New Campus Groundbreaking at Wickliffe City Schools

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New Campus Groundbreaking at Wickliffe City Schools
Community members, district administrators, architecture and construction professionals along with dignitaries attended the New Campus Groundbreaking at Wickliffe City Schools on May 6th, to celebrate the commencement of construction on this exciting new PreK-12 facility. Embodying the goals for education in the district, the new school seeks to provide new spaces and learning opportunities for the students in the City of Wickliffe.

New Campus Groundbreaking at Wickliffe City Schools

On May 6th, 2021, The Wickliffe City School District hosted a groundbreaking ceremony to commemorate the start of construction for their new PK-12 Campus. This 204,000 sf facility will feature a variety of advanced educational spaces along with spaces geared towards community engagement. The new school will house a community hub, a 500 seat Performing Arts Center and an expanded Wickliffe Family Resource Center, along with new collaborative focused educational spaces, flexible classrooms, and small group rooms. This project represents a “Reimagination of the Wickliffe Schools.” The campus and educational programs will be second to none and serve students of all abilities. The groundbreaking was attended by well over 100 from the community, members of the district administration, architecture, and construction professionals, along with many state representatives who came to support the project.

An inside look at the New Campus Groundbreaking at Wickliffe City Schools.

"Thank you to the Wickliffe community, it's because of you that we're here tonight. I think you will be impressed by all the work that will take place."
Joseph Spiccia
Superintendent of Wickliffe City Schools

New Campus Groundbreaking at Wickliffe

At 7:00 pm the ceremony kicked off behind the existing Wickliffe High School, with comments from Joseph Spiccia, Superintendent of Wickliffe City Schools, welcoming everyone and celebrating the beginning of construction. Afterwards, several dignitaries spoke, recognizing the years of work and community engagement that went into the project. Daniel Troy, an Ohio State Representative presented a commendation on the new construction project. “Over the years the Wickliffe City School District has played a vital role in preparing generations of students for the challenges of life. This new campus is a testament to those dedicated efforts.” Recognizing the challenges students face, Mr. Troy continued “This modernized hub of learning will not only allow that tradition of excellence to continue, but further enhance the ability to excel for students in a rapidly changing world.”

Kenny Yuko, an Ohio State Senator, presented a Senatorial Citation from the Ohio Senate to Mr. Spiccia. Both men who are longtime friends, having graduated from the same high school, shared the stage. Mr. Yuko recognized the diversity of ages and backgrounds from those in attendance: “This is the beginning of a new era for Wickliffe. A new school campus is going to help your students, your families and it will help the entire community. Thank you for ensuring your dream become a reality.”

The event featured musical performances which included the national anthem, performed by the Wickliffe Swing Band and the school’s alma mater by the combined Wickliffe High School and Middle School Choirs. They are looking forward to expanded practice space and upgraded spaces in the new school.

New Campus Groundbreaking at Wickliffe City Schools
""This is the beginning of a new era for Wickliffe. A new school campus is going to help your students, your families and it will help the entire community."
Kenny Yuko
Ohio State Senator

Re-imagining Education with the New Campus at Wickliffe City Schools

The Wickliffe City School District is committed to re-imagining education in their district. Going back to 2015, a strategic plan was developed by the Board of Education, district administration, educators and the community. This identified broad district goals and outlined tactical steps to achieve those. Three of the goals, noted by Mr. Spiccia, are embodied in the new facility.

  • Create flexibility for students, staff, and the community.
  • Create learning environments that address the needs of all learners.
  • Engage the greater community in their investment in the school district by maximizing opportunities for the community to participate – learning, mentoring, partnering, and contributing to the greater good.

Through extensive collaboration with stakeholders since 2015, the strategic plan continues to be executed. The team has examined and developed funding options, incorporating community needs, setting an educational vision and ways to support and improve the City of Wickliffe.

“Today is about making a very big investment in all the kids in Wickliffe today,” said John Plecnik, a Lake County Commissioner, “Those kids are going to be leaders someday. I’m excited for Wickliffe, I’m excited for Lake County, I’m excited for the kids who are going to walk through this building.”

New Campus Groundbreaking at Wickliffe City Schools
"Today is about making a very big investment in all the kids in Wickliffe ... I'm excited for Wickliffe, I'm excited for Lake County, I'm excited for the kids who are going to walk through this building."
John Plecnik
Lake County Commissioner

Impacting the City and the Community

Board of Education President Katie Ball commented: “Wickliffe is a city that carries generations of pride. I moved here as an adult and met several people who said they were the third or even fourth generation and wanted to raise their families here. It is obvious to me now why families continue to stay in Wickliffe generation after generation. It is a community that wears it’s pride on its sleeve and will always do what needs to be done to continue to grow.”

Not only is the community expected to benefit from the new facility, but city officials hope it will attract more families to the city, fueling jobs and presenting opportunities to expand city services.

“I think it’s going to be a great benefit for the kids of the city,” commented Edward Levon, Wickliffe City Council President, “It provides a great benefit to the city. It attracts younger growing families, which attracts businesses and tax dollars to the city, which we can reinvest into better city services and infrastructure like sewers and roads. All in all, it’s a positive investment for the city.”

Construction is currently underway, with synthetic turf now being added to the stadium. Building construction begins in the fall of 2021 and will progress until the grand opening which is slated for the 2023-24 school year. To view a more detailed construction schedule, visit the Wickliffe City School District website.

Ryan Caswell

Ryan Caswell

Communications

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Ryan Caswell

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

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Perry Local Schools - Four New Elementary Schools
Driven by the goal to provide the best educational facilities for their young students, Perry Local Schools is in the midst of an ambitious task; redesigning and constructing all four elementary schools in their district. While it has proven challenging to collaborate on a large-scale design process during a pandemic, the efforts of the Building Focus Group, along with many other community volunteers and educators has provided valuable insight to allow these new schools to serve Perry Local Schools for decades to come.

Perry Local Schools - Four New Elementary Schools

Driven by the goal to provide the best educational facilities for their young students, Perry Local Schools is in the midst of an ambitious task; the design and construction of four new elementary schools across the district. After passing a bond issue in early 2020, the district partnered with the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission and ThenDesign Architecture to fund and design these new buildings. Addressing the challenge of aging infrastructure in their current facilities, these new schools will provide a better organized school layout, community focused spaces, new technology, and a more comfortable and collaborative environment for students to learn in. Now well into the design process, each school showcases a unique characteristic of the Perry Massillon community, with the buildings slated to be completed by the fall of 2023.

While it has proven challenging to collaborate on a large-scale design process during a pandemic, the efforts of the Building Focus Group, along with many other community volunteers and educators has provided valuable insight to allow these new schools to serve Perry Local Schools for decades to come.

Students from Perry Local Schools speak about the impact good educational facilities can make on learning.

