Dick Kazmaier’s 1951 Heisman Trophy on display at Maumee High School

Completion Date:  2007

Van Wert, Ohio

The Van Wert City Schools 6-12 School and privately funded Scott M. Niswonger Performing Arts Center of Northwest Ohio (NPAC) is a 281,775 SF building designed for 1,349 high school and middle school students. The floor plan is design based around the four main building functions; high school on the south, middle school to the north, athletics to the west and performing arts on the east.

Separation of the high and middle school students was an important issue for the school district. Classroom entrances, student drop off and parking were placed on opposing sides of the school allowing the shared spaces of library and dining to act as the center separating “spine”.

Spaces for the arts including instrumental, vocal, art and industrial arts are positioned adjacent to the performing arts center taking advantage of the stage, practice space, and scene and set construction for stage productions.

The grand lobby of the NPAC with its 55’ ceilings invites the public into a regal space of granite floors, stairs and custom Anegre wood wall panels, flanked by a lecture hall seating 175 to one side and the grand auditorium on the opposing side. The auditorium provides comfortable seating for 1,200 patrons. With its “flying” balcony, stage and full fly lofts can easily be one of the finest in northwestern Ohio.

The high school gym provides seats for 2,512 varsity fans. Other athletic spaces include six locker rooms, weight rooms and a wrestling room. A middle school gymnasium allows 522 spectators to view sporting events with four accompanying locker rooms. The 9,700 SF student dining space / lobby accommodates pre and post game athletic celebrations and student gatherings.

When simultaneous athletic and cultural events occur, parking congestion is avoided by having the two large public venues at opposing ends of the school facility.

Completion Date:
New 6-12 School – 2006
Performing Arts Center – 2007

Square Footage:
New 6-12 School – 241,270
Performing Arts Center – 40,505
Total – 281,775

Casstown, Ohio

The new Miami East PK-8 School is the successful blending of  individual elementary schools within the Miami East school district. It became important to have a facility that could operate at a much higher level of efficiency than the schools that it was replacing.

Constructed at an outstanding value to the school district, this 128,573 sq. ft. school has a cost of 105.29 per square foot. Included in this cost are marble terrazzo floors throughout the corridors and a facility that is rich with technology. Students have the advantage of learning in a  classroom environment where sound reinforcement, video-projection systems and smart boards are common features.

Throughout the selection of an energy-conscious heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system, individual heat pumps are used to control the environment of each classroom. Efficient, economical and well-engineered mechanical systems continue to outperform more traditional systems, resulting in a lower operating costs of 85 cents per square foot per year. 

Value, technology and quality design are hallmarks of the new Miami  East PK-8 school.

Completion Date: August 2004

Square Footage: 128,530

Maumee, Ohio

The Maumee Performing Arts Center is the jewel of the Maumee City Schools.  Recently opened, this theater as a part of the high school provides a new home for the arts.  Accommodating 792 patrons per performance, this venue provides those necessary amenities synonymous with a good performance space.  Ancillary support spaces such as locker, dressing and makeup rooms, rehearsal studios and scene shops have all been considered.  A full orchestra pit supports the action on the stage. The stage features a full fly loft and grid and is deep enough to accommodate a wide variety of performances.

In order to meet the acoustical needs of a multiple number of performance styles that can be offered the house has the ability to be “tuned” allowing for optimum sound quality.

The main entry concourse welcomes parents, students, teachers and the public to the performance experience.  Community groups and organizations are encouraged to take full advantage of this asset and schedule the space for special events enhancing the quality of life with in the community.

Completion Date: May 2005

Square Footage: 32,414

Rock Creek, Ohio

The new Rock Creek Elementary is located on a property adjoining the original 1869 Colonial Georgian style Rock Creek Elementary School. Through multiple community meetings a Colonial Georgian design was desired to mimic some of the original architectural details of the 1869 structure. Designs for a grand portico entrance and 18 foot tall cupola on the roof ridge delighted the district and local community. The location of the new school and access to the original were important since it was unclear during the design phase whether the village of Rock Creek would retain the original building.

