“The best school environments don’t just support learning—they ignite imagination, nurture belonging, and empower every student to thrive.”
MARCO
Eleanor Roosevelt School
Marco Partners with Heart of America to Transform Eleanor Roosevelt School's Library
The Challenge
Existing library retrofit with multiple entry points and sightline challenges.
• Staff needed clear visibility across the entire space for supervision.
• Central location within the school required a design that looked cohesive from every angle.
• Outdated furniture created a dreary, uninspiring environment.
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.
Educational Environments
Joliet Township High School Culinary Labs
Joliet, Illinois
Client: Joliet Township: Joliet Central & Joliet West High Schools
Size: 18,000 SF
Completion: 2025
Architect: Wight & Company, Dealer: Educational Environments
General Contractor: Gilbane
Joliet Township High School District 204 is redefining career-connected learning through thoughtfully designed environments that prepare students for life beyond graduation. Structured around five Career Academies, the district offers students individualized Programs of Study aligned with real-world industries. Within the Academy of Business Management & Information Systems (BMIS), the Culinary Arts & Hospitality pathway exemplifies this approach—blending academics, technical skill development, and professional practice in spaces designed to mirror industry standards.
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.