A Challenging Environment

The district currently has five elementary schools, (Genoa, Knapp, PJ Lohr, Watson and Whipple Elementary) each of which serves around 500 students and has been in the community for decades–most having been constructed in the late 1950’s and early 1960s. While well cared for, they are reaching the end of their lifecycle. Ongoing maintenance and repair costs for each building have begun to exceed the costs of new facilities. When this is paired with difficult accessibility for most of the buildings, inadequate parking and bus circulation space, along with dated air handling and electrical systems, it is clear new structures would better serve Perry students.

Additionally, as education has evolved over the decades, spaces within the original buildings became more fragmented and the historic layout of the existing schools no longer worked with the curriculum or met students’ needs. As an example, “special education” and student wellness within most elementary schools has become very important but in historic schools, there is usually very little space allocated for this crucial need.

The technological and organizational limitations of historic schools necessitated new buildings and presented the unique opportunity to reorganize educational spaces and create a modern educational environment for young students.

Whipple Elementary School
P.J. Lohr Elementary School
Knapp Elementary School
Watson Elementary School
"We’ve learned relationships are important,” the superintendent said. “In smaller schools it is easier to build a relationship with a young person. You have to build interpersonal positive relationships with kids for them to learn and grow."
Scott Beatty
Superintendent of Perry Local Schools

The Perry Local Schools: Building Focus Group

A tremendous amount of work went into the developing designs for the four new elementary buildings. To specifically tailor these buildings to suit educators, the district established a “Building Focus Group.” This special group was composed of principals, teachers, special education administrators and representatives from food services, music, and athletics across the four existing schools. This group of 25-30 members met weekly for almost 5 months, to discuss how the new buildings would function. Ryan Schmit, Project Manager for the project commented: “We would meet with the Building Focus Group for an hour or two and go through plan concepts, building feature concepts, talk through pros and cons and then afterwards issue a homework task each week.” He continues, “Each representative would take that assignment back to their groups, then send us additional information. We shaped the buildings according to educators needs. These groups really drove the design of the buildings.”

The involvement from the administration, educators and various community members ensured the design for each school was “staff driven” and was arranged to meet the educational scheme of the district.

The “Building Focus Group,” represented dozens of educators and hundreds of hours of shared design process that was crucial to each new facility.

Concept Imagery for the four new elementary schools:

P.J. Lohr Whipple Knapp Watson

Perry Local Schools - Concept Imagery for the four elementary schools in the district

Unique Identities in the Perry Community

Early in the design process, a “brainstorming committee” was tasked with identifying unique characteristics of the Perry community that could inform the elevations of the buildings. This committee was made of longtime residents, members of the historical society, young people, and alumni of Perry Local Schools. Through many meetings and long conversations, the group identified several qualities of the community which could be reflected in the overall exterior aesthetics of the buildings.

The team identifies four key characteristics. These included Perry’s strong rural and agricultural roots, the patriotic undercurrent in the community, their strong presence in the steel manufacturing industry and the district’s emphasis on performing arts and music in education. These qualities were woven into the architectural exterior of the four new elementary schools to showcase these unique qualities in the community.

  • Lohr Elementary School – Borrowing aesthetics from rolling fields and the agricultural land that characterizes many acres in the Perry community, the building elevation employs a natural color scheme with masonry patterns on the brick face to replicate the waving fields of corn and wheat commonly found in the surrounding areas.
  • Southway (Knapp) Elementary School – This school borrows the red brick patterns from historic and current local manufacturing plants, while also surfacing patterns of crisscrossing steel beams on the exterior.
  • Whipple Elementary School – The façade of this school seeks to reflect American patriotism and a respect for the military through its use of colored masonry. It evokes feelings of pride, formal parades, and appreciation for the freedoms enjoyed in this country.
  • Watson Elementary School – This school borrows from Perry’s musical tradition by employing contrasting light and dark masonry which evokes an image of musical stanzas to create a playful pattern across the school’s shared spaces.

While each building is unique in its exterior treatment, they share similar layouts, to unify user experience. The exterior patterns root the buildings in the community’s heritage and create a playful and colorful environment for elementary students.

An architectural diagram showing the spacial layout of the new elementary schools.
A site plan for the Whipple Elementary School.
"We shaped the buildings according to educators needs. These groups really drove the design of the buildings."
Ryan Schmit
Project Manager

New Educational Opportunities

A key design principle for all four schools was to be rooted in the community and allow them to be easily accessed for events and activities. These are “community buildings” and not only do the aesthetics of the exterior signal this, but the parking, entrance and shared spaces were carefully designed to help parents and guests easily navigate each school.

In the early stages of the project, superintendent Scott Beatty remarked: “We’ve learned relationships are important,” the superintendent said. “In smaller schools it is easier to build a relationship with a young person. You have to build interpersonal positive relationships with kids for them to learn and grow.” This led to the decision to ultimately construct four new buildings, within a variety of collaborative features to educate students.

The new schools are flexibly designed to accommodate both traditional education methods along with collaborative learning spaces. Special consideration was given to each building’s “shared spaces,” like the gymnasium and student dining. These can easily be used for a variety of large activities during the day with the gym serving as a large auditorium space. Each school’s media center (library) features special furniture that encourages collaborative group work and adjacent shared rooms where educators can teach outside their classrooms.

The new buildings incorporate better air handling and filtration systems, providing air conditioning and better indoor air quality overall. Daylight is also important and windows in the buildings create brighter and more open indoor spaces. Technology is better integrated throughout the buildings through additional electrical access in classrooms, upgraded internet connectivity and equipment access in the media center.

The project timeline for the completion of the four new elementary schools.

A Future Facing District

All four schools are in the “design development” phase, which is slated to be finished in the fall of 2021. As this phase is finished, the design team looks forward to releasing more detailed renderings of the facilities towards the end of the year. Construction is planned to start in early 2022, with all four buildings completed and occupied for the 2023-2024 school year.

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

Ryan Caswell

Ryan Caswell

Communications

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Ryan Caswell

Ryan is a communications specialist who is passionate about using digital media to further the goals of organizations and communities in Northeast Ohio. With a background in construction and a degree in architecture, he spent over a decade in corporate video production and brings this mindset to videography, editing, photography and content marketing. He is passionate about supporting the arts, and can be found hiking in the parks system.
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New Cuyahoga Falls 6-12 Campus – Meet the Architect & Construction Manager

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New Cuyahoga Falls 6-12 Campus - Meet the Architect & Construction Manager
As design commences for the new Cuyahoga Falls 6-12 Campus, the school district conducted it's first "in-person" engagement with ThenDesign Architecture, Hammond Construction and members of the community on April 15th. The team met to introduce themselves, describe the scope of the project, answer questions and talk about how this new facility will impact education in the community.

