Sol Harris Day Architecture

Indian Creek Local School District hired SHD as their architect to design a new high school, an elementary school housing grades Pre-K through 4, and to renovate a second elementary, grades Pre-K to 4. Indian Creek’s desire for a progressive, student-centered learning environment to match their vision for the future of education was evident from the start.

LEED Certification

SHD engaged a group of educators, board members, and community members to create a defined vision for the district. Participants from the visioning session continued to provide input as members of the Design Committee who met with the design team on a bi-weekly basis at the earliest stages of designs. SHD used 3D modeling software to share their ideas for the district’s new buildings and communicate designs to the district. As the design was solidified, SHD created a series of photo-realistic renderings for each school, followed by a handful of video walk-throughs that further showcased the details of the buildings before the first shovel was put into the ground. These renderings were shared with the community at regular intervals, creating excitement and anticipation for the changes to come.

Services

  • Master Planning
  • Site Selection
  • Visualizations and Graphics
  • Facility Assessments
  • Visioning
  • Sustainable Design
  • Architecture
  • Interior Design
  • FF&E
  • Estimating/Scheduling

Exterior Concept

Built on a unique site containing bedrock and variable topography, the high school was thoughtfully designed into a hill to accommodate the districts 600 plus students in grades nine through twelve. The roof lines pay tribute to the surrounding residential neighborhoods and topography. The building shapes and roofs are intended to break down the scale of the building to fit within the context. The brick and metal façade materials were inspired by colors found in nature. Black brick was used to develop a layering of the building forms to simulate the natural layered shale found in the area.

Building Organization

With community in mind, the building is welcoming to parents and visitors, with easy access to public amenities located adjacent to the second-floor entry. The student dining space acts as a hub to connect the event and public spaces. It is adjacent to a 700-seat auditorium as well as the high school gymnasium with elevated walking track. The facility was intended to be an asset for the entire community. 

The two story academic wing is located behind a set of doors meant to serve as an acoustical barrier and layer of security for the learning spaces. Classrooms are grouped around extended learning areas filled with flexible furniture that can be used as both an extension and interconnection between spaces.

Interior Concept

As a district full of school pride for both athletics and academics, Indian Creek wanted to use their school colors, red and yellow, in public areas such as the gymnasium and auditorium. In academic areas, designers focused on combining those colors with those that research has shown to improve educational settings. It was important to strike a balance between colors that are shown to lower heart rate and provide calm, while still being stimulating to keep students engaged.

With a collegiate feel, extended learning areas (ELA’s) evolved to offer students various tools to aid in the discovery process. Some of those tools include mobile carts with interactive displays, multiple writable surfaces (including whiteboards and built-in cabinetry with writable surfaces), and print stations. The furniture was thoughtfully selected to enhance discovery, and is flexible, mobile, and comfortable.

Highlights

  • Worked with the facility design committee to develop and refine plans for student centered learning environments to support the educational goals of the district.
  • The overall design aims to support increased student engagement by enhancing student choice while also improving the tools available to educators.
  • Collaboration with Hammond Construction as CMR

Meet the Team

  • Domenic Ferrante
  • Melinda Scalfaro
  • Jeff Hardy
  • Regina Erdman

Awards

  • AIA Akron Design Awards - Citation Award Interiors
  • Learning By Design - Outstanding Project
  • IIDA Cleveland/Akron Interior Design - K-12 Education LEARN Award

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K-12

Alliance City SchoolsAshland County-West Holmes Career CenterCanton City SchoolsCarrollton Exempted Village SchoolsCentral Catholic High SchoolChippewa Local SchoolsCrestwood Local SchoolsCuyahoga Valley Christian AcademyThe Golden Key for Exceptional ChildrenGreen Local Schools (Green, Ohio)Green Local Schools (Smithville, Ohio)Indian Creek Local SchoolsJackson Local SchoolsLake Local SchoolsMarlington Local SchoolsMassillon City SchoolsNordonia Hills City School DistrictNorth Canton City SchoolsNorthwest Local SchoolsOsnaburg Local SchoolsPerry Local SchoolsRG Drage Career Technical CenterRootstown Local SchoolsSandy Valley Local SchoolsSolon City SchoolsSt. Michael SchoolStark County Board of Developmental DisabilitiesStrasburg-Franklin Local SchoolsTallmadge City SchoolsTriway Local SchoolsWayne County Schools

