New Brunswick High School Summer 2026 Construction Update

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New Brunswick High School Summer 2026 Construction Update
Much progress has been made in the construction of the new Brunswick High School. Significant milestones were achieved with the pouring of foundations, installation of the structural steel, application of the brick veneer, and the entire campus being roofed. Construction has been proceeding on schedule as the site continues to take shape.

New Brunswick High School Summer 2026 Construction Update

As of this summer, major milestones have been achieved for Phase 1 of the construction of the new Brunswick High School. The Brunswick community passed a bond issue in early 2023 and also secured co-funding for $42.6 million from the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) to build the 301,740 SF campus. Construction commenced in May 2025 after the traditional groundbreaking ceremony hosted by the Brunswick City School District.

After the site prep was completed, the foundations were poured, structural steel was installed, and the masonry was placed. The entire campus is now roofed, with the exception of a small portion above the stage of the auditorium. This part of the construction process is known as being “in the dry.” Having a roof over every building prepares the way for the campus to be enclosed in time for the winter months just ahead.

New Brunswick High School Summer 2026 Construction Update

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Seven Areas in Three Phases

Progress of the project has been designated to occur in three phases. Phase 1 is the new high school. Phase 2 includes the inner parking lots and a multi-purpose athletics field. Phase 3 incorporates the outer parking lots, a baseball field, and six tennis courts.

According to ThenDesign Architecture Construction Administrator Jeff Crocker, RA, LEED AP, the project is going well. “We’ve been fortunate to not have a lot of soil issues because that can really throw a wrench in things,” he said. “We have a lot of things going on all over. Most of the drywall in Areas 1, 2, and 3 has already been installed. The external brick veneer is pretty far along and will be completed in November. Windows are going in. Lights are coming on. Air handlers are starting up. A lot of things are happening.”

The construction site has seven designated areas that are in varying degrees of progress based on a predetermined schedule.

Area 1 – West Academic Wing
Area 2 – Student Services, South Student Dining, and Student Center
Area 3 – East Academic Wing
Area 4 – Competition Gymnasium, Athletic Spaces, and Arts Classrooms
Area 5 – Auxiliary Gymnasium, Multiuse Space, and Weightroom
Area 6 – Performing Arts Center
Area 5 – Auxiliary Gymnasium, Multiuse Space, and Weightroom
Area 6 – Performing Arts Center
Area 7 – North Student Dining, Servery and Kitchen, Music Spaces, and Primary Mechanical

The 15,358 SF competition gymnasium already has blue, black, and gray sound baffles and basketball hoops installed. ADA-compliant bleachers on both sides of the court will host 1,759 seats. The substantial space is being used as temporary storage for construction materials.

The 17,536 SF performing arts center is the space Jeff is most excited about. “The auditorium is going to be really nice. It will have curved acoustical panel elements that will give it some real character.” An acoustics consultant recently visited the site, even before the concrete floor was poured, to offer feedback and to help ensure the proper sound requirements were being implemented throughout the building.

Progress as of the Summer 2026 Construction Update

Construction is a Team Effort

TDA is proud to partner with Hammond Construction, operating as the Construction Manager at Risk (CMR) on the new Brunswick High School project. “Working with the Hammond team has been great. They’re very proactive,” Jeff said. “Everybody has the same goal in mind.”

Jeff continued, “There are always challenges because things don’t always go exactly as planned for one reason or another. We have to adapt. That’s the nature of construction. But we all come together. The design and construction teams have an excellent working relationship with consistent collaboration throughout the process. There are no egos here. Everyone is about what’s in the best interest of the project.”

Construction proceeds on schedule in preparation for the coming winter, when significant interior progress will be made. Substantial completion of the new Brunswick High School is scheduled for May 28, 2027. Students will begin attending in the fall for the 2027-2028 school year.

New Brunswick High School Summer 2026 Construction Update
Marc Cebrian

Marc Cebrian

Communications

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Marc Cebrian

Marc has over thirty years of media production experience with a wide variety of storytelling projects that include commercials, documentaries, and live events. He began his career in the feature film and television industry in Los Angeles, California. Naturally driven by a passion for the creative and analytical, he believes that people should be kind to one another, and strives to live by example.
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Chardon Local Schools Rohr Tennis Center Opens

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Chardon Local Schools Rohr Tennis Center Opens
Chardon Local Schools opened the Rohr Tennis Center, a six-court facility, funded by a $1.2 million anonymous donation and district resources. Named after retired teacher Marilyn Rohr and her husband, the center provides student-athletes enhanced access to quality practice spaces without the need for off-site travel.

Chardon Local Schools Rohr Tennis Center Opens

On August 11, 2026, Chardon Local Schools opened the Rohr Tennis Center, marking a huge step forward for the district’s athletic programs. Situated on the connector drive between Chardon Middle School and the High School, this six-court facility gives student-athletes a state-of-the-art home for tennis.