New Cuyahoga Falls 6-12 Campus

As design commences for the new Cuyahoga Falls 6-12 Campus, the Cuyahoga Falls City School District conducted its’ first “in-person” engagement with ThenDesign Architecture, Hammond Construction and members of the community on April 15th. The team met to introduce themselves, describe the scope of the project, answer questions and talk about how this new facility will impact education in the community. Held in the Cuyahoga Falls High School Auditorium, the interactive session was offered for both in-person attendees and via livestream video for the community. The team provided an inside look on how buildings are designed and presented the next several milestones to look forward to. While this is only the first of many engagement opportunities, many community members came out to support the project, offer ideas for the future school and better understand what opportunities this facility will bring in the years ahead.

The Project Scope

The project scope includes the design and construction of a new 370,000 sf building that houses grades 6-12. The building will ultimately sit on the site currently occupied by the Bolich Middle School and will host a performing arts center and 5,000-seat sports stadium. This innovative facility will open up a range of new possibilities for academic programming and collaboration, larger athletic events and a streamlined education experience for students.

In a recent interview Cuyahoga Falls City Mayor Don Walters recently commented, “This will be the ‘missing piece’ to our City and everything will be complete because the campus environment is perfect.” He continues, “It’s just time [for this new school], and once that is built, and we get the old high school redeveloped and every piece is covered in the City. We will have a good economic base, we have good school systems and everything is complete. So, we are really, really excited to see that.”

Similar sentiments were echoed by those at the community meeting, many of whom supported the bond process in 2019.

The project is estimated to cost $113.8 million, with the district funding $80.6 million, from the bond issue, while the state of Ohio through the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC), is contributing $33.2 million. That amount goes directly towards the new construction of a 6-12 building, stadium complex and demolition of Bolich Middle School and the Newberry Elementary School.

"We're going to be meeting with our staff and we'll be listening to what they have to say to inform the design. We are beginning with an "educational vision" and designing a building to meet those needs."
Dr. Todd M. Nichols
Superintendent/CEO

Cuyahoga Falls New 6-12 Campus Design Process

In order to kick off the design process, ThenDesign Architecture, along with the district, has planned a series of engagements crafted to inform the overall design of the project during initial schematic and programming phases. Chris Smith, president of TDA, commented on Thursday night, “We’re in the thinking business, not simply the drawing business. We don’t believe our “name” should be on the door, our nature is to be collaborative, it’s not about us, we don’t dictate design. Our buildings reflect the communities where they reside and I think you’ll be proud to call this your design, your building.”

Architects have also begun speaking with educators from the High School, along with Bolich and Roberts Middle Schools for input on the interior layout. Teachers are asked to discuss their educational needs, while imagining new ways their initiatives can be improved by this new space. Ideas generated from these sessions are used to inform the interior adjacencies, classroom sizes, collaborative areas and furniture needs. This type of engagement will continue throughout the summer. These initial sessions allow current staff to expand their minds on how their new building can improve their efforts.

Cuyahoga Falls New 6-12 Campus and 21st Century Design

A major element of this project is combining the high school and middle schools together into one campus. This arrangement brings a variety of benefits.

While a physical separation between the two schools is still maintained, efficiencies are achieved by having both schools share major spaces such as athletics areas and the performing arts center. In addition, bringing all educators under one roof allows for collaboration which simply wasn’t possible before. With better access to a variety of educators, middle school students can potentially take advantage of accelerated programs offered at the high school. Finally, young students often find that the crucial transition from middle to high school is much easier, since they are in the same familiar building, now just in a different wing.

Even though the building is still in the early stages of design, Dr. Nichols made it clear that an important aspect of this project is to create a nurturing environment where 6th graders can gently transition into their new environment, providing them a safe environment and autonomy to prepare for their future education.

This mixture of educational collaboration, flexibility and autonomy are all hallmarks of good 21st century design.

"We firmly believe that we have to trust our professional educators to design the inside of the building. Then we believe that the community at large, lends a leading hand in helping us design the exterior of the building, how it interfaces with community playgrounds, parent drop-offs and pickups. So there is a trust there."
Chris Smith
President TDA

Cuyahoga Falls Community Feedback and Questions & Answers

For many longtime residents, who have been through the Cuyahoga Falls school system, they look forward to the new campus. One attendee commented: “We’re very excited for the school district, for Cuyahoga Falls and for property values. We feel that Mayor Walters has done so many good things for this City and that Dr. Nichols has done good things too.” They continue, “the school is like the “pièce de résistance.” It’s the final touch. We need it, and we have to do it.”

Speaking to when the project will be completed, Bill Schurman, President of Hammond Construction commented, “We are committed to the new building being occupied in August [2025]. So that means we turn it over in the summer, allowing for a transition period for staff. These dates will be fine-tuned as the design evolves.” Residents can look forward to future updates as the design process progresses.

After the presentation, the district, TDA and Hammond held a Q+A session. Questions ranged from project construction phasing, how the construction process worked, what separation between the middle school and high school would look like, how much time was lost by the Covid-19 pandemic and how safety measures will be implemented in a school of that size.

Some questions revolved around the site usage, and whether traffic flow would negatively impact the surrounding neighborhoods. Mr. Smith responded, “Part of our philosophy in facility design is to get all the school traffic off the street. This is so all of that is contained on our site, we want to get it off the street. The same goes when managing storm water. this is key in the low areas by Newberry Elementary School.”

Dr. Nichols encouraged those with questions to submit them to the district for further consideration. The district is committed to keeping the community updated on the project throughout the process on their construction focused website: “Building Community.”

Homework Assignment for Cuyahoga Falls Community Members

The next engagement session for community members will be held on May 13th, focusing on a “Visual Preference Exercise.” They were encouraged to think about their favorite building in Cuyahoga Falls and why. This can then start to establish a common aesthetic trend for what the exterior of the building could look like. Scott Alleman, Project Manager for TDA commented, “Examples for this could be the Natatorium, or the church down the street, but think of something that is your favorite piece of architecture and why you feel that reflects the community. Keep that in mind when we come back on May 13th for the visual preference exercise!”

What is your favorite piece of Cuyahoga Falls Architecture and why? Drop us a line and let us know!

Reach Out to Learn More

Closing out the engagement, Dr. Nichols embraced the collaborative spirit in the community and the team making this new facility possible. He looks forward to the process continuing, “I want to thank you all so much for being here this evening. Talk to your neighbors, talk to your friends, engage more and more of the community. We’re going to be meeting with our staff and we’ll be listening to what they have to say, to inform the design, because we are beginning with an educational vision and designing a building, to meet those needs.”

If you are interested in learning more about this project, visit the Cuyahoga Falls page “Building Community.” If you have ideas or questions surrounding the process, reach out to John Wasylko, Community Relations at Cuyahoga Falls City School District at cf_wasylkoj@cftigers.org.

Also, let us know what your favorite piece of architecture in Cuyahoga Falls is and why! Send your pictures to Ryan Caswell at rcaswell@thendesign.com. We want to hear from you and incorporate that feedback into the exterior design!

