Liberty-Benton PK-8 School

Client: Liberty-Benton Local Schools

Location: Findlay, Ohio

A new 128,292sf school for 1,021 students in grades PK-8.
Academic pods group grade-level classrooms together around extended learning areas.
An 800-seat auditorium, available to all grade levels, supports the district's growing commitment to the performing arts.
A media center, an outdoor classroom and a series of athletic spaces.
Safety measures include a secured main entry vestibule, cameras and door-locking systems.

INTERESTING FACT: Designing a new facility comes with hundreds, if not thousands, of decisions about the look and feel of the building. Prior to the design phase, SHP facilitated a branding process to establish a unified Liberty-Benton brand and create guidelines to inform the many building-related decision. The result was a package of unique logos and brand elements for the district and ultimately a smoother transition into the new facility.

Master Planning|Architecture|Interior Design|

An elementary school with a 98-year-old original structure led Liberty-Benton Local Schools to seek a modern learning facility with enhanced security features. The planning and design processes were engagement-driven, collecting input from students, staff, and community members. As a result, the new school building prioritizes student learning with technology-equipped spaces. Built on the existing site of the high school, which also received a renovation, the project establishes a modern and unified campus for the district.

"The creation of flexible learning environments was a high priority in the community's educational vision for the new PK-8."

– Kyle Miller, Project Manager

"The school not only provides countless learning opportunities for generations of students, but is a source of pride for the community right as they walk in the front door."

– Mike Bednar, Architect

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