Case Studies K-12 Education

Although she’s not a teacher, Alexis Baker impacts students every day. As the director of facilities at Manheim Central School District, she says she considers their experience in every project. Whether with large undertakings, like renovating the high school, or smaller ones, such as creating a pollinator garden at the middle school, Baker tries to […]

Damian Viltz’s first week of the 2017-18 school year at Fort Bend Independent School District began with a career-defining challenge—and an ominous omen. On the Monday before school opened, FBISD’s new executive director of facilities and operations witnessed a full solar eclipse—an eerie sight, he recalls. The next day, students started the school year as […]

When John Crompton led a lunch and learn session with students at The Winsor  School, he wasn’t sure if they’d be interested. He knew the science behind concrete would probably bore a group of students and expected to look into the audience and see yawns and glazed-over eyes. Instead, he saw a sea of raised […]

Scott Zellmer doesn’t like to waste space. But, with gymnasiums, theaters and event halls, schools often have large areas that are only used some of the time. The director of facilities and operations at Weber School District is working on creative ways to address this. With a few new schools being built in the district, […]

In 2014, Boulder Valley School District passed the largest school bond in Colorado history. According to Molly McLoughlin, the district’s director of facilities, the historic funding led to upgrades for each of BVSD’s 56 schools, impacting over 30,000 students and 11 different communities across 500 square miles. As part of the education facilities master plan, […]

In 1939, Bing Crosby sang “An Apple for the Teacher,” referencing the tradition of students bringing teachers the fruit often associated with knowledge. The practice may have begun on the western frontier in the late 1800s when students—and their families—were responsible for housing and feeding their teachers. The frontier revolved around community and, according to […]

Justin Moss didn’t go to law school to become a lawyer, but he still uses his degree every day, most recently in his role at Fairfax County Public Schools, where he managed many difficult contractors. Moss knows his degree is unusual for a director of facilities management, but he says it’s made him better at […]

When you move from somewhere far away, you’re bound to be inspired by your new surroundings. In the world of design and construction, a fresh perspective can also show what makes a location special. Such was the case for architect Matt Feldmeyer, who relocated from his native Indiana to Seattle, Washington, in 2008. Discovering nearby […]

No one, especially since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, wants to breathe other people’s air. This can be hard to prevent in schools, though, where getting fresh air is usually only possible during gym class or recess. Jack Rallo is changing this by bringing the outside air in. As the director of facilities for […]

As a teenager growing up in San Antonio, Texas, Darrell Thompson believed at the time he had no skills, no future and was a person lacking ambition. That changed when he joined the Navy. Now, 39 years after coming ashore, Thompson’s successfully navigating a sea of high-tech projects as the director of facilities at Center […]