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

Ryan Caswell

Ryan Caswell

Communications

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Ryan Caswell

Ryan Caswell

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

North Olmsted 6-12 Campus – Fusing Modern and Historic Styles

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North Olmsted 6-12 Campus – Fusing Modern and Historic Styles
The North Olmsted 6-12 campus hosts a beautiful 315,000 sf school, a 4,000 seat athletic stadium, Performing Arts Center and landscaping all complimenting this "Georgian Architecture styled" school. ThenDesign Architecture, working with the North Olmsted City School District created a new landmark in the historic Butternut Ridge Historic District.

North Olmsted 6-12 Campus

The North Olmsted 6-12 campus hosts a beautiful 315,000 sf facility, a 4,000 seat athletic stadium, Performing Arts Center and landscaping all complimenting this “Georgian Architecture styled” school. The campus hosts the high school and middle school under one roof while serving 2,200 students. It is located inside the one-and-a-half-mile long Butternut Ridge Historic District, which informs the school’s historic aesthetic. The exterior design complements a Branch of Cuyahoga County Public Library, located just across the street. Together they form an impressive new gateway into the City of North Olmsted. Proportion, symmetry and balance are hallmarks of the late 19th century Georgian Architecture and this aesthetic is fused to a modern interior that supports a collaborative “hub based” 21st century learning model. Opened for the 2018 academic year, this new facility capitalizes on the history of the community, while promoting the latest educational designs that will impact student’s education for decades to come.

Designed for the 21st Century

Before facility design commenced, the North Olmsted City School District had formed a clear plan for students’ education in the new facility. Their idea was inspired by a 21st century educational model that places students at the center of education, promotes small group work and collaboration between educators and students. A “hub concept” was used in educational spaces, where classrooms revolve around a shared collaborative space. Educators were encouraged to take advantage of the movable furniture, flexible classrooms, and embedded technology in the curriculum.

Both the high school and middle school are located under one roof but exist as separate entities. They each have their own entrances at opposite ends of the site, separate media centers, student dining and gym facilities. However, they share many common services such as the kitchen facilities and art and music spaces.

“This is not your grandfather’s school,” Superintendent Michael E. Zalar at the ribbon cutting ceremony and opening tour, “You don’t see traditional individual desks lined up in rows like you might have in the 19th or 20th centuries.” He continued, “These are truly classrooms built to foster flexibility and collaboration. People seemed to know that this campus was really designed for the future, not for the past.”

The Middle School lobby is open, bringing in natural light from tall windows and features terrazzo flooring with an embedded school logo. The ceiling design is an abstract representation of eagles in flight–the school mascot. The entrance feeds the academic wing, gymnasium and student dining.

To support 21st century educational design, the middle school spaces are organized into 5 studios, two per grade level. Each studio houses 150 students, and consists of 4 general classrooms, 1 science lab, 2 small group rooms, teacher prep room with storage, central collaboration area with presentation platform and adjoining restroom facilities. The classrooms are fronted by overhead garage doors that open into a shared collaborative area which supports project-based learning and features charging stations, lockers and raised platform for presentations. Movable furniture is used throughout and large glass windows provide natural light that also spills into corridor spaces, creating a light and airy feel.

The collaborative areas allow educators the flexibility to organize their students around the smaller community of students.

"We couldn't be more excited, this is going to be the grandest opening of the school year that the district has ever embarked upon. Students are just emotional."
Michael E. Zalar
North Olmsted City Schools Superintendent

North Olmsted High School

The High School’s entrance features a secure vestibule, orange & black school colors and the school logo embedded in terrazzo, similar to the middle school. Acoustic panels dampen sound reverberation in the tall space and form abstract eagles’ wings above the entry.

The high school also employs a modern approach to educational design, but on a more sophisticated level. Educational spaces are designed around collaborative areas, featuring expandable labs on the first floor, while core classrooms are on the second floor. Collaborative areas are surrounded by classrooms and small group rooms with translucent panels that provide views to and from the corridor. Each space is technology rich and hosts flexible furniture, preparing students for collaborative teamwork after their school career. The interior uses classical elements such as niches, alcoves and columns providing a Georgian twist on the 21st century design flexibility.

The student center was also designed with collaborative work in mind, not just as a cafeteria. It is a hub that connects the gymnasium, performing art center, outdoor courtyard and other academic spaces. The multipurpose space includes high-top tables, moveable furniture, Wi-Fi and charging stations to accommodate student work throughout the day.

The two-story media center is located on a prominent corner of the site and while it still offers books, it focuses on digital media that incorporates comfortable seating, worktables, and group areas. Students can enjoy beverages and snacks with large windows providing light and visibility to interior corridors.

“You don’t see this stunning Georgian Architecture often and it’s a focal point of the historical district,” architect Zora Pavlovic “The superintendent and the whole district was very into collaboration and the 21st century learning model. Not every teacher has experience with it yet, but we are seeing more and more educators embrace this method.”
"You don't see this stunning Georgian Architecture often and it's a focal point of the historical district. So I am really thrilled with how it turned out for them"
Zora Pavlovic
Architect

The Building Site and Athletics

More than half of the 38.5 acres of the property is located in a flood zone which posed challenges for the 315,000 sf campus. A creek runs through the site and informed the decision to place the building towards Butternut Ridge road, giving the building more presence on the street. Then, this unique creek was expanded, deepened and worked into the overall landscape design. The creek beautifies the site, and also helps alleviate flooding issues for the nearby area. Trees and a pavilion were installed after the building to create a “park like” setting behind the school.

Bike racks line the perimeter of the building to encourage physical activity of students and staff as well as to support the building’s LEED Silver certification.

Athletic facilities onsite include the artificial turf field used as a football and soccer field which is ringed by a track. The stadium offers seating for 3,000 on the home team side while supporting 1,000 visitor seats. Heated locker rooms, restrooms and concession stands are located below the stands.
"I couldn't have been more pleased with the response we received from the community…They really felt like the district did a great job working with the architects and that we really have something we can really be proud of here in North Olmsted for many, many years to come."
Michael E. Zalar
North Olmsted City Schools Superintendent

North Olmsted Performing Arts Center

The new North Olmsted Performing Arts Center (PAC) has become a great source of pride for both North Olmsted Schools and its surrounding community. Connected to the main academic building, the new Performing Arts Center seats 850, has a separate, dedicated entrance, intended to feel unique as a performance theater for use by not only the school but also the community.

“I’m really excited about how the PAC turned out, we used classical elements on the exterior and the interior,” comment Mrs. Pavlovic. “I hear a lot of comments like, “It looks like Severance Hall!” or “We must be in a Playhouse District!” when you walk in. It does feel like that with rich fabrics, columns, and the colonnade. I attended their first musical which was “Beauty and the Beast,” it was just awesome. They did an amazing job and have a really good drama and music program. The community is very excited about it. I’m happy how it turned out for the North Olmsted district.”