The $1.39 million project was made possible through an anonymous $1.2 million private donation and covers the cost of construction for the six regulation-sized courts. At the same time, the district provided funding for an adjacent dedicated 31-space parking lot.

Chardon Local Schools Rohr Tennis Center Opens

The site features a ten-foot security fence, stormwater management system, and controlled access to keep play safe. Named in honor of retired chemistry teacher Marilyn Rohr and her husband, Michael, the facility is a step forward for ongoing capital improvements in the district.

For Hilltopper student-athletes, the new facility allows for an enhanced experience on the school campus. Having these courts at this location eliminates the need for off-site travel, giving student-athletes direct access to high-caliber practice spaces during and after school hours. The professional surface quality ensures the proper ball bounce and player traction, allowing students to focus on skill development, sportsmanship, and topper spirit.

Beyond high school competition, the venue serves the broader public, offering community access during non-school hours and allowing the city to repurpose older district courts near the municipal pool for pickleball in the future.

Project Highlights
  • Facility Name: Rohr Tennis Center
  • Location: Situated between the Middle School and High School
  • Key Features: Six regulation courts, 31-space parking lot, 10-foot perimeter fencing
  • Funding: $1.2M private donation + school district parking infrastructure

Chardon Local Schools Aerials
Ryan Caswell

Ryan Caswell

Communications

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Ryan Caswell

Ryan Caswell

Ryan is a communications specialist who is passionate about using digital media to further the goals of organizations and communities in Northeast Ohio. With a background in construction and a degree in architecture, he spent over a decade in corporate video production and brings this mindset to videography, editing, photography and content marketing. He is passionate about supporting the arts, and can be found hiking in the parks system.
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Construction of the New North Ridgeville High School Achieves Summer Milestones

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Construction of the New North Ridgeville High School Achieves Summer Milestones
Construction of the new 340,000 SF North Ridgeville 9-12 High School continues to achieve major milestones since the site was first prepped. Having passed the underground phase, the building structures have gone vertical, with masonry and structural steel work making the school easily visible from beyond the fence along Bainbridge Road. The project is slated to have students begin attending the high school in the fall of 2028.

Construction of the New North Ridgeville High School Achieves Summer Milestones

The community of North Ridgeville passed a bond issue in November 2023 to fund a new 9-12 high school and a transportation and maintenance center. In April 2025, North Ridgeville City Schools hosted the transportation and maintenance center groundbreaking ceremony, which officially opened in April 2026.

Since the high school groundbreaking ceremony in August 2025, construction of the new 340,000 SF 9-12 high school has proceeded on schedule. After the site was prepped, construction officially began in February 2026, and many progress milestones have been reached.

In the initial stages of construction, underground work, including conduits, plumbing, electrical, utilities, and other infrastructure, was in progress. At the same time, the concrete footings for the elevators and some areas were poured. This progress was not readily visible to the North Ridgeville community.

“For the people outside the fence, they must have been wondering why nothing’s going on,” said ThenDesign Architecture Construction Administrator Jamie Kreger. She explained that one of the biggest visual changes in the past few months is seeing the project go from underground work to becoming vertical. “The project started in the spring, and people are finally seeing the building take shape, and that’s really exciting.”

Construction of the New North Ridgeville High School

Milestones Keep Coming

The first major milestone included pouring the primary foundations and having the underground infrastructure underway. Elevator pits, footings, and technology duct banks had to be completed before vertical construction could advance. Since then, assembling masonry and installing structural steel commenced, which began to visually define the spaces and make the buildings more recognizable.

Like all construction projects of this size, the site is scheduled in stages, and progress varies by area.

  • Building A – Academics, Media Center, Student Dining, Main Mechanical Room, and Administration
  • Building B – Athletics: Competition and Auxiliary Gymnasiums, and Natatorium
  • Building C – Arts: Performing Arts Center and Music Spaces

“Steel erection is probably one of the most noticeable milestones because the building suddenly starts gaining weight,” Jamie said. “After the masonry goes up and the steel is in, the spaces that looked like floor plans become three-dimensional.”

At this stage, some spaces are more recognizable than others. One area that has been developing rapidly is student dining. “Every week I go out there, I’m amazed how much progress is being made,” Jamie said. One of her favorite parts of her job is walking the site and seeing the progress. “It’s really taking shape, and you can begin to see how cool that space is going to look. You can orient yourself in the building now, and you can tell where the learning stair and courtyard are going to be. It’s happening really quickly.” The completed student dining is approximately 9,200 SF.

Currently, the competition and auxiliary gymnasiums and pool are less noticeable from a distance. Concrete foundations, masonry construction, and markers around the perimeter help define the size of those spaces. When completed, the competition gymnasium will be approximately 17,000 SF with 1,750 seats. The auxiliary gymnasium will occupy approximately 19,000 SF with 459 seats.

