Sol Harris Day Architecture

While striving for the best educational environments that “Ignite a passion for learning”, North Canton City Schools began their journey with a district-wide facilities review to establish a master plan for their future. After careful review, future steps were established, with phase one requiring two new elementary schools to house the Primary and Intermediate students. The new Intermediate consolidates two aging buildings, serving grades third through fifth, into one new building on an existing site. This new school was designed to be adaptable to the changing needs for the different types of learning and collaboration, attempting to meet the needs of all students including those in the “middle”.

Services

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

Site Orientation

The location of the new Intermediate is on the site of one of the district’s K-2 schools that was later demolished. This location was chosen after several sites were studied. The benefits of this location include:

  • Already owned district property within a district neighborhood.
  • Good visibility off of a major connecting street that extends to downtown North Canton.
  • Only about a mile from downtown North canton.
  • The parking lot and field space offers a buffer between the adjacent neighborhoods.
  • The building was designed with a large gable roof form to relate back to the context of the neighborhoods.
  • This location helps facilitate safety by dividing the parent drop-off and staff parking traffic from the bus traffic, and it keeps the students from crossing vehicular circulation.
  • The playgrounds and outdoor learning areas are more internalized on the site away from the public streets creating a safer zone.
  • The expansive views from the main entry/reception area create additional security by allowing any visitors on-site to be seen prior to entering the building.
  • The paved bus parking lot also serves as a hard surface playground complete with 2-square 4-square, basketball courts and a running track.

As you walk through here you will notice that this is not your typical school. Our team worked closely with North Canton City Schools to develop a collaborative learning environment to support students and groups of various sizes…from large groups to small groups to individual spaces. This supports the district’s Educational Vision for creating a differentiated learning environment that focuses on the individual student…their interests, strengths and needs, creating flexibility for how a student learns.

Burt Marzley, Partner-Design Leader, SōL Harris/Day Architecture

Building Organization

The overall elementary school design is based on Learning Studios, called Collaborative Learning Areas. These flexible spaces facilitate both “focused” learning and “active” learning. The layout of the classrooms is arranged so each team of four has their own Collaborative Learning Area to share amongst them.

Interior Concept

Two goals became apparent during our Visioning Session: the Elementary should foster differentiated/personalized learning, and the built environment should be light and playful. With those two goals in mind, the interior inspiration comes from nature.  Colors, patterns, textures and lighting qualities that can be found in or resemble nature are proven to reduce stress, increase cognitive performance, improve emotions and mood.  Our goal was to design a school that fosters wellness, creativity, and a connection to nature.

Patterns and textures are easy to comprehend by the human brain in a way that can be both soothing and stimulating.  A few examples of these patterns in nature are clouds, snowflakes, rivers, and tree branches.  These can be seen subtly in our design through the floor and wall patterns.

Colors and materials found in nature with earthy tones have been strategically placed for all to experience throughout the school day. Elements such as wood and colors of sand dunes, pebbles or the ocean help to make the space feel familiar, warmer and more inviting…thus a school kids want to be in.

Sustainable Features

Sustainability is integrated throughout this building. The new Intermediate is designed with a goal to achieve LEED v4.0 Silver Certification. Features that were incorporated into the design include:

  • Efficient HVAC design.
  • Increased insulation thermal-resistance values for the exterior walls and roof to achieve a more efficient envelope, thereby reducing internal loads.
  • High efficiency plumbing fixtures, designed to reduce building potable water consumption by 20% to 25%. This would include toilets, urinals, and lavatories.
  • High-efficiency service (domestic) water heaters.
  • Reduction of internal loads by using high-efficiency lighting fixtures with LED technology.
  • Utilization of glazing systems with increased thermal resistance.
  • Automatic lighting controls in classrooms with occupancy sensors.

Highlights

  • Led an Educational Visioning Session with members of the administrators, educators, students and community members to determine the districts educational goals or drivers for the new school.
  • Designed to support the district’s top educational goal: Differentiated instruction/personalized learning.
  • The exterior design blends traditional features with modern aesthetics. Most of the brick is a red blend that is similar to many buildings the community associates with downtown North Canton.
  • Built on an already occupied site with one of the existing school buildings.
  • Designed within the required square footage and budget while facing rising costs due to supply chain issues and inflation.
  • Designed with outdoor learning spaces to allow learning to happen inside and outside.
  • Natural light and views to the outside were integrated throughout the design.
  • LEED Version 4.0 - Silver Certification goal.

Meet the Team

  • Domenic Ferrante
  • Burt Marzley
  • Jeff Hardy
  • Regina Erdman
  • Jordan Lewis
  • Carolina Silva
  • Julie Ziga
  • William Duncan

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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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