North Olmsted performance of "Beauty and the Beast"
A group song in "Beauty and the Beast"
A presentation of "Beauty and the Beast"
"Beauty and the Beast" performed in the North Olmstead PAC

Placing significant emphasis on the arts, historic 1930 precast medallions were removed from the former High School before demolition and reinstalled in the PAC’s exterior. It was designed with imposing proscenium arch opening that evokes a feeling of a grandiose professional theater.

Fused into the interiors are a Georgian color palette, patterns, and classical elements such as niches, columns, intricate pilasters & cornices, coffered ceilings with glass bell jar lantern light fixtures. Theatrical comedy-tragedy masks are molded into a focal wall medallion and fused into the terrazzo floor motif of the theater lobby as a design highlight.

The North Olmsted 6-12 campus is a landmark in the community, with its Georgian Architectural aesthetic fusing both historic and modern design styles into one structure. The school won “Learning By Design’s” prestigious “Outstanding Project” in 2019 award and exemplifies the 21st century learning model. The North Olmsted 6-12 school will continue to impact student’s education in the district and serve the community for years to come.

“I couldn’t have been more pleased with the response we received from the community. People were literally blown away. They couldn’t say enough positive things about the new campus. It’s beautiful, they loved the colors, layout,” commented Superintendent Zalar. “The community really felt like the district did a great job working with the architects and that we have something we can really be proud of here in North Olmsted for many, many years to come.”

Project Design Challenges:

  • Design and build a 320,000 sf building on a 38.5 acre site that is 2/3 floodplain, incorporating an onsite creek into the landscaping plan.
  • Fuse historic and modern architectural styles into a single structure that can reflect the historic nature of the Butternut Ridge Run Historic District.
  • Incorporate architectural elements that support a 21st century learning model for a school that serves 2,200 students.
  • Design the Middle and High Schools to function as independent schools, that could also share vital building services.

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.

Brush High School – A Dynamic Renovation Project

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Brush High School – A Dynamic Renovation Project
The South Euclid Lyndhurst School District had a clear vision for how to adapt their historic Brush High School and renovate it for the demands of a modern educational environment. The result, is a large school built in 1927, being modernized through strategic renovations to serve the community for years to come.

Brush High School – A Dynamic Renovation Project

The Brush High School Renovation Project provides a dramatic update to this beautiful, historic school in Lyndhurst, Ohio. It brings an architectural refresh, new spaces and services to this iconic structure in a neighborhood setting. This $8.5 million dollar renovation addresses 45,000 sf of the almost 300,000 sf building, redeveloping its media center, student dining, athletic facilities and innovation lab, restores unused classrooms and infuses a new graphic approach throughout the building’s corridors and shared spaces. These improvements allow the South Euclid Lyndhurst School District to better utilize this historic school for years to come.

Brush High School was originally built in 1927, having undergone multiple additions as the community has expanded. At the population’s height in the 1970s and 1980s, the school served over 3,000 students. More recently, the district developed a strategic plan that outlined a goal of becoming a “destination community,” and to update all their learning facilities by 2023. TDA partnered with the district to turn this vision into reality, further developing the plans for Brush High School, focusing on education and athletic spaces.

Major Improvements

A highlight of this construction project was to reorganize the athletic spaces. In order to better utilize the Korb Field, new locker rooms for football, track and soccer were added adjacent to the stadium by raising the existing gymnasium one floor and inserting the locker facilities beneath it. This solution allowed the new locker facilities to be used by the gymnasium above and the sports field just outside. Teams could then enter and exit these facilities directly from an outdoor public plaza, instead of needing to use locker rooms on the other side of the school. With this new configuration, both home and traveling teams could more easily engage with the new facilities, streamlining future athletic events. While it was a structural challenge to raise the gym, the floor was refinished and the space expanded, becoming the new auxiliary gym/multipurpose space for the school.

Student Dining was another major area addressed. First, the serving and point of sale areas were separated, allowing for a more modern and efficient approach. This eliminated heavy traffic during lunch periods and organized the cafeteria around an “a la carte” model. Second, large bay windows were added to the east elevation and energy efficient LED’s were installed to create a much brighter and healthier indoor environment. Third, the upper level of the cafeteria was redesigned to include modern, soft, bench seating that overlooked the sports field. This café style space served students during the day but then served the community at other times, since it provided excellent views of athletic events and could become a hub for future community events.

The Media Center was completely redesigned, having been transformed into a vibrant, multileveled space that serves as a school library and an inviting area for independent or collaborate work. Now, ADA accessible, it dramatically reorganizes the books into a more sophisticated and approachable manner, having eliminated the wall mounted shelving. The upper level has comfortable seating for individual work, while the lower section houses physical media and large tables for group work. In addition, 3 separate meeting rooms with technology hook-ups can be used by educators or students for presentations or research work. A reclaimed space adjacent to the media center is a new “tech repair center.” This becomes a learning resource for students to perform repairs on laptops and other educational technology.

A New Entrance for Navigation

In order to provide greater security and easier navigation, a new front entry was developed to serve as the primary entrance for the school. In the original building, the entry could have been easily overlooked, a simple set of double doors under a low overhang, which led directly into an academic hallway. This arrangement presented a variety of challenges for security and wayfinding. The new entry is a small tower, offset from the historic facade and drawing design elements from the main building. Proportionally and aesthetically, it resonates with the existing architecture without detracting. It incorporates a secure vestibule and visitor entrance where students and parents can easily sign in before admittance.

Along with the rearranged entrance, the new site design creates a visitor parking lot by the entry, with 13 new parking spaces and 3 ADA spaces. This lot is adjacent to a new entry loop staircase which connects a main lower parking lot with the public plaza, featuring Brush High School engraved values, “Educate, Inspire, Empower.”

Corridors and Graphics

Since the Brush High School is such a large structure, addressing the many long corridors was another main component of the renovation. Due to the changing nature of education, few physical lockers are needed for students. As a result of the renovation, approximately 1/3 of the lockers were eliminated, widening the hallways by four feet in some areas. While some of this space was absorbed into new renovations, in other areas, the extra four feet was used for trophy and display cabinetry, art installations and colorful collaborative seating. The display space further underscores the graphic approach used throughout the school.

New wall graphics and furniture installations were integrated throughout, emphasizing school colors and updating the existing artwork and color palette. New signage was added in the lobby and ties the older historic building to the new renovations.

Additionally, the industrial arts program was refreshed. The old “shop classroom” was remade into a modern “innovation lab,” for the engineering program. Since it was an underutilized space, the existing hardwood floors were refinished and now features 3D printers, band saws and other tools which are shared by the robotics lab next door. Interior windows allow for natural light to spill into the corridor and allow students to look in during classes.
We met with the district and went through their core values and strategic plan through 2023. We wanted the project to not only improve the buildings, but announce to their core values.
Adam Parris

Brush High School's Renovation

Towards the end of construction, Adam Parris, the architect on the project commented, “The district had a lot of ideas about how to use that building and they set the roadmap for us to follow. In many instances the spaces turned out better than we envisioned and I found a lot of joy in reusing the existing spaces, while refurbishing the existing materials. It’s one thing to do a “renovation project” and just knock down part of the building, then rebuild it. It’s a completely different task to reuse something that’s existed for a hundred years.”