Though there does not appear to be much physical progress, coordination, design, and planning continues on the gymnasiums. “Rhonda Franklin is our interior designer, and she’s working with the school district to select colors for the track and the gym floors,” Jamie explained. “Do they want a stained wood look or painted floors? Where do the logos go and what will the fonts look like? Those decisions are still being worked out.”

Various color and texture samples have been ordered so the owners can see and feel what these materials will be like in the finished spaces. “There’s something very meaningful about seeing those options in person,” Jamie said. “The district is really excited to see all of this come together.”

“The performing arts center is one of the more technically complex spaces because so many specialty systems have to work together,” Jamie noted. “It’s not just structure and finishes. You have theatrical rigging, lighting, acoustics, MEP systems, and architectural elements that all need to be coordinated and come together.”

The performing arts center foundation concrete was recently poured, further defining the space with a full-sized wall of masonry existing on one side. The completed auditorium and stage area will be approximately 18,400 SF and house 1,610 seats.

North Ridgeville High School Construction Progress

Finding the Right Team

Construction projects require skilled, dedicated partners. ThenDesign Architecture is proud to partner with Hammond Construction, serving as the Construction Manager at Risk.

Jamie expressed her gratitude and respect for the North Ridgeville High School team. “I can’t say enough good things about the Hammond folks. The project isn’t an us-and-them. We are just us. We can see our design on paper, but we need really good contractors, subcontractors, and consultants to make it real.”

Jamie enjoys watching the construction site start as flat dirt and transform into a real space. “The building gets to the point where you no longer need to envision what it will be, but you can see it right here. To see these spaces flourish each day and pop off the schematics is really fun,” she said.

North Ridgeville High School Construction Progress

More Milestones on the Horizon

More significant milestones for the 340,000 SF 9-12 North Ridgeville High School are scheduled for the months ahead.

  • Continued structural steel erection
  • Additional slab-on-grade and slab-on-deck work
  • Continued masonry of the gyms and other areas
  • Exterior framing, sheathing, and air-barrier work
  • Roofing and enclosure of portions of the building
  • Later transition into overhead rough-ins and interior construction

“Getting the building enclosed and weather-tight before the winter months is a high priority because it allows much more interior work to move forward,” Jamie explained. Roofing begins in November with exterior glazing and metal paneling scheduled to follow into the spring of 2027.

Jamie is looking forward to the students getting to learn in their new school. “In our core team meetings, we’ve talked a lot about how the coolest part about the building will be when the kids are using the space as it was intended. That will be really rewarding for all of us.”

Substantial completion of the new North Ridgeville High School is scheduled for June 2028. Students will begin attending in the fall for the 2028-2029 school year, but demolition of the existing high school, final landscaping, and the north parking area work will continue into May 2029.

North Ridgeville High School Design Reveal Video

Marc Cebrian

Marc Cebrian

Communications

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Marc Cebrian

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Marc has over thirty years of media production experience with a wide variety of storytelling projects that include commercials, documentaries, and live events. He began his career in the feature film and television industry in Los Angeles, California. Naturally driven by a passion for the creative and analytical, he believes that people should be kind to one another, and strives to live by example.
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Buckeye Elementary Addition Groundbreaking

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Buckeye Elementary School Addition Groundbreaking
The Buckeye Elementary School addition groundbreaking ceremony marked the start of construction of the new 12-classroom and full-sized gymnasium additions. Representatives from Riverside Local Schools gathered on a balmy morning to celebrate the important milestone.

Buckeye Elementary School Addition Groundbreaking

The Riverside Local School District celebrated the start of construction for the new two-story, 12-classroom and gymnasium additions at Buckeye Elementary School. The long-term goal of the district was to have three larger-scale elementary schools that provided modern learning spaces, equitable environments, and enhanced opportunities for students and staff.

The existing building will also undergo a significant renovation to bring it up to current educational standards. The project will consolidate kindergarten through fourth-grade students into a single facility and was funded through a loan paid for by the district’s Permanent Improvement Fund with no additional cost to taxpayers.

Buckeye Elementary School Addition Groundbreaking Video

“I want to thank our entire staff for their support in our continued mission of making the Riverside Local School District a great place to live, learn, and work,” said Superintendent Dr. Christopher Rateno. “Thank you for your unwavering support of the Riverside Local Schools as we all strive to be one community, pursuing greatness, and getting better every day.”

TDA is proud to partner with Cleveland Construction, Inc., serving as construction manager-at-risk. The project will be completed for the start of the 27-28 school year.

