Brecksville-Broadview Heights CSD Opens New Elementary School

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Brecksville-Broadview Heights City School District Opens New Elementary School
In early August, the Brecksville-Broadview Heights City School District hosted a ribbon cutting to celebrate the opening of their new PreK-5 Elementary school for the 2022-2023 academic year. Housing over 1,500 students, the new school employs state-of-the-art technology, collaborative learning spaces and enhanced safety and security measures.

Brecksville-Broadview Heights City School District - Elementary School Celebration

In early August, the Brecksville-Broadview Heights City School District hosted a ribbon cutting to celebrate the opening of their new PreK-5 Elementary school for the 2022-2023 academic year. Housing over 1,500 students, the new school employs state-of-the-art technology, collaborative learning spaces and enhanced safety and security measures. It replaces Central, Chippewa, Highland and Hilton elementary schools. Due to a partnership between the school district and the city of Brecksville, it features an attached fieldhouse which can be used by the community and students.

Superintendent Joelle Maygar, who has a background in elementary school education, commented, “The intent behind this school was to design a space where kids wanted to come every day. It needed to be kid-friendly, welcoming, and scream elementary school.”

“I think we’ve achieved every goal we set out for with this building.”

“We wanted to provide students as many learning opportunities as possible, many of which can’t be found in more traditional buildings.”
Joelle Maygar
Superintendent of Brecksville-Broadview Heights City Schools

Brecksville-Broadview Heights Elementary School Unique Features

In 2018, the Brecksville-Broadview Heights community passed a 2.2-mill bond issue to build the new school. It consolidated the 4 existing elementary schools into one facility. The new school includes a robotics lab, makerspace with 3D printers, an E-Sports program, multiple playgrounds, a selfie wall, lego wall and Lite Brite station.

“We wanted to provide students as many learning opportunities as possible, many of which can’t be found in more traditional buildings.” Superintendent Maygar also emphasized the safety features in the new building. “We also put a lot of thought into safety and security for this building. Parents can feel very safe when their kids are here.”

Brecksville-Broadview Heights City School District students visited the school while it was under construction in 2021.
“The intent behind this school was to design a space where kids wanted to come every day. It needed to be kid-friendly, welcoming, and scream elementary school.”
Joelle Maygar
Superintendent of Brecksville-Broadview Heights City Schools

Construction Process

Construction on the school began in 2020, which was designed by ThenDesign Architecture and built by Shook Construction. Despite challenges posed by Covid-19, including supply chain issues and labor cost increases, the school was completed on time and under budget. Throughout the school’s construction, students visited to learn more about the architecture and construction industries and new features they could look forward to.

Superintendent Maygar is optimistic for the year ahead, “All the students who have visited are really excited to learn here and can’t wait to come.” She continues, “It is also a great facility for community use.”

The separate but connected athletic fieldhouse features 4 indoor basketball courts and a running track. They can be shared by both the school and city for community use. It is a unique feature for a school of this type.

Brecksville-Broadview Heights City School District Elementary School Ribbon Cutting on August 1, 2022.

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

The ribbon cutting was attended by members of the community, district staff and city officials. After the ceremony, the building was open for general tours of the new spaces. Over a 1,000 people have seen the building through tours and is opening for the 2022-2023 year.

Ryan Caswell

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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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Kent City Schools – High School Addition and Fieldhouse Update

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Kent City Schools – High School Addition and Fieldhouse Update
In the Spring of 2020, Kent City Schools passed a 25 million “No New Tax” bond to provide improvements to their educational and athletic facilities. Slated to be completed in the fall of 2022, an addition to the high school and a new fieldhouse at Roosevelt stadium will open. Additionally, parking and vehicular circulation will be improved at the high school.

Kent City Schools – High School Addition and Fieldhouse Update

In the Spring of 2020, Kent City Schools passed a 25 million “No New Tax” bond to provide improvements to their educational and athletic facilities. Slated to be completed in the fall of 2022, an addition to the high school and a new fieldhouse at Roosevelt stadium will open. Additionally, parking and vehicular circulation will be improved at the high school.

