Case Studies K-12 Education

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 […]

Like most students, Andrew Hartnett couldn’t wait to graduate high school. He imagined that whatever awaited him in the “real world” would be more interesting than going to Brentwood High School every day. Little did he know, he’d find his way back there 15 years later, this time by choice. “Clamoring to come back” when […]

Paul Buckner isn’t a student, but he’s gone back to school. As the director of construction and energy management at Bryan Independent School District, Buckner is doing what he loves—reducing energy use and costs. He’s also discovering what goes into constructing school buildings, which is new for him. In learning more about construction, Buckner has […]

After 33 years working in the same industry, Ralph Knese had a choice to make. He figured he could stay in his comfortable, predictable job until he was ready to retire, or he could finish his career with a new, exciting challenge. He knows it’s a little unconventional, but he’s happy to have gone with […]

As the 2020-2021 academic year neared its conclusion at The Peck School, Mike Zulla could give his facilities department and himself more than passing grades. For it had been education as normal as much as practically possible at the prestigious K-8 school in Morristown, New Jersey. Most pupils were on campus from September through June, […]