Dayton STEM Middle & High School
Client: The Dayton Regional STEM School
Location: Kettering, Ohio
  • An adaptive reuse of a former big box retail space into a 52,886sf STEM school for grades 6-12.
  • Classrooms, science and project labs, flexible break out areas, a wellness room, offices and conference rooms.
  • 10,000sf of flexible space gives students space they can use when working on special long-term projects.
  • Transparency is achieved through windows and open spaces, showcasing educational activities throughout the school.
Interesting Fact: Due to existing code issues that were left outstanding from prior work done by another firm, SHP had to address life safety improvements before the current project could move forward, and still delivered the project on schedule and within the budget.
Awards: Cincinnati Design Awards - Honor Award, Built Work
Architecture|Interior Design

When the Dayton Regional STEM School required an innovative, flexible environment for its students, they called SHP. The resulting design transformed what used to be a big-box store into a highly adaptable environment that includes science labs with support space, open, flexible break-out areas with comfortable seating, and entirely flexible learning space.

"I believe there are opportunities around the country to repurpose similar spaces in a similar fashion—turning an underutilized, often vacant space into a vibrant hub of learning."
– Jeffrey Sackenheim, President, SHP