“The best school environments don’t just support learning—they ignite imagination, nurture belonging, and empower every student to thrive.”
JCJ Architecture
New Fairfield High School
New Fairfield, CT
Client: New Fairfield Public Schools
Size: 140,000 sf
Completion: 2023
Architect: JCJ Architecture
General Contractor: O&G Industries
The New Fairfield Public Schools engaged JCJ Architecture to redesign and replace significant components of a 1970s-era structure that was deemed by the town to have exceeded it useful life. The High School was co-located/connected to the Town’s Middle School and shared significant core spaces. The new 146,000 sf High School was constructed adjacent to the existing one. Once the new facility was completed, the existing classroom wing and auditorium were demolished; the original gymnasium and natatorium remained. The middle school and high school are separate buildings connected by a pedestrian plaza. With significant grade changes across the site, the building was designed in a 3-story configuration.
JCJ Architecture
Casa Blanca Community School
Bapchule, AZ
Client: Gila River Indian Community
Size: 102,400 sf
Completion: 2022
Architect: JCJ Architecture
General Contractor: Core Construction
This Pre K-6 school serves children and families from Districts 3, 4 and 5 of the Gila River Indian Community. Located in District 5, the school is surrounded by cultivated farmland and in a region which has historically been the agricultural hub for the Akimel O'otham (Pima) and Pee Posh (Maricopa) peoples. The school focuses on student's global readiness while maintaining the Akimel O'otham Ñeo'ok and Himdag. The campus provides an immersive cultural experience, helping to preserve the languages, stories, and traditions of the tribes. The layout of the campus takes inspiration from the agricultural fields that sustained the Akimel O'otham and Pee Posh and the canals they were so skilled in devising and constructing. Classroom clusters and core/community buildings are organized around a central ribbon of green space. The campus includes indoor and outdoor commons areas that provide each grade level cluster space for flexible instruction.
Interface
Christa McAuliffe Elementary
Concord, New Hampshire
Client: Christa McAuliffe Elementary School
Size: 50,000 square feet
Completion: 2024
The Concord School district took a long-term planning approach for their facilities and went with nora® rubber, citing benefits around cost savings, durability, and ease of maintenance. Over a decade later, the floors have retained their original beauty and performance.
JCJ Architecture
Barack H. Obama Magnet University School
New Haven, CT
Client: New Haven Public Schools
Size: 63,000 sf
Completion: 2022
Architect: JCJ Architecture / Pickard Chilton
General Contractor: Giordano Construction Co
Originally located on Orchard Street in New Haven, the Strong School was opened in 1808 and has been relocated multiple times within in the City of New Haven. With a vision “to empower 21st Century learners by giving them the communication, academic, and social skills necessary to succeed in a technologically advancing world,” this PreK-4 lab school was relocated in 2019 to a new site on the campus of Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU). From this location, the School and the University have been able to deepen their collaboration and provide a dynamic project-based educational experience for students and valuable opportunities for students and faculty of SCSU’s School of Education.
Patent # 17.072.852
Artcobell
NXT MOV Seating
5 Shifts Transforming School Design
School design is evolving quickly, driven by a convergence of technology, flexibility, and human-centered priorities. From AI-powered learning tools and multi-use classrooms to smarter infrastructure, wellness-focused environments, and visible sustainability strategies, today’s schools are being rethought from the ground up. These five innovations highlight how districts, designers, and manufacturers are working together to create spaces that are more adaptable, connected, and responsive to how students and educators actually learn and teach.