Buckeye Elementary School Groundbreaking Ceremony
Marc Cebrian

Marc Cebrian

Communications

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Marc Cebrian

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Marc has over thirty years of media production experience with a wide variety of storytelling projects that include commercials, documentaries, and live events. He began his career in the feature film and television industry in Los Angeles, California. Naturally driven by a passion for the creative and analytical, he believes that people should be kind to one another, and strives to live by example.
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Avon Lake City Schools’ 5-8 Middle School Groundbreaking

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Avon Lake City Schools' 5-8 Middle School Groundbreaking
The groundbreaking ceremony for the new Avon Lake 5-8 Middle School marked the official beginning of the construction phase of the 128,000 SF educational facility that is slated to open for the 2028-2029 school year. The occasion was covered by the local press as students, civic leaders, public safety officials, and educators celebrated the significant milestone for the Avon Lake community.

Avon Lake City Schools' 5-8 Middle School Groundbreaking

Avon Lake City Schools commemorated the start of construction of its new 5-8 middle school with a groundbreaking ceremony at the future site, Learwood Middle School. ThenDesign Architecture partnered with Greenspace Construction Services to celebrate the significant milestone in the “Building ALegacy” facilities improvement plan, which was attended by over 100 community members, including civic leaders, educators, public safety officials, students, and the local press.

Superintendent Joelle Magyar said, “The concept of building ALegacy demonstrates our work together, and the physical structure itself, for which we are here to break ground. When completed, this brand-new, state-of-the-art building will serve the needs of a modern Avon Lake student, providing a universal and collaborative environment where all can thrive.”

“The community is honored and blessed to be here for this groundbreaking of Avon Lake’s New Middle School,” said Avon Lake Mayor Mark Spaetzel. “We are truly a community that values our schools and understands the importance of collaboration and school-city relationships.”

The project has been a true collaboration with the school district, city, and Avon Lake community.

"What better legacy could we leave for our children?"
Joelle Magyar
Superintendent

A Groundbreaking Milestone

The design process for the new 5-8 middle school included visioning sessions to gain insight and learn the preferences of educators and students. The groundbreaking ceremony officially starts the construction phase of the project.

School Board President James Strobe acknowledged the efforts of the community to make the project possible by the passage of the bond issue and the continued participation in design activities. He said, “Your engagement helped shape this project, and it ensured that it reflects the values and the priorities of this community. We’re proud that the Avon Lake community doesn’t give up on doing what’s right for kids, and we can’t wait to see the incredible things our students will do in this brand new building.”

Special guests at the groundbreaking ceremony included students who will attend the new school after it is completed. “It’s always going to be fun going to a new school and meeting new friends,” said Stephen, a fourth grader.

Cameron is another fourth grader who is looking forward to the transition to a new school. “It will be nice because I can meet more friends. There’s going to be lower grades than mine. It’s going to be easier to learn since it’s going to be way bigger.”

Mila is in the second grade and is excited about sports at the new school, especially basketball, soccer, and softball. She added, “And I can’t wait to meet all the teachers.”

The project was funded by a community-supported $88 million bond issue that passed in May 2025. The construction of the new 128,000 SF facility will consolidate Troy Intermediate and Learwood Middle School into a single campus serving students in fifth through eighth grades. By replacing the aging infrastructure with student-centered environments, the building is designed to enhance collaborative learning and modernize the district’s student experience.

The new middle school is slated to open for the 2028–2029 school year.

"This building will stand for decades and will be a symbol of the strength and growth of our community."
Mark Spaetzel
Mayor of Avon Lake

Avon Lake City Schools' 5-8 Middle School Groundbreaking
Marc Cebrian

Marc Cebrian

Communications

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Marc has over thirty years of media production experience with a wide variety of storytelling projects that include commercials, documentaries, and live events. He began his career in the feature film and television industry in Los Angeles, California. Naturally driven by a passion for the creative and analytical, he believes that people should be kind to one another, and strives to live by example.
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The New Geauga County Courthouse Opening Celebration

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The New Geauga County Courthouse Opening Celebration
The new Geauga County Courthouse opening celebration commemorated the completion of the most significant renovation and expansion project in Chardon Square's history with a ribbon cutting ceremony. The 1870 courthouse received approximately 30,000 square feet of new space to bring the historic building into the modern era with advanced safety and security features. Designed with respect for its legacy, while also providing modern technology and comforts, the courthouse is poised to better serve the Geauga County community.

The New Geauga County Courthouse Opening Celebration

The Geauga County Courthouse has stood as a prestigious landmark at the edge of Chardon Square for over 150 years. The once-in-a-lifetime expansion and renovation project has been completed and was celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony, commemoration, and community tour.

The $20.4 million renovation and expansion project encompassed approximately 21,500 SF of the 1870 courthouse, with the addition of approximately 30,800 SF of new space. Implementing purposeful design elements, modern security features, and advanced acoustic and technology components, the expanded three-story Geauga County Courthouse provides a fresh, safe, and secure environment for judges, jurors, staff, and visitors.

On the brisk morning of April 7, 2026, while flurries wafted in the breeze, the Chardon High School band welcomed attendees with music. Representatives from the surrounding area, including federal, state, county, and local officials, judges, law enforcement, community leaders, staff, and community members, gathered in front of the courthouse’s new west entrance.

