“The best school environments don’t just support learning—they ignite imagination, nurture belonging, and empower every student to thrive.”
NBS Commercial Interiors
The "R" Multi-Use Complex
Rossford, OH
Client: Rossford Schools
Size: Rossford Schools
Completion: 2024
Architect: The Collaborative
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.
KI
Borrego Springs Unified School District
Borrego Springs, California
Client: Borrego Springs Unified School District
Completion: 2025
Architect: HMC Architects
Borrego Springs Unified School District sits in one of California’s most unique communities—tucked within Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and serving just 345 students across three schools. But when the district set out to modernize its high school for the first time in more than 30 years, the goal was anything but small. With the support of an $8.6 million community bond, Borrego Springs partnered with KI to create flexible classrooms, collaborative learning spaces, and a vibrant new library designed to support career-focused learning and prepare students for life after graduation.
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.
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.
Patent # 2442935
Certwood USA
Mobile Series Cart System
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.
