’s work.” reflected James on the design process. “There was a point in design where we presented an animation of the building before construction. A middle school student who wasn’t a part of Richmond Height’s Upper School yet, was brought in by the Superintendent to watch the animation. I won’t forget the look on his face, and he said ‘Wow, I can’t wait to see that building next year!’ and that really pumped me up. He is probably attending the new school now.”

The superintendent echoed the same sentiments in bringing that vision to the community during design.

“It’s surreal, because I remember stomping the streets, knocking on doors, speaking to homeowners’ associations, trying to sell a vision,” Dr. Willis commented standing in one of the extended learning areas in the new school, “and now the vision has come to reality.”

Good architectural design can positively impact a community in multiple ways.

“It’s not just about transforming an environment,” commented James, “the school can bring new energy.”

The motto at Richmond Heights Local Schools is: “It’s a new day for the Richmond Heights Way,” James reflects, “I feel like this building embodies that saying. ‘It’s a new day.’ We hope to transform the community with this new beacon for Richmond Heights.”

Project Design Challenges:

  • Develop an efficient 7-12 facility that aesthetically ties into its immediate site, while taking cues from the surrounding site, such as an existing elementary school and residential areas.
  • Incorporate a 9' elevation change running north/south in the school without disrupting circulation on the interior.
  • Develop a 5,600 sf branch of the Cuyahoga County Library inside the school, allowing it to be easily accessible to the public during school operation.
  • Provide clear spatial separation between middle and upper schools and emphasize safety and security measures while also maintaining an open and dynamic interior environment.
  • Utilize existing site circulation to service both the Upper School and Cuyahoga County Library.

Let’s work together to make education better. Interested in speaking with us? Get in touch!

Ryan Caswell

Ryan Caswell

Communications

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Recent Posts:

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.