At the outset of the project, the district had a clear vision for how to adapt historic Brush High School and renovate it for the demands of a modern educational environment. The result is a large school built in 1927, that has been modernized through strategic renovations that will serve the community for years to come.

Project Design Challenges:

  • Renovate 45,000 sf of a 300,000 sf building, revitalize key spaces and install major technological systems on an almost 100 year-old building.
  • Develop and construct a new formal entrance that incorporates a secure vestibule and visitor entrance, without detracting for the historic aesthetic of the school.
  • Raise the gymnasium to the second floor, while building athletic facilities including locker rooms beneath that can serve the sports field and auxiliary gym.
  • Design new wall graphics and wayfinding throughout that unifies the historic art and design styles with the new renovation.
  • Eliminate lockers throughout the school while repurposing the space to engage students and provide rest spaces in the new areas.

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.

Kent City Schools – A “District-Wide” Renovation Project

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Kent City Schools – A “District-Wide” Renovation Project
The district is passionate about education and operates six school buildings. ThenDesign Architecture helped educators create a district-wide master plan for renovations on all six schools operating in Kent.

Kent City Schools - A District-Wide Renovation Project

Kent City Schools is a large school district serving over 3,000 students. Established in the 1860s, the district is passionate about education and operates six school buildings spread across the City of Kent, Franklin Township and the Village of Sugar Bush Knolls. While the buildings are well maintained, changes in the educational landscape and the age of the facilities necessitated improvements. A $25 million “No New Tax” construction bond was passed in 2020 and is being used to make renovations to each facility. The master plan identifies three major improvement categories and renderings have been developed showing the anticipated improvements coming to the schools. Despite the challenges facing educators in 2021, Kent City Schools is focusing on education and executing a district-wide renovation project.

A rendering of the exterior of the new Theodore Roosevelt High School gymnasium addition.
A rendering of the interior of the new Theodore Roosevelt High School gymnasium.
A rendering of the new field house and synthetic turf at Theodore Roosevelt High School.

Renderings of the Roosevelt High School gymnasium addition, artificial turf and Field House

"No New Tax” Bond Issue is a unique opportunity for Kent citizens to improve our facilities without raising taxes ... Funds generated from this Bond Issue will allow us to make needed upgrades to all six Kent schools."
George Joseph
Superintendent of Kent City Schools

Challenges for Many School Districts in Ohio

Across the state, many school districts are faced with the difficult decision of how to deal with aging facilities. While some can construct new buildings, it isn’t always necessary, and in some instances, renovation is a wiser economic decision. 

Kent operates six schools in their district: Davey, Longcoy, Holden and Walls are elementary schools, Stanton Middle School serves grades 6-8, and Theodore Roosevelt High School serves grades 9-12. Since they are all in different locations, built at different times, (the oldest was built in the 1920’s and the newest opened in 1999), each has its own unique characteristics and needs.

Due to the maturation of an existing construction bond the district was able to make improvements to every facility without raising costs in the community. Considering the number of buildings and budget involved, a district-wide renovation project maximized the impact on student’s education.

Since the schools were well maintained, it makes upgrading them easier and more cost effective. The district can maintain the history of each building and neighborhood connection, while installing critical modern mechanical systems that will breathe new life into the structures and improve the occupant’s thermal comfort.

Theodore Roosevelt High School Stanton Middle School Davey Elementary School Walls Elementary School Longcoy Elementary School Holden Elementary School
The entrance to the Theodore Roosevelt High School.
Theodore Roosevelt High School, home of the Rough Riders.
An existing entrance to Theodore Roosevelt High School.
This entrance will be updated with a new secure vestibule.
Richard Roberts Auditorium will receive many upgrades in the renovation.
Seating in the auditorium will be replaced.
"Univents" will be replaced in classrooms, providing better indoor air quality.
The exterior of Stanton Middle School.
The Stanton Middle School Marquee.
An entrance to Stanton Middle School.
This entrance will receive the new secure vestibule.
This entrance will be impacted by the new secure vestibule.
Some spaces are receiving new flooring.
Stanton will receive upgraded LED lighting throughout.
The exterior of Davey Elementary School.
Entrance of Davey Elementary School.
The entry will receive a new secure vestibule.
Classrooms will receive new "univents" for improved air transfer.
Some spaces will receive new flooring.
Historic details of Davey Elementary.
Brickwork on historic Davey Elementary School.
Elevation details on Davey Elementary School.
The exterior of Walls Elementary School.
The entrance to Walls Elementary will receive a new secure vestibule.
Signage on Walls Elementary School.
A colorful bench outside the school.
The entrance which will receive a new secure vestibule.
Classrooms will receive new LED lighting for improved visibility and color reproduction.
New classroom "univents" will improve indoor air quality.
The exterior of Longcoy Elementary School.
The entrance which will receive a new secure vestibule.
This interior entrance will receive a new secure vestibule.
Classrooms will receive new "univents" and LED lighting for a better educational environment.
An exterior pathway outside Longcoy Elementary.
An exterior shot of classrooms outside Longcoy.
Longcoy Pride
The exterior of Holden Elementary School.
The entrance to Holden Elementary which is receiving a secure vestibule.
The existing entry of Holden Elementary which will receive a new secure vestibule.
Classrooms are receiving new LED lighting.
Classrooms are receiving new "univents" to provide air conditioning and better indoor air quality.
New LED lighting is being installed in office spaces as well.

Kent City Schools - Existing Conditions

The district has done an excellent job of maintaining their facilities. They have made a commitment over the decades to keep up with the technological and physical improvements needed for each school.
Cheryl Fisher
Educational Planner

The Bond Issue

In the spring of 2020, the community passed a “No New Tax” Bond issue. This new construction bond was key to making the large-scale improvements planned by the district.

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. Funds generated from this Bond Issue will allow us to make needed improvements and upgrades to all six Kent schools.”

A construction bond is a commitment made by the community to pay a certain amount of taxes which go towards permanent construction or asset improvements. Kent City Schools took advantage of the maturing bonds issued over 20 years ago from the construction of the Stanton Middle School and improvements in Roosevelt, and Davey schools. This new bond now finances the cost of renovations to the schools in 2020-2021 without raising taxes.

The superintendent was grateful to the community for their support. He stated, “Thank you to the Kent community for your overwhelming support of the Kent City Schools by voting to support the “No New Tax” Bond Issue in April…it makes a huge difference in making needed improvements and upgrades to our six school buildings.” 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.”

This bond issue enabled the district to make these large-scale improvements to support future students.

A site plan showing the revised parking layout around Theodore Roosevelt High School.

