Hamilton County ESC: A Masterclass in Enlightened Flexibility

Educators and administrators in southwest Ohio have an invaluable partner in the Hamilton County ESC, an organization that provides them with professional development programs and other support services, such as IT and financial consulting. Its services are in such high demand that the ESC needed to double the size of its workplace and professional development space. Since the organization appreciated the way our Workplace studio team was structured—and especially how we approached our work—it asked us to lead this major renovation and expansion. While conducting the strategic workplace planning for its new space, we worked closely with the ESC’s CEO, Chad Hilliker, and his team of senior leaders.

“We had to devise creative solutions to ensure that the new structure and the old one formed a seamless, attractive whole both inside and out. And, ultimately, we had to create a dynamic facility that connected the ESC’s workforce to their workplace, allowing its team members to thrive and produce results in a place that supported the culture and important mission,” said Jeffrey Sackenheim, Vice President of Architecture at SHP and the project’s lead.

The project was divided into two phases. In the first, the building’s footprint was expanded by a single-story addition, in effect doubling the space to roughly 57,000 square feet. During Phase II, the original structure was converted into a state-of-the-art professional development area. You can learn more about this phased approach—and see photos of the recently completed space—in our latest case study, A Masterclass in Enlightened Flexibility. Click here for instant access.