Faced with outdated high school facilities, an extensive community engagement planning process identified and assisted in prioritizing needs; ensuring a successful plan. After passing a referendum with more than 80% approval, the project took aim at providing a learning environment fit for a future-focused education.
The reimagined environment creates a perimeter of learning spaces, exposing students to day-lit rooms with clear and easy access to support spaces. The organization of these areas, around a triad of break out spaces and a heart of shared learning spaces, supports the desire of students to collaborate and move. The collaboration hubs create a series of social and learning opportunities in a variety of scales and environments, giving students the spaces they need to succeed.
Environmental graphics reinforce the school brand and motto for students creating an exciting and engaging space for learning.
- 500 Seat Auditorium
- New Secondary Multipurpose Practice Gym
- Secure Main Entry
- Clear, Inviting and Flexible Event Entry
- Environmental Branding to Engage Students
Poor learning spaces separated by sub-par partitions, artificial lighting that included switches in other rooms, almost no natural light, and cramped circulation with traffic bottlenecks, all posed serious challenges in the 1970s high school building.
The media center, dining commons, and collaboration area now serves as the heart of the facility which connects the academic, wellness, and arts into a bright and welcoming supportive space for students and the community.
After completing a community engagement process and passing a referendum, this district’s iconic, historic building received much needed upgrades. This high-achieving district now features facilities that are up to par with their high-quality academic, fine arts and athletic performance standards.
From 2018 to 2023, the district embarked on a series of transformative renovations aimed at enhancing learning environments at North Technical High School. These projects ranged from upgrading security and administrative areas to creating new, state-of-the-art spaces for their cosmetology and dental sciences programs, as well as modernizing the welding shop. The renovations were designed to cater to the unique needs of students and staff, creating inspiring spaces that foster education and career development.
Facing the challenges of growing Pre-K programs and efforts to reorganize elementary schools, Richland County CUSD #1 found the construction of an early learning center was the answer they were searching for.