Higher Education

Ashland UniversityBelmont CollegeBethany CollegeBluffton UniversityThe College of WoosterGrove City CollegeIndiana Wesleyan UniversityKent State UniversityKenyon CollegeMalone UniversityMount Vernon Nazarene UniversityNorth Central State CollegeStark State CollegeThe Ohio State UniversityUniversity of AkronUniversity of Mount UnionWalsh UniversityWashington State Community College

Workplace

3D Business AcceleratorAdvanced Storage SystemsAirtex ProductsAkron-Canton AirportAkron Community FoundationASC IndustriesArtsinStarkBekaertBridgestone AmericasCampbell Oil CompanyCarroll County TransitCutler RealtorsDiebold NixdorfDix CommunicationsEnvironmental Design GroupFedex Custom CriticalFirst MeritGE CapitalGreat Lakes ConstructionIn The RoundKiko Auctioneers and RealtorsLean DogLG FuelNational Inventors Hall of FameNickles BakeryPegasus FarmPenske TruckPro Car Automotive GroupProgressive InsuranceS.D. Myers IndustriesSecuritas Electronic SecurityStark Community FoundationSummit County Department of Job & Family ServicesSterling JewelersStruktol Company of AmericaTaylor BankThe Timken CompanyStark County CommissionersTomTod Ideas Inc.United Glass and Panel SystemsUnited Way of Greater Stark CountyThe Vasco GroupYoung Truck

Recreation

Alliance Country ClubAlliance Family YMCAAshland County ParksBoy Scouts of AmericaBrookside Country ClubBucyrus Area YMCACambridge YMCACampCarl.lifeCongress Lake Country ClubEric Snow YMCA (Downtown Canton)Ernie's Bicycle ShopFirestone Country ClubGeauga Park DistrictGirl Scouts of North East OhioGlenmoor Country ClubLakota YMCALouisville YMCAMassillon Boys & Girls ClubMinerva YMCAMount Vernon YMCAMurfreesboro Tennis ComplexMuskingum Watershed Conservancy DistrictNorth Canton YMCAParamount Tennis ClubPaul & Carol David YMCA (Jackson)Pegasus FarmShady Hallow Country ClubSilver Lake Country ClubStark ParksStark County Wilderness CenterTiffin Community YMCATuscarawus County YMCAWestbrook Country ClubYMCA of Central Stark County

Other

A.H. Wilson BuildingAlmost Heaven Homemade Ice CreamAmerican Development CompanyAmerimar Enterprises, Inc.Aultman FoundationAultman HospitalBair's PowersportsBAM Healthy CuisineBenders TavernBoggs ChiropracticBolivar Volunteer Fire DepartmentBrewster Fire DepartmentCanton Baptist TempleCanton Palace TheatreCanton TownshipCanton Township FireCapstone Real Estate InvestmentsCarroll County District LibraryChapel Hill Retirement CommunityThe Chapel in AkronChrist Community Chapel in HudsonCity of CantonCity of WoosterCoshocton Port AuthorityDeVille DevelopmentsDeHoff DevelopmentDowntown FordFirst Friends ChurchGastroenterology SpecialistsGoddard SchoolsGrace United Methodist ChurchGreentown United Methodist ChurchHampton InnHeartland Behavior HealthHoly Trinity Greek Orthodox ChurchHoover HouseJackson TownshipLake TownshipThe Lenzy Family InstituteLeopard Town TwirlersLiberty Development CompanyLions Lincoln TheatreLimbauch BuildingsLouisville Public LibraryMassillon Fire DepartmentMassillon Heritage FoundationMassillon MuseumMassillon Public LibraryMeniru Medical OfficesMinerva Champer of CommerceMissionView ChurchNational First Ladies LibraryPerry Township Police DepartmentPetitti Garden CenterThe Pickwick PlaceThe Pines Lakeside TherapyPlain TownshipPlain Township Fire DepartmentPro Football Hall of FameProgressive ChryslerQuonset HutRose Lane Nursing & RehabilitationSARTAScriptShop PharmacySeville-Guilford Township Fire and EMSShady Lawn Nursing & RehabilitationSmithville Fire DepartmentSpring Hill Historic HomeStark County Department of Job & Family ServicesStark County District LibrarySt. Edward HotelSt. Lukes Lutheran HomeSt. Mary's Catholic ChurchSt. Michael the Archangel ParishSt. Michael Lutheran ChurchSt. Stephens Lutheran Martyr ChurchTraditions at Bath Road Nursing HomeTrillium Family SolutionsUnion HospitalWooly Pig Farm BreweryWooster Community Hospital

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