Edward Tucker Architects is developing a signage and wayfinding plan for Marshall University, focused on creating a strong campus identity, improving campus navigation, and establishing a standard for signage across Marshall’s Huntington and satellite campuses.

The project began with a series of surveys directed at the students, staff, and faculty on Marshall’s Huntington campus. Participants were asked about their methods of travel, perceived quality of the existing identification and wayfinding signage, and to rank buildings based on quality of interior and exterior signage.
A multi-phase signage and wayfinding plan was developed to address the concerns highlighted in the survey responses. ETA, Paris Signs, and MESH created six sign families, categories of signs dedicated to addressing a separate area of concern on campus, while providing a cohesive brand. The first phase, completing installation by Summer 2025, focused on transportation and building identification.

Future phases will focus on vehicular and pedestrian wayfinding, ADA accessibility wayfinding, and signage aimed at highlighting Marshall’s strong campus identity.

The existing Davis Creek Elementary School was outdated, in the flood plain, and unsafe based on modern standards. As part of the county’s Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan update, a new school was determined to be a priority, including balancing enrollment across the county by accommodating approximately 100 additional students. Cabell County Schools selected the site for the new Davis Creek Elementary on the former Barboursville Brickyard property, a complex location due to its previous use as a brick manufacturing facility.

The geotechnical investigation of the property identified extensive brick material below grade, which required remediation under the new building. Extensive environmental assessment and reporting under the Voluntary Remediation Program was required to confirm the construction of a school on the property was authorized to proceed by WV DEP. The design team worked diligently with the client’s geotechnical and environmental engineers to develop a plan that included the removal of the brick and import of engineered fill, while meeting the budget identified for the school.

The new school was designed to accommodate 300 students, ranging from kindergarten to fifth grade. The plan features a multi-purpose room to function as a dining room, physical education classroom, assembly space, and event space, featuring a full size basketball court and performance stage. There is a folding glass wall between the media center and dual-use music and art classroom that allows for flexibility to accommodate larger gatherings such as book fairs, academic events, and gatherings. The school is home to the county’s only severe to profound disability classroom, and the design team worked closely with the county’s staff to design a space to fit the needs of students and teachers with that space. The new building sits on a beautiful, private site that provides a connection to nature and will serve the community for years to come.

The Cabell County Board of Education determined that the Highlawn community would keep its treasured elementary school, and provided a new site within the neighborhood.  The complex nature of utilizing an urban site for a new elementary school presented a network of logistical issues for the project team to navigate, including the demolition of an existing school structure, the closure of a city alley, rerouting of existing utility lines, and the renovation of the existing gymnasium structure. The design concept separated the bus loop, parent drop-off loop, and staff parking and service access, to avoid traffic congestion. The building footprint is a ‘U’ shape that allows for passive security by creating an interior courtyard that contains the playground area. The dining room features a sloping roof form articulated by wooden beams and decking. The Media Center also features a two-story space connecting the first floor library to the second floor STEAM lab.

The school district’s acquisition of property adjacent to its Elementary and High School enabled ETA to develop a new campus plan of improvements including this new Middle School. The two story scheme creates separation of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades on the first floor from the 6th, 7th, and 8th grades above. Spaces are organized around a central gymnasium creating a compact plan. This results in a low exterior wall to floor area ratio which, combined with insulated concrete form walls, reduces energy use. Open stairways terminate with large windows to bring daylight into all corridors. Polished concrete floors were chosen for ease of maintenance. A green roof area above the library serves as an educational tool in sustainability. The project also includes significant campus upgrades such as a central security and building management system, new campus access road, sidewalks, fencing, site lighting, re-paving, football field bleachers, and six new tennis courts.

A new elementary and middle school became a necessity for this parochial school after enrollment exceeded available space on their campus.  The Church acquired a 200 x 140 ft site adjacent to their existing campus in downtown Huntington and commissioned our firm to design a new building that would accommodate grades K – 8 with two classrooms per grade.