Superintendent of Kent City Schools, George Joseph commented, “With these projects completed, we have a great opportunity for our students to enjoy and perform on our fields, in our gymnasiums, in the locker areas and have the comforts they need during our athletic seasons and in our programs.”

These are in addition to the safety and security and educational improvements made to other district facilities.

Superintendent George Joseph gives a virtual tour of the construction progress as the spaces near completion.

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

“Thank you" to our entire community for supporting these projects. Again, without the "no new tax bond issue," none of this would have happened.”
George Joseph
Superintendent of Kent City Schools

Master Planning and District Priorities

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

This master plan allowed the designers to identify a roadmap for facility upgrades that will ensure educational success.

Cheryl Fisher, an educational planner with TDA worked extensively with the district on their plans. “We identified their building needs and even explored the possibility of new schools with the OFCC. We looked at the facility condition, educational adequacy and worked with a large “facilities improvement cabinet” and went through an in-depth analysis of the data.”

Ultimately these priorities revolved around, safety and security, improving the instructional environment and upgrading the athletic and performing arts facilities.

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

"They’re one of the few districts of this size and enrollment that only has one gym. This addition gives them a new gym which is larger than the old one and allows them to have a competition and auxiliary gym. So multiple activities can take place simultaneously."
Cheryl Fisher
Educational Planner

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, concessions stand, athletic storage, locker rooms and an 1,800 sf multipurpose space to be used for wrestling in the winter season.

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

Athletic Facilities Walkthrough Tour

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

• To see the other renovations involved in the “No New Tax” Bond issue, visit A “District-Wide” Renovation Project
• To see more updates on the project, visit Kent City School’s Construction Update page.

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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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Orange City Schools – High School Renovation

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Orange City Schools - High School Renovation
Orange City Schools embarked on an ambitious renovation project to improve the safety, security, and accessibility of their high school, while also dramatically updating their athletic spaces.

Orange City Schools High School Renovation

Orange City Schools embarked on an ambitious renovation project to improve the safety, security, and accessibility of their high school, while also dramatically updating their athletic spaces. Construction for the $3.87-million-dollar project began in early 2022, was designed by ThenDesign Architecture and built by the Albert M. Higley Co. Spread across 15,000 sf, it incorporated a new secure vestibule at the school’s entrance and simultaneously redesigning several athletic spaces, some of which were built in the 1950’s, to create a modern athletic environment for students.

New spaces from the renovation include a professional training room, weightlifting space, a fitness and agility room, a collaboration and media space, and new locker rooms. The high school’s new entrance provides a greater presence at the front of the building and improves student entry and guest access.

“The new front entrance to Orange High School will provide a more secure and efficient entry for students, staff, and community members while giving the building a distinguished appearance,” said Dr. Lynn Campbell, Superintendent of Schools.

“The improvements to the athletic spaces will better serve our student-athletes of today and into the future. The much-needed redesign will modernize these outdated areas and make them more accessible.”

The full renovation project is scheduled to be completed for the 2022-2023 school year.

Renderings of the renovated spaces in Orange High School

Main Entry Professional Training Room Weight Room Agility and Fitness Room Locker Rooms
Rendering of New Entrance
Orange HS Under Construction
"We can look forward to seeing our students benefiting from an enhanced athletic experience, not just in the gym, or for organized sports but for all students to strength train and improve their physical health."
Dr. Lynn Campbell
Superintendent of Orange City Schools

Project History

“Over the last several years, other renovations and repairs took precedence in the high school.” commented Ted Roseberry, director of operations for Orange City Schools, “We replaced roof trusses in the media center, auditorium, commons, and indoor pool while also making significant upgrades to those learning areas to better accommodate students and staff.”

However in 2019 and 2020, after a pause during the Covid-19 pandemic, the District decided to move forward with this project.

Board president, Scott Bilsky remarked, “This project has been discussed for many years. It is our hope these facility upgrades will serve the needs of current and future Orange students for years to come. “

First built in 1924, the original Orange Schools building received renovations and additions over the years which ultimately led to the inclusion of an auditorium, varsity gymnasium, and other athletic areas in the 1950s. When the original building was replaced with the current high school in 1973, those areas were retained. One of the larger spaces being repurposed in this renovation is the girl’s locker room, built in 1957.

