“Tri Star’s enrollment has increased 65% since our new building opened.”
DIRECTORTRI STAR CAREER COMPACT CELINA, OHIO
Community members are often unaware of the programs offers at CareerTechnical Centers. The design process is a chance to build understanding.
When multiple communities are involved in a Career-Technical Center, we collaborate with stakeholders to create a distinct identity for the building. During design, we generate excitement among partner schools and their constituents by creating a website to keep people informed about meetings, plans and designs. We also give careerday presentations at partner schools to share the exciting future that students can experience at the new or reimagined Career-Technical building.
Community involvement during design is a chance for residents to learn more about available CTE programs.
Student involvement in the design and construction process is a key element to increasing enrollment. By listening to the student perspective, we are able to create design solutions that are tailored for the preferences of Millennials and Generation Alpha. Students who are engaged are also better advocates for CTE programs with their peers.
The construction process creates opportunities for internships and job shadowing.
During the design of the new Booker T. Washington High School for the Engineering Professions in Houston, Texas, Fanning Howey worked with student groups who were involved in Design Thinking workshops, design presentations and intership opportunities during construction. This approach ensured the student voice was at the center of a once-in-alifetime project.
Student participation in design sessions is an excellent way to build future advocates for CTE programs.
To combat brain drain, many communities are taking a highlyintentional approach to connecting educational programs with local job opportunities.
Attracting students means providing a clear path to future job opportunities. By collaborating with local businesses during design, we create real-world learning environments that help students contribute to the local economy.
Engaging businesses throughout the design process has other benefits. During the design of Tri Star Career Compact in Celina, Ohio, businesses contributed more then $2 million to the building project - a direct result of their seeing the value of a skilled workforce in northwestern Ohio.
Crown Equipment contributed $500,000 for the naming rights to the commons at Tri Star Career Compact.
“Our enrollment has increased 65% since 2018. We had a vision of what we wanted, and Fanning Howey made it 1,000% better. They hit a home run!”
The new Tri Star Career Compact unites nine schools districts in one dynamic facility.
The programs held in this state-of-the-art building will strengthen the local economy by training a new skilled workforce to meet the needs in Mercer County and Auglaize County, Ohio. In addition to providing high school students with the opportunity to develop technical skills, Tri Star Career Compact also provides space for adult education programs and training facilities for local companies and organizations.
Thanks to the collaborative nature of the planning and design process, Tri Star received $2 million in donations from local companies without sending out a single fundraising letter.
Since opening in 2020, enrollment has rapidly increased at Columbia City High School. In just two years, the building has met its anticipated occupancy levels, and the district is looking at options to add more space for incoming students.
Design of the new Columbia City High School focuses on creating graduation pathways to a network of more than 200 local businesses.
The Business, Entrepreneurship and Communications Academy has a television, radio and podcasting suite, including a space designed specifically for the local radio station. The Health & Human Services Academy features a medical/emergency response training room. And in the Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology Academy, students have access to pre-engineering equipment and CNC machines donated by local companies.
Reflecting the nature of the rural community, the school also has one of the most advanced Agriculture suites in the state of Indiana. The suite includes flexible agriculture classrooms, a project-ready high bay space, a welding lab, a small animal area, a greenhouse and a food science lab where students can learn to prepare the food they grow.
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128 West Market St Celina, OH 45822 419.586.7771
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