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.

The "R" features expansive indoor sports facilities, including an indoor track, batting cages, esports, a tennis court, and two golf simulators. Students can also learn and create in STEM-focused multi-purpose rooms and makerspaces. The goal was to create a unique environment that all grade levels and activity interests could use, with student-centered design at the forefront. In addition to serving students, many of the health and wellness amenities can also be enjoyed by parents, staff, and community members after school hours.

As Upper Merion Area High School officials set out to design and furnish their newly constructed building, they kept one guiding philosophy in mind: learning can happen anywhere, not just in the classroom. From dynamic commons areas and flexible science labs to collaborative hallways and thoughtfully designed teacher planning centers, each space was intentionally designed to support connection, creativity, and discovery. Working alongside school administrators, KI helped bring this vision to life with adaptable furnishings that empower both students and educators throughout the building.

In order to modernize their dual-language classrooms, Fullerton School District needed mobile furniture that allowed teachers to easily transition between different activities and pedagogies throughout the day—on top of having easy-to-clean surfaces and the durability to stand up to years of use. When they saw Lakeshore’s exclusive Modern Edge furniture line, they knew they had their solution. The smooth-rolling, locking casters on the desks gave them the mobility they needed, and with a lifetime warranty, they felt confident that their purchase would last long into the future.