The New Geauga County Courthouse Opening Celebration

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History Has a New Beginning

Infinity Construction Project Manager Brett Bestgen gave ribbon cutting opening remarks, “We’re finally here after two years. No more blocked roads, loud noises, weird smells, or taking up your parking spots. As Geauga County residents, this will be a project we will remember for the rest of our careers for working on such an iconic building.”

“Our goal from the start was simple: respect the past while preserving the future,” said ThenDesign Architecture Project Manager Brad Gellert, AIA, NCARB. “The 1870 courthouse is a remarkable example of Italianate architecture, and we worked hard to ensure that this addition feels like a natural continuation of that legacy, not an interruption of it.”

Geauga County Commissioners Jim Dvorak, Ralph Spidalieri, and Carolyn Brakey were joined by Geauga County Clerk of Courts Sheila Bevington, Prosecutor Jim Flaiz, Retired Judge David Ondrey, Common Pleas Judge Carolyn Paschke, Common Pleas Judge Matthew Rambo, and Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand. The ribbon was cut to officially open the new courthouse.

"I'm grateful to have a really beautiful space to bring justice to our community."
The Honorable Carolyn Paschke
Court of Common Pleas Judge

Geauga County Courthouse Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

A New Courthouse Commemoration

After the ribbon was cut, attendees walked to the rustic Heritage House on Chardon Square to honor the historic courthouse with special comments and personal stories. The cozy event hall was a standing-room-only affair. Commissioner James Dvorak welcomed everyone and invoked a blessing on the new courthouse.

Heartfelt comments paid tribute to the legacy of the original courthouse while giving homage to the integrity of the legal system. A common theme was the acknowledgment of the personal weight of the decisions and actions occurring at the courthouse. For some, the most difficult and challenging day of their life takes place within the walls of the courthouse. The gravity of that reality did not escape any of the speakers.

“It feels like it’s home,” said Ohio 14th District Congressman Dave Joyce. “This courthouse is an important bastion because when the public walks into that building, they understand that justice is being served. That building shines as a beacon for our community that honesty, fairness, and the rule of law stand for something.”

Chardon Mayor Christopher Grau related a recent personal story of his family walking past the newly-completed courthouse, “My granddaughter looked at me and asked, ‘Who lives in that beautiful house?'” he paused as the audience laughed and concluded, “I told her Geauga County lives in that house. She was very impressed, and she should be. It is an astounding new feature here on our square. That courthouse is fundamentally beautiful.”

"The courthouse is an icon for the State of Ohio, and everybody here takes pride in it."
James Dvorak
Geauga County Commissioner

Completed Geauga County Courthouse Addition

“My husband and I grew up here. Chardon has a special place in our hearts,” said District 32 Ohio State Senator Sandra O’Brien. She read a senatorial commendation, “The Geauga County Courthouse will continue to have a praiseworthy reputation for its design and functionality. This facility has been modernized, allowing for more accessible and efficient spaces that can better serve its citizens. It is a justifiable source of pride and a fine reflection on the entire community.”

“It’s pretty humbling to see this complete,” said Geauga County Commissioner Ralph Spidalieri, “and all the hard work that everybody did. I truly appreciate the opportunity to be a part of this project.”

Geauga County Commissioner Carolyn Brakey said, “This building will stand for years, but its real value will be how it serves the people of Geauga County every day.”

Common Pleas Judge Carolyn Paschke explained how the original building was no longer suitable for effectively conducting legal proceedings due to limited space and outdated technological capacity. “It wasn’t very functional for us. We had people working in spaces that were meant to be closets,” she said. “Security was our primary concern. I’m grateful to the folks who came before us who had this vision for a change.”

“I also want to thank ThenDesign Architecture,” Judge Paschke continued, “A big thanks to Brad Gellert, Lee Hribar, and Jen Murray for listening to us and working together to make sure that we had a building that was safe, functional, and comfortable for us.”

Common Pleas Judge Matthew Rambo said, “It’s spectacular. It really is. It’s so much better in terms of comfort, security, and anything you can imagine that we need to run court operations on a daily basis.”

“I grew up in this town,” said Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand, “When I was in middle school, my job was to empty all the trash cans in the courthouse. And the ashtrays. But times have changed dramatically.”

“I feel very fortunate to be a part of this entire project,” he said, “We were involved from the ground floor. We were able to provide input to make sure that the security of the new courthouse was going to be top-notch. Our deputies are much safer because of the design, and I feel really, really good about it.”

At the end of the presentation, Judge Rambo distributed commemorative acrylic plaques, marking the unique occasion for the City of Chardon.