“It was like ‘walking back in time’ when you went into these areas of the building,” commented Roseberry. “The old locker room was large with a lot of wasted space, but now we can put all of it to good use.”

By providing a variety of new training spaces, the District hopes to improve the entire athletic experience.

“We will have a more professional environment and a clean, crisp-looking environment for our students, bringing them into the modern age,” said Dr. Campbell. “All team sports have something to gain from the new upgrades. We’ll have better-allocated space for our teams in all seasons. Hundreds of student-athletes will benefit from our facilities.”

The District is spending $3.87 million on the project, which they have been saving for renovations of this sort through the District’s Permanent Improvement fund.

The new secure vestibule at Orange High School showcases the school’s entrance. Since the building is wide, it has been difficult sometimes for visitors to identify the main entrance. The vestibule serves as a focal point for the building and provides a greater presence on the site. It is also easier to control access for students during the morning and evening. A separate guest entrance will be used during the school day for visitor sign-in.

Details of the new entrance, Locker Rooms and Media Room

Orange City Schools
The new entrance at Orange HS
Under the canopy at the Orange HS entrance
A steel detail on the new entrance
Rebar goes into the sidewalks under the new canopy
A renovated locker room
A renovated locker room under construction
Piping running through a locker room
The new media room in Orange HS
A ceiling detail in the Media Room
"This project has been discussed for many years. It is our hope these facility upgrades will serve the needs of current and future Orange students for years to come."
Scott Bilsky
Board of Education President

Athletic Spaces

Students and staff can look forward to a variety of new spaces that will positively affect athletes in all sports.

Professional Training Room – Formerly the old girl’s locker room, the Professional Training Room will house equipment that promotes agility and cardiovascular exercise. It includes private restrooms, a trainer’s office, and clinic space.

Weight Room – The second half of the original girl’s locker room, construction professionals rerouted plumbing from existing showers and roof drains to create the new weight room. The space features clerestory lighting, that creates a clean, open environment, and will house a variety of weight racks and plates for weightlifting and strength training

Agility and Fitness Room – This double-height space, located near the competition gymnasium, features a variety of equipment all focused on improving athletes’ agility. It includes spaces for medicine balls, step ladders, chin-up bars, and weighted ropes. The purpose of the space is to improve athletes’ overall health and flexibility.

Locker Rooms – The school’s locker rooms are also being reprogrammed and refreshed. The new locker rooms will include coaches’ offices, showers, lockers, and small meeting space. Each locker room is adjacent to the competition gym and connected by a door that can be opened to create one space if necessary. It will also include equipment storage and access to the exterior.

Media Room – Created from a second-floor wrestling room, the school’s new Athletic Media Room provides open collaborative space for coaches and athletes and is equipped with technology for game reviews, and space to conduct team building exercises.

Details of the new Fitness and Agility Room, Professional Training Room and Weight Room

The fitness and agility room
A wall detail in the fitness and agility room
The new training room
The new training room
Piping in the new training room
The new weight room under construction
A detail inside the new weight room
Piping in the ceiling of the weight room
Clerestory windows in the new weight room
"I have worked on many school improvement projects during my career, some of which were large projects, but sometimes they were small projects. These smaller improvements make a huge difference, especially when they benefit student security."
Ted Roseberry
Director of Operations

Orange City Schools - High School Renovation - A Better Student Experience

“Overall, the changes we are making to the high school will create a better experience for our visitors and athletes,” comments Dr. Campbell. “We could have made these improvements years ago, but the time wasn’t right. Now, we can look forward to seeing our students benefiting from an enhanced athletic experience, not just in the gym, or for organized sports but for all students to strength train and improve their physical health.”

As for the school’s new entrance, a streamlined secure experience will be welcomed by the administration. Roseberry concludes, “I have worked on many school improvement projects during my career, some of which were large projects, but sometimes they were small projects. These smaller improvements make a huge difference, especially when they benefit student security.”

The District looks forward to putting the new spaces to use in the 2022-2023 school year. They will be open to all students to benefit the whole student body.

To view more information and updated imagery on the construction process, visit the District’s website. 

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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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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.

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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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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

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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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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

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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 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

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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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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.