What if an architecture firm was also a leader in informational materials, sharing, explaining and giving back through our architectural talents, expertise and design experience?
The Cuyahoga Falls 6-12 Campus Construction Tour was hosted by the Cuyahoga Falls City School District. Community members were invited to explore specified paths of the active construction site to give them a sneak peek of the campus that will serve the district for several decades.
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. These improvements allow the South Euclid Lyndhurst School District to better utilize this historic school for years to come.
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 area. Working with the district, ThenDesign Architecture helped create a district-wide master plan for renovations on all 6 of the schools currently operating in Kent.
Despite the social isolation and challenges that faced our creative team in 2020, ThenDesign Architecture continues to find ways to come together, despite being apart. In mid-February our team got together for cross country skiing and enjoying the winter weather in Chapin Forest, which is one of the Lake Metroparks in Ohio. The multipronged approach of being outside, getting exercise, and seeing familiar faces is an example of our culture in action: collaboration, exploration and discovery.
ThenDesign Architecture actively participates in the ACE Mentor Program in Cleveland, Ohio. In a recent session, Jeff Henderson highlighted the different ways architects situate buildings in a landscape. He simplified this complicated concept for high school students, identifying six commonly used ways structures can shape the activity in a landscape.
Downtown Willoughby is home to many historic structures, some of them going back to the 1800’s. Memorial Junior High School is one such building. Built in 1925, ThenDesign Architecture is adaptively re-using this building for our future headquarters. Understand what goes into the decision between renovating a historic structure or building something brand new.
Against the backdrop of one of Cleveland’s most popular bars, a small environmental project has made big impacts on the design of a little green roof in dense urban environments. In 2013, Claire Bank, an architect with ThenDesign Architecture (TDA), managed a green roof project that was installed on one of Cleveland’s popular “Bike Box” installations and sought to demonstrate a new way to think about sustainability in a concrete jungle. Now, this internationally recognized project has attracted hundreds of professionals annually, showing them a new way to integrate native plant species into an otherwise inhospitable environment.
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, 2 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 4 classrooms per pod, with 6 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.
“Just how do you plan a new school building?” We get that question a lot from districts and owners at the beginning of their projects. Since having developed relationships with clients across Northeast Ohio, we have developed systems for architectural success that address the design process known as “programming.”
Robert Fiala is the founding partner of ThenDesign Architecture (TDA) and the mayor of Willoughby, Ohio. He was recognized as a “Citizen Architect” by the American Institute of Architects and featured in an article detailing his path from architecture to public service.
A Different Perspective on Architectural Drawing – ACE Mentor ProgramThenDesign Architecture has proudly participated in the ACE Mentor Program for years. This year, we taught
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. View the narrated project animation!
The North Royalton High School renovation and STEM Wing addition project modernized the school’s building systems, spaces, and infrastructure across the 260,000sf facility, better preparing it for the demands of modern education. Take a look at what went into the design of the facility.
Historic buildings often have very storied pasts. What might have started as one type of building may eventually evolve into something very different. When dealing with these structures, architects can find imaginative and creative ways to repurpose them. Memorial Junior High School in Willoughby, Ohio is one example of the evolution of an historic building.
The Garrett Morgan High School (GMHS) is an academic building designed in an urban context, with a curriculum that focuses both on the humanities and technology. Situated on a 5 acre site, this 133,000 sqft building carried a budget of $35 million and is located along the Cleveland Memorial Shoreway, adjacent to Lake Erie, near downtown Cleveland. Occupying a highly sought after site, GMHS boasts incredible views of downtown Cleveland, in addition to its flexible technologically advanced classroom spaces.
Educational Visioning Sessions are collaborative planning events, that allow architects, educators and students to ensure a future school construction project is successful. Working together, they identify goals, priorities and design solutions from a wide variety of perspectives. A robust Educational Visioning session encourages attendees to imagine better ways to educate generations of students through good design.
Stakeholders gathered in Claridon township to celebrate the groundbreaking on a New Geauga County office building to house city services. Beginning construction marks another milestone in the 4-plus year process for this project.
Excellent design ideas can come from the most unlikely places. Throughout TDA’s design process, we engage individuals of all types in our projects. Chris Smith, TDA’s president, shares his insight into our process, the designers, and collaboration in public architecture.
Since taking on the project to reimagine and renovate Memorial Junior High School, a high priority was placed on maintaining the unique historic nature of the area. This historic building has stood in the community for almost 100 years. Rather than demolish it, TDA, decided to repurpose this old school building to become the future home of ThenDesign Architecture.
TDA is honored to receive NorthCoast 99’s, 2020 Award of Excellence. We firmly believe as designers, we can positively impact the lives of generations to come through good design. Whether an architect, construction administrator or support staff, this core value informs our unique culture and drives us to be better each day.
At a time when historic buildings sometimes are not valued, a small piece of downtown Willoughby is being repurposed as an architecturally symbolic landmark in our city.
Let’s work together to make education better. Interested in speaking with us? Get in touch!