"It turned out to be a beautiful addition that is not only going to serve the courts but also helps people."
Scott Hildenbrand
Sheriff

Geauga County Courthouse Commencement & Finished Spaces

Preservation Without Replication

Brad explained that they had to create a new building that was a natural fit and felt like it was part of the old building, but there were enough subtle differences that would clue keen observers in on the fact that it was a new extension. “We don’t have two-story windows that match the existing windows,” Brad said. “We picked up the feeling of the two-story height of the windows with big stone panels, which gives you verticality. But it doesn’t directly replicate the existing windows.”

TDA Interior Designer Jen Murray, NCIDQ, said, “I grew up in Geauga County, so I grew up seeing that building. It was fun to be a part of its extension. I really enjoyed doing what I could to make sure this project was extra nice for the staff and the community.” Using the features of the existing courthouse as inspiration for the modern design, Jen and her team focused on details like arches, woodwork, base, and door frames to mimic the historic materials of the original. For example, the porcelain tiles in the new lobbies paid homage to the original marble checkered flooring.

“The county was willing to go further with high-end materials,” said Senior Architect Lee Hribar, RA. “They wanted more stone and more details,” Lee explained how it was important to maintain the respect for the original building and its notable local history, while addressing the challenge of incorporating a sense of history without copying it. The two portions needed to feel connected without shying away from one being newer. “That’s how the lobbies are. You feel like you are part of the old one while being in the new one.”

Partnering with Infinity Construction, the design and construction teams took great strides to accommodate the needs of the judges, courthouse staff, city, and county throughout the project. While being sensitive to the community’s concerns, everyone involved understood the local significance of the building and made it a personal goal to show the utmost care to approach the project with due respect and integrity.

The Geauga County Courthouse Tour

The Courts Are Open

Later in the afternoon, after the ribbon cutting and commemoration, the courthouse was open to the public to tour the expanded building. Curious community members entered through the secure vestibule, walked the halls, and examined the distinguished courtrooms, where some interacted with Judge Paschke and Judge Rambo. The intentional design features and regal interior touches emphasized the reverence for the stature of the legal system for which the building serves.

Refined materials and a clean, pleasing palette of colors and textures enhance the courthouse experience for all visitors. Now equipped with the latest in security technology, safety-minded design layouts, and non-reflective acoustic treatments, the new Geauga County Courthouse will support the community for decades to come by providing a comfortable and safe environment worthy of the rule of law performed on its grounds.

"We’re proud that the courthouse creates a safer, more functional environment for the public and the dedicated staff who work here."
Brad Gellert, AIA, NCARB
TDA Project Manager

The New Geauga County Courthouse Opening Celebration
Marc Cebrian

Marc Cebrian

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Marc Cebrian

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Marc has over thirty years of media production experience with a wide variety of storytelling projects that include commercials, documentaries, and live events. He began his career in the feature film and television industry in Los Angeles, California. Naturally driven by a passion for the creative and analytical, he believes that people should be kind to one another, and strives to live by example.

Riverside Local School District’s Career Technical Experience Opens

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Riverside Local School District's Career Technical Experience Opens
Riverside Local School District's Career Technical Experience (CTX) opens with a ribbon cutting ceremony and grand opening tour. Students, parents, educators, and community members explored the new $2.5 million 4,500 SF addition to the Riverside Campus, which was designed to provide career technical training in healthcare, construction, and advanced manufacturing.

Riverside Local School District's Career Technical Experience Opens

The Riverside Local School District unveiled its new 4,500 square foot Career Technical Experience (CTX) addition at the Riverside Campus in Painesville Township, Ohio, with a ribbon cutting ceremony and grand opening tour. The project was made possible by a $2.5 million grant from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce.

The new CTX space was created to expand the high school’s existing high-demand programs in health care, advanced manufacturing, and construction to accommodate the increasing popularity among students who sought experience in those industries.

“This much-needed space allows the Riverside Campus to have additional rooms for career technical education and hands-on learning,” said Superintendent Dr. Christopher Rateno at the ribbon cutting ceremony. “Riverside is extremely proud to offer several meaningful career electives, where students are able to earn credentials in specific industries, as well as gain valuable experience in a career field of their choice. This addition will significantly help us move student success forward in the years to come.”

Riverside Local School District's Career Technical Experience Opens

Expanding For Now and For Later

“We call it CTX instead of CTE because Dr. Rateno once joked about calling it that,” recalled Director of Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Melissa Mlakar, “I said, Oh no, we’re keeping that. We’re calling it CTX.”

“We’re still evolving, and the space is still growing,” said Dr. Rateno. “The elective programs are filling up three times more than we can offer. We have waitlists, and it’s a good problem to have. It’s really a scheduling and space limitation.”

Along with construction tools like saws, miters, and pneumatic nail guns, the additional modernized spaces and multipurpose rooms provide newer technologies such as a welding simulator, 3D printers, and a CNC plasma cutter. Plans are in motion for the district to partner with a local software company to provide virtual reality tools for the healthcare program.

