Solutions / Design Approach

Plan for Functionality Today and in the Future Community

Flexibility

Digital technology is integrated throughout the renovated Education Center to improve its efficiency. Every conference room has mobile-ready technology built in, along with white boards, sound deafening walls, and small refrigerators and counters for refreshments and supplies. There is a variety of meeting and collaboration spaces, plus flexible office space for itinerant staff, all managed and monitored by software, through which team members can reserve spaces in advance. Individual workstations also feature adjustable high-low furniture and mobile file cabinets with seating, and breakout spaces have a variety of furnishings as well. Because the furniture selected is modular, mobile and part of a cohesive, coordinated system, components can be adjusted and/or rearranged. This not only ensures that each space is used most effectively today, but it also sets the Education Center up for long-term success by easing adaptation economically as trends shift toward even greater staff mobility and agile work

Strengthen the Team to Serve the District

The Education Center’s renovation had been thoughtfully considered and planned over a number of years, and the decision makers were conscientious of the public perception and, therefore, strategic about investing in the district’s schools and other significant facilities before this one. The decision to prioritize modernization of the building’s interior and leave the exterior untouched was also intentional, as was the investment in solar power and other energyand cost-saving measures, underscoring the district’s frugal mindset and respectful stewardship of public resources.

As the administration gets settled in its new workplace home, the Education Center will eventually become a proper showcase for the 60-year-old Metropolitan School District’s legacy. Student art will be exhibited in rotating installations. Conference rooms, named after former MSD Wayne Township schools, will display artifacts honoring that history. And students will frequently be invited to participate in various programs. For example, students recently competed for the opportunity to design the administration building’s new wellness suite, and the selected design will soon be implemented.

Change Management Communicate with Clarity

Key to the renovation’s success was the executive team’s motivation to be transparent with the administration team and others who were affected by the change. Engaging the full team in the early needs analysis and asking for input also positioned the project for success. The Superintendent then communicated the overall project vision with confidence and clarity – and with some repetition –while follow-up communications emphasized logistics and details of the implementation plan. Renderings were also provided to help the staff visualize what their new spaces would look like, and people started to recognize that change could be good. When construction began in 2019, everything started to fall into place because the team had planned so strategically. Ironically, the 2020 pandemic offered one small benefit, too: construction could continue with little disruption to the administration’s workflow, since team members unexpectedly worked from home that year.

Building security was greatly enhanced at the main entry through security glazing and ‘layers’ of electrified door hardware, and strategicallylocated frost film at interior storefronts. These security measures were handled in a way that still maintains a welcoming, accessible appearance. The heart of the building includes a skylit atrium space that was maintained and upgraded to enhance school branding and improve acoustics.