The 39,000 sf facility’s classrooms are organized on 4 levels with younger students at grade and older students on upper floors.  Both stair towers are faced in curtain wall glazing to flood these spaces with daylight and provide views both into and out of the stairways.  State of the art computer and science labs along with music, art, and administrative offices are provided with ample access to daylight as well.

The structural system consists of locally-made, integrally-colored, load bearing concrete masonry and steel.  Building cost constraints were balanced with durable construction systems to ensure a sustainable structure that will allow efficient continued operation for future generations.  The project was completed in 2009.

The $30 million 124,000 SF Waco Center is Glenville State College’s largest multi-purpose facility located on the Mineral Road side of campus next to Morris Stadium in Glenville, West Virginia.  The 3,000 seat sports arena is home to the men’s and women’s basketball teams, along with the women’s volleyball team, but it also houses athletic training and support facilities, an outpatient medical facility and the college’s Land Resources department.  The Land Resources section includes new classrooms, labs, library space, and new faculty offices.  We collaborated with another firm to provide services throughout all phases of the project, which was completed in 2014.

Choosing to renovate and expand vs. tear down and build new, this small but growing school district in eastern Kentucky renewed the Campbell Elementary School through a phased program of improvements and growth for grades K – 3.   The project was divided into two phases, which included renovation of an existing classroom wing and a cafeteria and kitchen addition.

The cafeteria was oriented to take advantage of northern daylight and makes use of the limited site.  Expansive glass floods the space with daylight and frames views of the rail yard, Ohio River valley and hills in the distance.  On sunny days no artificial lighting is required.

While designing for energy efficiency was critical, creating a healthy learning environment was just as important.  The combined improvements in energy, sustainability and health awareness have even led to a shift in menu planning towards healthier food preparation and selection for students.   The project was completed in 2010.

Our firm worked with Marshall University and INTO International to design the renovation of East Hall to house the international studies program.  These classrooms and offices were expressed with a vibrant color palette which is meant to reflect hues from the students’ homes around the world.  Extensive audio-visual and distance learning technology was implemented for contact with the furthest reaches of the world.  The 20,960 square foot project was completed in 2013 with a $2,200,000 budget, coming in just under $105 per square foot of renovated area.

Designed to be a top-tier NCAA basketball facility, the new Marshall University Men’s and Women’s Basketball Locker Rooms were completed in 2009 as facility upgrades to the Cam Henderson Center in Huntington, West Virginia.

The design creates a warmly lit and vibrant space that acts as a showpiece for the program and recognizes its impact as a recruiting tool for future student athletes. Wall graphics and signage create a lively visual experience which tells the story of the program’s proud past. A state of the art audio and video system aids breakdown of game film as well as providing recreational uses for players and recruits.

“They’re the best (locker rooms) I’ve seen in college basketball.”
–Dave Dickerson, Head Basketball Coach, Tulane University

Completed in 2013, this complex is believed to be the largest and most comprehensive coal mining safety training facility in the world. The variety of training environments required 4 distinct buildings.  The first is a 26,300 sf Class Training Building where miners learn in both classroom and shop type settings.  It includes an IMAX type theater for vehicle simulation, a meeting room for 250 people, and catering kitchen.  The second building is the 6500 sf Weld Training facility where students learn critical welding, electrical, hydraulics, and vehicle maintenance on equipment such as continual miners, scoops, and other tracked systems.

The third building is the 6600 sf Mobile Command Center where in the case of an actual mine emergency, rescue vehicles and a mobile command satellite truck may be dispatched.  The building is also outfitted with a large conference and media room to coordinate rescue activities and to provide news media with current information.

Lastly, the Mine Simulator building is the largest of its kind in the world.  In this 104,000sf single story structure the underground mine environment is simulated with entry points, coal pillars, circulation fans, recessed water pits, and a live fire training section.  All light is sealed out to teach miners how to properly follow overhead cable lines in the event of an emergency.  The live fire training section includes a section of belt line, continuous miner, cribbing, and most importantly a propane fired control booth with overhead heat shield to simulate the conditions of an underground fire.  Construction of the entire complex was completed in 12 months.