The mission of Rock Creek Elementary is ‘to work together to create a safe, positive learning environment where all students can be successful’. In order to serve the districts needs a one story design was selected for the K-6 school. Rock Creek Elementary accommodates 450 students with separate grade level wings. Three classrooms per grade level with an accent color on the instructional / learning wall draws the attention to the front of the classroom enhancing the learning experience for the young students.

Completion Date: August 2008

Square Footage: 59,930

Jefferson, Ohio

The Village of Jefferson is located Ashtabula County in north eastern Ohio in a community known as the “Philadelphia of the West”. Founded in 1803 by a U.S. Postmaster during Thomas Jefferson’s administration the early plans of Jefferson, Ohio were based upon Georgian Architecture styles. Jefferson Elementary School features a stunning clock tower main entrance piece to capture and reflect the rich architectural history of the community.

Jefferson Elementary is a K-6 school which accommodates 659 students with 4 sections per grade level. The school site was carved out of an existing 25 acre delineated wooded wetland site. A two story building design solution was used to minimize the size of the building footprint, which lessened the area of disturbance to the precious wetlands to under ½-acre. Maintaining the pristine character of the site was a priority of the school board, which creates unique children’s environmental educational opportunities. Sensitivity to age was given placing the younger children on the lower level and the older children on the upper level.

Completion Date: August 2008

Square Footage: 79,914

St. Paris, Ohio

Graham Local School District, located in rural Ohio is named after A.B. Graham, founder of the 4-H Agricultural Program. Covering over 185 square miles, Graham LSD is one of the largest districts in the state.

To better serve the needs of this large district, a new Graham Elementary School was designed to replace two K-5 schools, Graham South and Graham North. The new school accommodates 1,040 students with seven classrooms for each grade level in separate pods. Each grade includes a 900 square foot Special Education classroom with operable partitions. A common extended learning area is shared among students in each grade to enhance interaction and learning within a community space.

Color distinctions in corridors provide a visual pathway for younger students to navigate their way to classrooms. Primary colors are featured throughout the interior design of grades K-2 while grades 3-5 are highlighted by a vibrant secondary color scheme. A naturally lit Media Center provides a stimulating environment for the young students to learn and grow into a bright future.

Completion Date: August 2007

Square Footage: 120,055

Orwell, Ohio

The Grand Valley Elementary/Middle/High School, which occupies a building footprint of nearly six acres, is nestled on a ninety-five acre site in rural Orwell, Ohio. When constructed it was the largest K-12 school building in the state of Ohio.

One school building serving the needs of an entire school district was the design task.  Educational program requirements for maintaining separation between the different grade levels were premier. Common spaces helped to delineate and define the three educational areas of the school. These spaces, such as the three gymnasiums, auditeria (which combines the aspects of both an auditorium and a cafeteria), elementary dining with stage, and common kitchen, were used as the dividing elements. Consideration was given to how this facility operates after the end of the traditional school day, and how three educational wings can be secured while evening practices, athletic events, stage performances and other community activities occur. A sky-lit main entry lobby with a 20-foot wide hall welcomes the middle and high school students. The kindergarten and elementary students have a separate entrance in a portion of the school furthest away from the older students.

The auditeria gathering and performance space has a full stage, complete with rigging and equipped with sound and lighting systems for theatrical and musical productions. Some three hundred individual chairs are set for these special school functions. During the traditional school day, this space is set with rolling tables and chairs for student dining.

Three grade level specific media centers, three computer laboratories, a computer-assisted drawing (CAD) laboratory, three music rooms, three art rooms, five science laboratories, and 88 classrooms are all fitted with today’s educational technology, including fiber optic cabling.

Completion Date: August 2005

Square Footage: 245,568

Fayette, Ohio

This new school for 544 students consolidates two existing schools to a single site. This progressive facility divides grades 1 thru 6 in one wing and a grades 7-12 in another wing. Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten rooms are centrally located. The school  includes a music department, two gymnasiums and a common student dining area.

Since this project was completed under budget we were able to utilize the   remaining funds along with a $200,000 department of development grant and construct a 250 kW Wind Turbine to generate electrical power for the school.   The Wind Turbine was completed in December 2010.  

School Completion Date: July 2008

Wind Turbine Completion Date: 2011

Square Footage: 99 277