The construction program offers students a well-rounded “home maintenance” approach so that the skills they learn working with drywall, plumbing, and electrical could be used to prepare for a career or simply benefit them as future homeowners.

“They teach us about equipment and tools and safety,” said Riverside High School senior Willy, “What to wear, hand signals, and knowing what conditions are safe. We’re learning a lot.” He continued, “I’ve been applying for electrical and construction apprenticeships, and this has definitely helped build my confidence in those types of things.”

The healthcare program is operated in partnership with University Hospitals TriPoint Medical Center, where students spend a day in the hospital on a regular rotation to get the full medical experience. The program was so popular that classes have expanded from one in the first year to two sections in the second year.

"The skills our students learn here could lead them into a career, but would also benefit them for the rest of their lives."
Dr. Christopher Rateno
Superintendent

Riverside Career Technical Experience Grand Opening

Risks Without All the Risks

Dr. Mlaker said, “The catalyst behind starting these programs was looking at all the students who wanted to get career experience and exploration opportunities, but couldn’t because Auburn was already at capacity. We wanted to help these kids make more informed decisions about their career paths. Knowing what you don’t like is just as important as knowing what you do.”

High school sophomore Sophia agreed, “I think the program is a really smart idea because you can see what things are like before you fully commit to it. You’re not taking huge risks.”

“I like how it’s free,” said high school senior Alex, “You get to use your hands a lot, but in a classroom. You can figure out early on just what you want to do before going to do it.”

Dr. Mlaker noted that the approach was intentional from the start, “Whether you want to go to college or not, it sure would be nice to know if healthcare or construction or manufacturing is something you’d like to do.”

The program was designed to introduce students to various technical fields so they could explore potential interests while discovering unknown talents that could shape their career path without the pressure of a multi-year collegiate investment. Knowing what trade most attracts the students, the more confidence they can gain when making future commitments for job placement or further education.

"This is something I believe in, and I think it's something that we can do really well."
Dr. Melissa Mlaker
Director of Curriculum and Instruction

Riverside Career Technical Experience in Use

The CTX Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening Tour

Parents, students, staff, and community members explored the new CTX spaces after the ribbon cutting ceremony to experience the open, clean spaces for students to learn about healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and construction.

Dr. Mlaker expressed appreciation for the educators who contribute to making the CTX program an exceptional offering for the students in the Riverside Local School District, “The teachers are the heart of everything. They are taking the programming and just running with it. The kids want to be with them and learn. It’s wonderful to see.”

“With the vision for this space, we went big,” said Dr. Rateno. “We had a supportive board and great partners like TDA and Cleveland Construction, who helped us through the design process and answered the questions we had to make sure the space would fit our needs and grow with us into the future.”

The district explored avenues for expanding its educational career offerings that were already in place with an eye toward future expansion. They continue to develop long-term goals such as opening up the facility for adult use after school hours so that the Riverside Campus can expand opportunities for engagement with the community.

The new Career Technical Experience (CTX) addition at the Riverside Campus will serve the students in the district for decades to come, with the potential to enhance the lives of local residents by facilitating the development of their career-focused skills.

"Talk about authentic learning and engagement. This is a real picture of that."
Dr. Christopher Rateno
Superintendent

Riverside Career Technical Experience Event & Spaces
Marc Cebrian

Marc Cebrian

Communications

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Marc Cebrian

Marc has over thirty years of media production experience with a wide variety of storytelling projects that include commercials, documentaries, and live events. He began his career in the feature film and television industry in Los Angeles, California. Naturally driven by a passion for the creative and analytical, he believes that people should be kind to one another, and strives to live by example.
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Cuyahoga Falls 6-12 Campus: Designed for Educational Excellence

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Cuyahoga Falls 6-12 Campus: Designed for Educational Excellence
The new Cuyahoga Falls 6-12 Campus was designed for educational excellence with the flexibility to adapt to evolving curricula. The campus has an athletics stadium, a performing arts center, and a black box theater, which makes it an ideal location for community events. With abundant natural lighting, open spaces, and bright colors, the campus is a comfortable, welcoming educational facility serving the Silver Lake and Cuyahoga Falls communities.

Cuyahoga Falls 6-12 Campus: Designed for Educational Excellence

The Cuyahoga Falls 6-12 Campus was designed for educational excellence by incorporating flexible learning spaces to enhance the student experience. Replacing an over one hundred-year-old school, the new 365,000 square foot building with a connected 4,000-seat athletics stadium and practice fields also includes a 1,400-seat performing arts center, black box theatre, media center, planetarium, cosmetology lab, multiple collaborative spaces, a two-level student dining area, and three gymnasiums.

“This campus represents a promise that our students will learn in a place designed for the world they are entering,” said Superintendent Dr. Andrea Celico, Ph.D. “We’re really excited to show our students the new cosmetology lab and our communications space with a green screen, which doubles as a press box. Our athletics facilities and performing arts center are unmatched.”

