“This whole place was kind of perfect for what they needed,” said Jeff. “There was this six-acre parcel in the middle of Chardon that was a leftover truck terminal for years with two large buildings and lots of open space. It lent itself to exactly what was needed. It was the ultimate puzzle piece that fit so well.”

Jeff explained the technical aspects of the location and preexisting buildings and how the new facility design adapted to fit. “The smaller structure was a 50-year-old wooden pole building of about 7,000 SF. We converted that into the mechanic’s bay. The bigger one was about 14,000 SF, so we were able to consolidate the maintenance and other departments into a single building.

“We did a structural analysis, and the buildings were in really good condition. There weren’t a lot of significant updates. We added some structural support members. We sprayed insulation foam, the offices have normal heating and cooling, and the central storage and maintenance areas have gas fire radiant heaters. That’s all pretty standard stuff. Now, it’s drywall, ceilings, heating, and cooling. It’s all upgraded, and you wouldn’t know it was an old building because it looks like a brand new building.

“They were basically empty shells that we planned out. We built inside the frames of the original buildings, with the exception of the shipping dock at the front of Building A. A semitruck can pull up and offload deliveries that the district can either send out to the schools or place into warehouse storage.

“Since we met the modern energy codes and other regulations, the buildings are as environmentally sustainable as they can be. Things like insulation, LED lighting, and stormwater drainage make the location efficient. Even though we don’t get LEED certification, we get the LEED performance from those systems.”

Jeff continued, “One of the biggest things we had to do was tear out the entire floor of the smaller building because we needed to add proper drainage and a slope. Since we had to do all this work anyway, the district decided to add underfloor radiant heating, which is really cool. When buses come in from the snow or rain, they drip. Since the bus garage is heated from the floor and not units 16 feet up, it creates an even heat that dries the floor pretty quickly. The staff should love it because for a maintenance bay, it’s pretty comfortable in there even when it’s cold outside.”

Jeff concluded, “The new facility is a Cadillac compared to the old one. The buildings were the right size. The lot was the right size. The location was in the right place. The price was right, and the timing was right. You couldn’t ask for a better fit.”

“A project of this scope, especially taking two existing buildings and renovating them, would not be possible without so many people working to make it a reality,” Dr. Hanlon said. “The importance of this project is being able to truly maintain the taxpayer investment in a consistent and professional manner. This facility enables us to do that.

“This is now a permanent home for all those key business operations offices that provide services most people don’t see. But, they’re integral for us to deliver on the commitment of our mission of high achievement for all students. The new Business Affairs Transportation Center enables each of those offices to professionally deliver core services every day that are so important to our students and our staff.”

Chardon Local Schools’ new Business Affairs Transportation Center is a success story that has only just begun.

After the ribbon cutting ceremony, attendees were invited to enjoy cookies and take a self-guided tour of the new facility to experience the modern learning spaces, which included a gymnasium, classrooms, STEAM spaces, and collaborative areas.

“It’s the community that truly makes this place a home, not the building,” said ThenDesign Architecture Project Manager Adam Parris, RA. “We’re hoping this building begins one hundred more years of tradition. We’re privileged to be part of this project and excited for you to see the new spaces.”

Students, parents, and curious residents walked the bright hallways, sat in the comfortable furniture, and stood at the front of the clean classrooms. Children made the best use of the gymnasium by running end to end on the shiny wood flooring. There was something of interest for everyone to see and help the community feel proud of what they accomplished.

“I have kids in the district, so I really care about what goes on here,” said Board of Education President Justine Levine. “Whether a student is college-bound or interested in the trades, we think it’s important to give them career and college opportunities to make sure they get prepared to join the workforce. Now that they’re no longer in 100-year-old buildings, our kids will get the full, modern student experience.”

The new school reflects Fairport Harbor’s history and identity while providing a modern, future-ready
campus to serve students from early childhood to graduation. It was also designed as a community hub for local activities and events.

The Fairport Harbor PreK-12 campus was made possible by the determined Fairport Harbor community, the OFCC’s state co-funding, and partnerships with ThenDesign Architecture and C.T. Taylor Construction. Finish work for the parking lot is still being completed, and the first wave of students began attending the new PreK-12 school after the winter break in January 2026.