“The best school environments don’t just support learning—they ignite imagination, nurture belonging, and empower every student to thrive.”
Schmidt Associates
Washington Township Early Learning Center
Indianapolis, IN
Client: MSD of Washington Township
Size: 37,000 SF
Completion: 2024
Architect: Schmidt Associates
General Contractor: Smoot Construction
Following a full assessment and campus master plan, MSD of Washington Township decided to add a one-story building to the existing Community and Education Center (CEC) to make room for a new Early Learning Center for the district's youngest learners. This location would also benefit from shared infrastructure support.
The facility now serves as the new home for both a developmental preschool and a daycare for employees’ children, ages 2-5. The preschool addition includes administrative areas, a multi-purpose room, an activity zone, and classrooms arranged in “pods” with all associated support spaces.
Frost Barber of Louisiana
Baton Rouge Center for Visual & Performing Arts
Baton Rouge
Client: East Baton Rouge Parish Schools
Size: 80,000
Completion: 2025
Architect: Tipton Associates, RHH Architects
General Contractor: Ratcliff, VPG Construction
The Baton Rouge Center for Visual and Performing Arts is a nearly 80,000 sf building with capacity for 600 students across grades Pre-K through 5. BRCVPA is a beloved institution among East Baton Rouge Parish Schools.
The designs transform a dated, sprawling school campus into a vibrant, unified, two-story facility that sets a new standard for educational design in the region.
Conceived to address both growing enrollment and persistent traffic congestion, the project replaces multiple disconnected buildings with a single, highly efficient structure, while integrating a dedicated early childhood education center. This magnet program, part of East Baton Rouge Public Schools, offers an arts-integrated curriculum that places dance, music, visual arts, and performance at the heart of daily learning.
Frost Barber of Louisiana
Truman Early Childhood Learning Center
Lafayette, LA
Client: Lafayette Parish School System
Size: 73,000
Completion: 2024
Architect: Grace Design, DLR Group
General Contractor: The Lemoine Company
Truman Early Childhood Center is designed to meet the diverse needs of a thriving community, providing essential resources and support for early childhood learning. Truman is tailored to promote curiosity, creativity, and social skills, ensuring that each child receives the necessary attention and care. Truman aims to set the tone for inclusion and equity while creating opportunities for sensory learning, active play, and flexibility.
Truman Early Childhood Education Center utilizes a unique pod system to provide a fun educational environment for young learners and teachers to form close-knit communities. Divided into five diverse pods - Forest, Sky, Meadow, Lake, and Stream- this system enhances student engagement and supports social development.
Frost Barber of Louisiana
Brownfields Elementary
Baton Rouge, LA
Client: Brownfields Elementary School / EBR Parish Schools
Size: 61,000
Completion: 2024
Architect: Domain Design / CDI Solutions
With over 65 years of service to the community, Brownfields Elementary is celebrated for its deep-rooted connection to the area. This modern facility honors that legacy, providing a state-of-the-art educational environment that supports approximately 550 students from Pre-K through 5th grade. Brownfields Elementary includes an administrative wing, media center, multi-purpose room, cafeteria, and classrooms for music, art, and dance. Each grade has its own wing featuring a collaborative flex space, supporting adaptable learning and fostering interaction.
Interface
norament® kivo
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.