Three Categories for District-Wide Renovations

Kent City Schools engaged with The Impact Group, their Strategic Planning facilitator, to gauge the community’s preference on renovation versus new construction. According to the Impact Group, the Kent community turned out for the highest level of participation they had ever experienced. 41% of respondents supported renovations, while 31% supported new construction. Renovating existing facilities was a clear choice in the community.

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

Having this master plan allowed the designers to identify a roadmap for educational success in the district. Even though the buildings had not received significant improvements in the last 20 years, they were very well maintained and good candidates for renovation.

Cheryl Fisher, an educational planner with TDA worked extensively with the district on their plans. “We started assessing all of the district facilities and identifying what their building needs were district-wide and even exploring the possibility of new schools with the OFCC. We looked at the facility condition, we looked at educational adequacy of space and worked with a large “facilities improvement cabinet” and went through an in-depth analysis of the data. The project was just so big, we had to come up with a list of priorities.” These priorities revolved around, safety and security, improving the instructional environment and upgrading the athletic and performing arts facilities.

During the design process, the district has engaged with educators, students and professionals on the new building improvements. In late October 2020, students in the urban forestry program engaged with professionals, including Geo-Sci, a local Geotechnical and Engineering consultant, to take soil samples where the future addition will be located. Since the land being developed is near a wooded lot, this new construction project becomes a real time “laboratory” for high school students to better understand the impact of construction on the natural environment.

Student engagement in the Urban Forestry Program

"Our educators care deeply about students and their academic and emotional success. We are grateful for the support of the Kent community."
George Joseph
Superintendent of Kent City Schools

1) Safety and Security for Students

The first area of improvement was in rethinking safety and security for students.

As education has evolved, so has the need to maintain the perimeter of schools and keep track of visitors. Modern schools utilize “secure vestibules,” as a transition space that allows guests to check in using electronic access controls, ensuring the administration can run a background check on visitors before they enter the building.

Since most of the schools in the Kent district were built before secure entries were considered necessary, all 6 schools in the district will get enhanced security at the entrances. Features include electronic access controls and security cameras. These measures will make a huge difference in allowing staff to maintain a safe environment for students. In addition, site security will be improved by providing each building with energy efficient, high output LED lighting in their parking lots. Not only does this feature enhance safety forces patrolling the schools, it also enhances visibility for families attending after-school activities in the early mornings or evenings.

Student parkers at the high school now have to cross the heavily trafficked Roosevelt Drive to enter the school. With the reconfigured site plan, Roosevelt Drive will be moved to the south and all parking relocated to the north of Roosevelt Drive creating a safer entry. The visitor and ADA parking spaces are also moved closer to the main secure entrance along with a drop off lane separate from the bus drop off. The bus drop off road that enters off the north entrance of Mantua has been widened to allow parallel parking along this road while providing a fire lane.

The entry will receive a new secure vestibule.
A rendering of the new secure vestibule in Davey Elementary.
The existing entry of Holden Elementary which will receive a new secure vestibule.
A rendering of the new secure vestibule in Holden Elementary.

Secure Vestibules for Davey and Holden Elementary Schools

2) Improving the Instructional Environment

The majority of student’s time is spent in a classroom or other instructional environments. When determining important facilities upgrades, the classroom environment was prioritized with two major improvements for every building in the district.

The first of these improvements is replacing the fifty plus year old ‘univent’ classroom heating and ventilation units. The existing units have no capability for air conditioning and take around 30 minutes to completely exchange the indoor air. The new system replaces those with heating and cooling units which exchange air in almost half the time, provide a better indoor air mix and are equipped with bipolar ionization capabilities. The air quality and thermal comfort of the students will be greatly improved with these new univents while also reducing maintenance costs. The second major improvement to the learning environment will be new LED’s replacing the aging fluorescent bulbs. LED lighting has many benefits including energy efficiency, better light output, long lasting lifespan and a much better CRI count. “CRI” or “color rendering index” measures a lights ability to represent colors in a more natural way, with higher CRI’s being better suited for educational environments.

Additionally, two of the elementary schools (Holden and Walls) are receiving new gymnasium floors, while the Davey and Longcoy gym floors were refinished in the summer of 2020. Davey and Stanton also will receive new flooring to replace finishes that have failed with age.

"The new gymnasium complex, stadium synthetic turf and new field house will be dramatic changes at Theodore Roosevelt High School. The security vestibules at each school increase student and staff safety. The lighting and air conditioning improvements will create a better educational environment."
Brad Gellert
Project Manager

Athletic Engagement Session in Richard Roberts Auditorium

3) Improving Athletic and Performing Arts Facilities

Finally, Theodore Roosevelt High School is receiving several upgrades in the form of improving the athletic facilities and performing arts spaces.

As budgets and plans were formulated, TDA began engaging directly with the district on designs for the new sports field, gymnasium, and field house. Teachers, administrators, and coaches met with representatives from TDA and Shook Construction to get updates on the design and construction progress. Among the details discussed, were preliminary plans for the new gym and field house.

The new gymnasium complex will be a large addition to the high school and will dramatically change athletic events there. The addition creates a new 14,000 sf gym that includes a new entryway, ticket booth, concession stand, athletic storage, locker rooms and an 1,800 sf multipurpose space to be used in the winter season for wrestling. Completing the athletic upgrades will be the high school natatorium. It is budgeted to get new bleachers and filtration system.

Cheryl having worked closely with the team throughout master planning 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. 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.”

Theodore Roosevelt High School students can also look forward to a new synthetic turf field with an adjacent field house that houses a concession stand, public restrooms, “spirit shop,” varsity team locker rooms and training room. The stadium is also receiving an upgraded sound system, and lighting improvements.

Finally, additional plans are underway for the 50-year-old Richard Roberts auditorium. Improvements to this performance space include a thrust stage extension that will improve acoustics while adding performance space, widened aisles for easier visitor access, wayfinding floor level LEDs, acoustic treatment, and new red upholstered auditorium seating and carpeting throughout the auditorium.

“The district recognizes the value of the school system and they want to be good stewards of what the community trusts in terms of money, the quality of education and the quality of spaces.”
Cheryl Fisher
Educational Planner

Kent City Schools - A District-Wide Renovation Project

The net result of these changes across 6 buildings, is a big impact on the quality of education, athletics, and artistic pursuits by students. The cumulative effects of such improvements make a profound difference in the overall educational experience.

Improving on existing facilities through renovation work can breathe new life into structures, extending their life spans. Targeted improvements in facilities provide solutions that will service the community for decades to come. Kent City Schools, by assessing their current facilities, master planning and executing on their plans shows that a district-wide renovation project can be successful.

To stay up to date on future construction announcements, visit the Kent City Schools website.

Ryan Caswell

Ryan Caswell

Communications

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Ryan Caswell

Ryan Caswell

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

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Brunswick Middle School – Brunswick, Ohio
The Brunswick Middle School is a 21st century learning facility designed to serve grades 6-8 in the Brunswick City School District. This LEED Silver, 243,000 SF building houses 1,660 students and replaces three aging middle schools. Learn more about what went into this project below.

