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.

In our search for space in which to relocate our growing architectural practice, we discovered a vacant, Mid-Century Modern structure in a central location. Constructed in 1955, the masonry and steel structure was structurally sound but lacking in energy-efficient features. The design focused on insulation of the building envelope and highly efficient system design.  Thanks to the building’s corner site and long, relatively narrow footprint, interior spaces are filled with daylight. Exterior sunshades were added to the second floor windows, along with interior light shelves, to help control sunlight and glare.

Exposed structure and systems contribute to the sense of openness and texture within the main studio space.  The project represents our commitment to our profession, the city in which we practice and the practice of sustainable design. We occupied the building in 2014 and are pursuing LEED Gold certification for the project.

Marshall University’s new School of Pharmacy opened in August 2012. The challenge was to create a state-of-the-art pharmacy program within an existing 1980’s era classroom building. Our firm was the lead architect on the project and we partnered with S/L/A/M Collaborative in Connecticut for programming and schematic design.  The design team provided facility assessment, programming and full design services including interior design & furnishings. The result is an extensive transformation of the first two floors of the four-floor, 69,000 sf building. The lack of access to daylight demanded a new interior environment with a sense of openness in large, flowing spaces that are warm and welcoming. Floors are organized with the primary social/community areas at the heart of the plan.  Glass interior walls provide transparency from the public spaces into classrooms, labs, and skills areas to enhance the sense of community. Strategic use of technology throughout the building creates connectivity and community for students and faculty.  Team-teaching areas, classrooms and common areas all have technology-embedded walls to support the School of Pharmacy’s active learning educational model.

“…speaking for the faculty, staff and students we are very proud of the dynamic educational and research environment… At the end of our first semester with the inaugural class, all of us are enthusiastic about the positive outcomes that are being realized in these new spaces.”
–Dr. Kevin Yingling, Dean, School of Pharmacy, Marshall University

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.

Our firm worked in conjunction with Marshall University, Sodexo Food Services, and Starbucks Coffee to create an interior community environment for the university’s Student Center.  This was a multiple-stage retail and food service project, with the requirement that each renovated area not impact the function of the others while under construction. New vendors were introduced to completely revamp the food service offerings. The dining area was refreshed with new finishes, and ETA’s interior design team provided furniture selection and procurement services. The end product seamlessly ties together the retail themes to create an inviting space to dine, converse, or study.

.