Thu Oct 292:30 PM – 3:30 PM

Rethinking High Schools: When Every Square Foot Must Perform

EDsession (60 minutes in classrooms)TRACK 5: Building for Safety & Well-Being—from Construction to Completion

West Field High School redefines how educational space is planned, designed, and utilized. Guided by the principle that every dollar must make sense, the design team rethought traditional spaces to create a high-performance environment. Flexible, multi-use spaces replaced conventional models, increasing utilization and reallocating area to student-centered environments. This session shares a visionary approach to designing efficient, adaptable schools that enhance learning, highlight programs, and create more engaging student experiences, with post-occupancy evaluation results demonstrating the impact.

Speakers

Ben Hansen
Ben HansenAssociate Principal, K-12 Learning Environments, MHTN Architects
Haley Costimiris
Haley CostimirisSenior Interior Designer, MHTN Architects
Larry Hadley
Larry HadleyExecutive Director Of Facilities and Operations, Weber School District
Mike Martini
Mike MartiniPrincipal, West Field High School, Weber School District

More Information

Tags:Group A
Allow Registration:No
Capacity Unlimited:No
Indicate how the topic is applicable to Health, Safety, Welfare (HSW) Design credits.:This session qualifies for AIA HSW credit as it addresses occupant welfare and building performance through the design of high-utilization, flexible learning environments. Participants will explore how space planning, adaptability, and resource efficiency impact student engagement, well-being, and educational outcomes, supported by post-occupancy evaluation findings that measure real-world performance.
Learner Engagement:This session uses interactive case study analysis to engage participants in evaluating design decisions and outcomes. Attendees will participate in guided discussions and polling to assess space utilization strategies, challenge traditional assumptions, and explore tradeoffs. Small group conversations will prompt participants to apply concepts to their own projects, fostering peer exchange and practical insights into high-performance school design.
Learning Objective 1:Evaluate how space utilization impacts both cost efficiency and student experience