Specially designed collaborative spaces for the middle and high school are customized to serve each level of student. The high school collaboratives are large and open. The middle school has pods for core subjects that are connected to a common area. Both allow for flexible teaching styles, collaboration, and student comfort.

The ribbon cutting ceremony and community tour in December 2025 marked the official opening of the campus. Students began using their new school after the winter break concluded.

"Everyone has come here today to celebrate this great event for our community and our district."
Alecia Coco
Former School Board President

Cuyahoga Falls 6-12 Campus: Designed for Excellence

Innovative Educational Programming

The campus showcases innovative educational programming that maximizes customization for educators to teach the way they want. Whether they stay within the pods, move into the common areas, or allow students to venture into quiet collaborative spaces, there are endless possibilities for learning.

“I’m excited to see how the spaces will be used,” said High School Principal Jason Smith. “There are a lot of opportunities.” With moveable walls between some classrooms and collaborative areas nearby, cross-curricular planning is possible for multiple teachers to come together and host a combined lesson.

Though some students decide to directly enter a trade to capitalize on their STEAM education, the Cuyahoga Falls 6-12 Campus provides students with a “college feel” to better prepare them after graduation. As part of the Six District Educational Compact, Cuyahoga Falls High School hosts the Academy of Medical Office and Business Management, Automotive Technologies, Cosmetology, Criminal Justice, Interactive Marketing and Design, IT Academy with CISCO Cyber Security STEM, and Modern Communications through Media Production.

Jason said that Career Technical Education is a huge component of their employment, enlistment, and enrollment philosophy. “We really value our trades, industrial arts, visual arts, and performing arts programs, and Cuyahoga Falls offers a competitive curriculum that benefits the young people of our Cuyahoga Falls and Silver Lake communities.”

8th-grader Caleb was able to visit his future classrooms and tour the campus alongside his classmates and curious community members. “This is way bigger and fancier than any school I’ve ever been in,” Caleb said. He was impressed with the spaces and excited by the prospect of acting in the black box theater and performing arts center.

The high school two-story collaborative space was designed to accommodate three classrooms joining together on special projects. “I really like this collaborative area,” he said, “I can picture coming here with my friends, doing some work on my Chromebook, and getting things done outside the classroom. I could really focus on my work here because I want to get my grades up this year.”

"The most rewarding part of my job is seeing the spaces being used."
Scott Alleman, RA, NCARB
Project Manager

Cuyahoga Falls 6-12 Campus Building Dedication & Community Tour

Endless Educational Opportunities

“We designed the building for success,” said TDA Project Manager Scott Alleman, RA, NCARB. “Having flexibility in the classroom and other teaching environments allows for an evolving curriculum.”

“The possibilities are endless,” said Former School Board President Aleica Coco, “We are excited to utilize this campus as a true hub for our community. I know that this building will continue to tighten our Black Tiger community.”

“We have a gorgeous student dining area,” said Jason, “It’s bright and open with a very inviting atmosphere. We intended it to be a versatile space to host community events.”

The student dining area features a ceiling-high glass wall with a clear view of the stadium and is visible from three levels. An ADA-compliant elevator ensures all students have easy navigation to each floor. Comfortable booths and a learning stairs with power outlets offer students a place to lounge, study, or socialize.

After the ribbon cutting ceremony, the community toured the campus to fully explore the result of their investment. Hundreds of people were involved in the building’s design process and those same individuals walked the halls, entered the classrooms, and sat on furniture in the spaces they had a hand in shaping.

Through interactive visioning sessions, students, staff, and community members provided valuable input that helped formulate the campus layout and influenced its features. Scott said, “Collaboration was a key part of the design and construction process that really helped take what was drawn on paper and come to life.”

The $133 million campus project was made possible by the passage of a bond issue in 2019 and was co-funded by the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC). ThenDesign Architecture partnered with Hammond Construction to design and build the 365,000 SF building. The state-of-the-art facility provides students and faculty with new technology, expanded academic spaces, and opportunities for collaboration in a comfortable, secure environment.

Students began attending the new campus after the winter break ended in January 2026. The Cuyahoga Falls 6-12 Campus will serve the Silver Lake and Cuyahoga Falls communities as an educational beacon and activity hub, facilitating flexible educational excellence for decades.

"Many students were silent when they first entered. I think they were just in awe."
Dr. Andrea Celico, Ph.D.
Superintendent

Cuyahoga Falls 6-12 Campus Building Dedication & Community Tour
Marc Cebrian

Marc Cebrian

Communications

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Marc Cebrian

Marc Cebrian

Marc has over thirty years of media production experience with a wide variety of storytelling projects that include commercials, documentaries, and live events. He began his career in the feature film and television industry in Los Angeles, California. Naturally driven by a passion for the creative and analytical, he believes that people should be kind to one another, and strives to live by example.
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