The Partnership Schools hired KWA to help them identify and come up with a strategic plan for evaluating the high priority safety and capital needs of the Catholic schools they would be managing and the 9 million dollar investment they planned to make in those facilities.

Design Challenge

To launch this Partnership Schools’ longer-term agenda, they hired KWA to to come up with a quick series of “spruce up” projects that could give a strong visual announcement of all the work that was taking place behind the scenes to make Partnership Schools the leader they are today in the renaissance of Catholic school education in New York and Cleveland.

Design Strategy

KWA surveyed the schools extensively and listened closely to the community, schools, and the Partnership to understand the areas they felt where visual impact would be most effective. The goal was to come up with solutions that didn’t just have “wow” factor but were cost-effective, solved many problems at the same time, and would allow the schools to open on time (given a tight timeline).

Impact

All six schools opened in record time. Projects inspired teachers, families and students alike. New features included big glass entry doors which in one case opened up a very small lobby into a new entry court, providing a new daily gracious entry sequence from street through hydrangea garden, featuring student work displays and caregiver digital screen, and providing heightened security at the same time.