West Ottawa High School has been names a GRAMMY signature School for its outstanding music program. The school’s student performers in choir, band, orchestra, and jazz ensembles consistently receive top ratings and awards, as does the theater arts program.

All arts and STEM programs in the district are heavily supported by the community, and the district aims to increase the competitiveness of its programs by establishing a new, high-end performing arts center. West Ottawa is establishing a new Performing Arts Center (PAC) as part of its 2019 bond initiative.

As part of a multi-facility “Indy Campus Reimagined” initiative, Ivy Tech Community College (ITCC) is undertaking the renovation of the Illinois Fall Creek Center (IFC) to enhance its Nursing and Health Sciences programs. This project will repurpose existing classroom space, consolidating health sciences programs from the Fairbanks Lawrence campus and integrating state-of-the-art lab upgrades to better support modern student learning.

A key goal of this renovation is to centralize all student services on campus, creating a more intuitive and cohesive experience for students and staff. By consolidating services in one location, the design features clear wayfinding and establishes a primary entrance that enhances the facility’s arrival experience.

By creating a state-of-the-art space for Nursing and Health Sciences, ITCC is strengthening their connection to the local healthcare industry. Students will benefit from upgraded learning environments and proximity to clinical placements, internships, and workforce opportunities in the downtown area.

Edgerton Trails Elementary School is an innovative addition to Rockford Public Schools and is their first new school in nearly 25 years. This state-of-the-art PK-5 facility was made possible through the community’s support of a $174 million bond issue passed in 2019. Designed to accommodate the growing population on the west side of Rockford, Edgerton Trails alleviates overcrowding in neighboring schools. The school is a testament to the district’s mission to provide safe learning environments that give students the academic and social skills needed to be successful, lifelong learners in a global society.

The school’s colorful interior is inspired by Rockford’s elementary science curriculum, with each grade level housed in distinct “neighborhoods” that reflect local habitats. The neighborhoods — The Pond (DK), The Woodlands (K-1), The Lakes (2-3), and The Dunes (4-5) — provide age-appropriate and fun environments that connect back to what they are learning. Students can feel emotionally and physically safe as the layout ensures they interact primarily with their peers in spaces designed specifically for their developmental stage. The integration of natural themes also extends to the building’s outdoor learning spaces, which includes a small classroom amphitheater and access to the district’s nature center. Two playgrounds on site also cater to the needs of lower and upper elementary age students.

After nearly seven years of visioning and planning, Grand Haven Christian School (GHCS) is undertaking its most substantial facility expansion since the 1990s. The phased project is designed to support the school’s ongoing growth, strengthen its Christian learning environment, and welcome more students into the GHCS community. 

This thoughtful addition includes a large new gymnasium with a stage, designed to serve not only athletic events like basketball, volleyball, and pickleball, but also worship services, student productions, and community gatherings. Retractable bleachers and moveable nets offer flexibility, allowing the space to easily adapt to a wide range of uses. The gable shape of the roof provides north facing clearstory light while reducing the volume of the space so the building can thoughtfully integrate into the neighborhood context and complement the existing school.

Originally constructed in 1976, the GRCC Ford Natatorium is being transformed from an underutilized aquatic space into a modern fitness and recreation center designed to meet the evolving needs of GRCC students, faculty, staff, and the community.

The new recreation center will include an indoor turf gymnasium, fitness areas, student lounge spaces, athletic offices, a nutrition center, Zoom rooms, and multipurpose spaces designed for collaboration. Additionally, the concept of a “third place” offers students a welcoming space beyond academics, enhancing connections across campus.

The renovation and addition project at Chicago Christian High School was guided by five key principles: capturing a holistic campus vision, meeting each student where they are through 21st-century learning, creating strong connections, providing a facility that is accessible to all and establishing a lasting and durable impact. These principles informed the design of the updated high school, while accommodating a growing student body and ensuring modern learning environments.

This project includes an eye-catching addition and renovation to improve the cafeteria and adjacent commons area, creating a multifunctional space for eating, learning, and gathering. The new addition, which serves as a visual and welcoming entrance, integrates the school’s new branding throughout and features a learning stair at the entrance, lounge areas, and accessibility ramps that connect seamlessly with the architectural design.

Holland Heights Elementary School is embarking on an exciting transformation to create updated learning environments and to enhance nature-based learning. This $21.2 million project, funded through a bond passed by voters in May 2021, will bring new classrooms, a media center, and updated playground to K-5 students.

The oldest portion of the building, originally opened in 1952, will be demolished to make room for new construction. The project will retain and renovate key existing facilities such as the gym, cafeteria, and main office, while creating new specials areas including a music room, STEM lab, and art room.

As part of Calvin’s 2015 Master Plan, a student-focused Commons Union and library refresh project created a dynamic hub for the campus, containing a new open staircase, offices for student organizations, lounge and multipurpose spaces, and supportive administrative offices all under one roof.

Updating the Hekman Library to a Learning Commons model has created a collaborative and communal environment. Improved traffic flow for students using the library building was achieved by the integration of an open, communicating stair that connects the first three levels of the facility together. The first level is home to staff offices and a casual student engagement space with coffee area, small group performance stage and computer lab. The goal of the Commons Union project was to better serve learners by creating easy access to resources and support services, while fostering socialization and connection.

GMB partnered with Centerbrook Architects and Planners as the design architect for this project.

As part of a larger bond program, Comstock Public Schools will begin construction of a new K-8 STEM Academy to replace a 75-year-old facility with a purpose-built STEM school. The new school will feature intentional design that celebrates the future of STEM and ensures that the programming is thoughtful, inclusive, and relevant to today’s technology and resources. The new Academy is set to become the area’s go-to facility for STEM education while creating opportunities for future partnerships with organizations.

The project team held a design workshop with multiple stakeholder and community groups to develop a functional and flexible design that can evolve and adapt to the changing needs of students. Situated on a 30-acre campus next to the existing elementary, the new STEM Academy will house up to 450 students to support the growing program. This will be the first new building for the Comstock Public Schools district in more than 50 years.

Lake Orion Community Schools’ new Blanche Sims Elementary School replaces the oldest elementary building in the district with a new, modern facility serving students in DK through 5th grade. The 68,875 SF school consists of 19 classrooms, a secure entry and office spaces, extended learning spaces throughout the building, a new kitchen with servery, cafeteria with stage, gymnasium, STEM center and media center. 

The building was designed into grade-level pods with classrooms, interior extended learning areas and covered outdoor learning spaces. The classrooms will be larger than in the previous facility and were designed to fit more flexible and collaborative 21st century learning styles. An emphasis on integrating indoor and outdoor spaces together will now allow students to easily engage with outdoor learning. Outdoor access points are included in each pod and classrooms offer unobstructed outdoor views with as much natural light as possible inside the building. Elementary specials, resource rooms and bathrooms are located off the main central spine of the building, with good proximity to new playgrounds.