Sol Harris Day Architecture

The new Lake Elementary School is perched on top of a hill in Hartville, Ohio with spectacular views of the wooded park and residential neighborhood that surround it. The exterior design of the K-12 building was intended to pay homage to the roof lines of the adjacent homes and apartment buildings. Playful blue metal forms highlight focal points of the school building and hint at the innovative spaces that await inside.

LEED Certification

Services

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

Lake Elementary is an example of the continued dissolving of learning boundaries: learning happens in all spaces, and in a continuum of formally defined and informally suggested spaces. The intentional programming and design of spaces to anticipate and accommodate future changes in teaching and learning is a vital part of contemporary learning design.

Learning By Design Awards, Jury Comments

Building Organization

The primary goal of this school building was to create a student-centered learning environment that would inherently reinforce the educational paradigm of the District. Different types of flexible classrooms were developed to cater to the different teaching and learning styles that were intended to occur within these interior spaces. Some are open spaces meant for interaction and collaboration. Some are closed learning spaces that cater to lecture and individual learning activities. Movable walls can be found in the majority of rooms which allow classrooms the flexibility to connect and transform into larger spaces. Classrooms are also grouped around shared spaces filled with flexible furniture. Glass garage doors provide the ability to use these learning spaces as an extension of the classroom or interconnection between multiple classrooms.  

Interior Concept

In addition to the K-12 educational goals, we set a goal from the very beginning of the project to design spaces that felt more like home and that incorporated natural materials and connections with nature. Every school corridor features glass and views to the exterior. Learning spaces all provide views to the outdoors. Metal lockers are wrapped with woodwork, wood beams were used in lieu of steel in the cafeteria, wood slats help to define flexible learning spaces, interior paint and flooring materials are centered on a color palette that can be found in nature, and outdoor learning areas surround the building.

Highlights

  • Led a successful bond campaign 
  • Reviewed the OFCC District assessment to develop a master plan for community approval
  • Led a Future’s Educational Conference with the Community to educate them on how K-12 education is being delivered not only national, but worldwide in today’s school system
  • Coordinated engagement of the local community to determine voter interest and direction for a final master plan for the new K-12 building
  • Worked with staff to developed preliminary space program requirements and OFCC guidelines
  • Learning Studios (classrooms) are designed with garage doors and movable walls so that learning can be open, flexible and collaborative
  • Multiple outdoor learning spaces
  • Achieved LEED Gold Certification

Three years into our partnership with SoL Harris/Day, the Lake Local Schools has no doubt they selected the right architect firm to champion our project. There is little doubt upon completion of our project, our facilities will become a showcase for other districts to emulate.

Kevin Tobin, Superintendent, Lake Local Schools

Meet the Team

  • Domenic Ferrante
  • Burt Marzley
  • Melinda Scalfaro
  • Regina Erdman
  • Julie Ziga

Awards

  • IIDA I Design - Best in Education Interior Design
  • AIA Akron Design Award - Interiors
  • Learning By Design - Outstanding Project

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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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