The Brunswick Middle School is a 21st century learning facility designed to serve grades 6-8 in the Brunswick City School District. This 243,000 SF building houses 1,660 students and replaces three aging middle schools, two of which were previously on the site. A design concept for the building was to create a network of 18 “learning pods,” connected to a “central hub” of shared spaces. This LEED Silver project includes four classrooms per pod, with six pods dedicated per grade. The “central hub” consists of student dining, a media center and “Project Lead the Way,” STEM classrooms. Adjacent to the hub are two gyms, and an auditorium with music rooms. A stadium and athletic field is also connected to the hub on the east side of the property.

Under a tight design and construction deadline, the district, architects, and construction professionals worked closely to keep the project moving forward and on budget, despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Brunswick Educational Visioning Session

Early in the building’s design, Brunswick City School District had a clear vision for implementing a modern and collaborative educational curriculum. They wanted teachers to have the freedom to create customized lesson plans for each student, instead of following a standardized plan. This flexible approach directly impacted the architecture and new educational spaces were needed. The community was engaged through an “educational visioning session” early in the design process. Over 100 attended this session and stakeholders engaged on school program analysis, building layout and elevation designs. Through this, stakeholders saw how architecture could support their curriculum goals.

Site Influence

A major design hurdle was dealing with the 34’ grade change distributed among three existing plateaus at different elevations on the site. Designers used these plateaus to situate the major elements of the facility. Parking was located on the top plateau which gradually sloped to the middle plateau where an exterior bridge connected the sidewalk to the building’s main entry and interior “connecting hub.” This hub fed circulation to the athletics field and stadium on the lowest plateau.

Two existing middle schools, Visintainer and Edwards Middle Schools, were on the site and had to remain operational throughout construction. When it was completed, the team only had three months to demolish these and build the parking lot for the new facility in order to open for the 2020-2021 school year.

The entrance bridge is a striking feature of the Brunswick Middle School. It created a large public entrance, allowed for exterior windows on the “Project Lead the Way” STEM classrooms and carved out a unique exterior plaza below. This became an extension of student dining and hosts a large collaborative stair for outdoor gatherings, performances, and classes.

Brunswick Middle School Interior Design

Student dining serves as the “connecting hub,” located on the middle plateau of the site. Its interior design colorfully displays Brunswick’s signature blue and networks together the “learning pods” and other major interior spaces.

Since the district intended small groups of students and teachers to work together, each of the eighteen “learning pods,” consist of a central collaborative space surrounded by four classrooms. While each classroom serves a specific subject, the collaborative area is a flexible, extended learning area that houses technology, white boards, student lockers and educational furniture for its small group of students. Six pods are dedicated to each grade in the Brunswick Middle School. Architectural and interior designers paid careful attention to the lighting in these collaborative spaces. To enhance lighting and the overall aesthetic, special ceiling soffits and lighting fixtures add texture to the ceiling, ensuring plenty of light for group activities.

Auditorium and Gymnasium

To expand the music program, the district included a new performing arts center in the Brunswick Middle School. The auditorium seats 700 people and is connected to several large music rooms for vocal, orchestra and instrumental practice. One semester of music is a district requirement for Brunswick students and an important part of their education.

The Media Center, while still containing physical books, was designed to accommodate modern, digital media. It includes a small “maker’s space” and a dedicated green screen recording studio.

The Brunswick Middle School now has a full gymnasium and auxiliary gym which will support their expanding sports program. An eight-lane track, synthetic turf sports field and stadium are situated at the rear of the site. These new facilities will become an important venue for future athletic events in the district.

Project Design Challenges:

  • Develop an architectural solution on a complicated site, that incorporated a 34' vertical grade across 3 plateaus to accommodate parking, athletics, the school building and district wide bus storage and maintenance facility.
  • On a tight design and construction schedule, build a new structure adjacent to the two existing middle schools, Visintainer and Edwards Middle Schools, demolishing them before the school year begins.
  • Design architecture that supports the district's educational vision, allowing teachers more flexibility in their spaces to help them develop individualized lesson plans and student schedules.
  • Ensure excellent lighting to support educational activities. This included both artificial and natural lighting solutions where 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.
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New Educational Wickliffe Campus

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New Educational Wickliffe Campus
Wickliffe City Schools has been ambitiously planning the new educational Wickliffe Campus to house students in a Pre-K through 12th grade facility which will replace the aging city schools in their area. We are honored to present a video animation of the new facility, narrated by Wickliffe High School students.

Wickliffe City School District has been ambitiously planning the new educational Wickliffe Campus to house students in a Pre-K through 12th grade facility which will replace the aging city schools in their area. Engaging with the community, the district has been presenting their educational vision which seeks to address the challenges that students face, ensuring they receive the best educational opportunities possible.

Working together with Wickliffe City School District, we are honored to present a video animation of the new facility. Narrated by Wickliffe High School students, viewers can get an inside look at how the new facility will impact future attendees.

Education in Wickliffe, Ohio:

In a News Herald article in early 2020, Wickliffe School District Superintendent, Joseph Spiccia identified his “four E philosophy, Employed, Enrolled, Enlisted or an Entrepreneur” and focused on ensuring these are present in every graduating class. These beliefs are part of a larger motivation to build a future ready education model for all students going through Wickliffe Schools. He and Julie Ramos, the Director of Strategic Innovation, are driven to develop student outcome and seek to expand the format and educational opportunities in the district.

In 2019, voters approved a $60 million bond issue, which allows for the construction of a new pre-k through 12 educational campus which will serve as the single school building for the district. It will replace the aging elementary, middle and high schools. The two story, 204,000 SF building incorporates spaces that will greatly expand opportunities for the curriculum, provide students better collaborative spaces, flexible classrooms and athletic areas, adjacent to a new performing arts center that seats 500. In addition, the new facility allows expansion of the Family Resource Center, a community center that offers free services to many who are in need. 

“We need to make sure the curriculum and the programs are broad enough to meet the needs of this diverse group of students."
Joseph Spiccia
Wickliffe School District Superintendent

“Our priorities are to ensure our students are future ready,” states Superintendent Joe Spiccia. “We need to make sure the curriculum and the programs are broad enough to meet the needs of this diverse group of students. Another priority is to create a culture and environment that takes great advantage of the wonderful tradition of the community yet moves the community forward progressively.”

Project Renderings:

Construction is slated to begin in late spring of 2021 and will take around 2 years to construct. The new facility is scheduled to open for the start of the 2023-2024 school year. We appreciate the opportunity to work with districts to realize their educational goals and develop spaces, such as the new educational Wickliffe Campus which will serve students for decades to come.

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

Ryan Caswell

Ryan Caswell

Communications

Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.

Facebook Linkedin Twitter Instagram

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.