Full Day Tour F

8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Lunch Included
Buses load at the Sheraton

Learning Objectives:

Evaluate Architectural Strategies for Career-Technical and Workforce-Ready Education Environments. Examine how educational facilities like West-MEC’s Northeast Campus integrate cutting-edge technology and industry partnerships into spatial design to support next-generation, career-pathway programming and college readiness.

Explore the Integration of Biophilic Design to Enhance Wellness and Outdoor Learning. Analyze how biophilic design principles—such as natural light, outdoor classrooms, and native landscaping—can transform educational spaces into environments that support wellness, environmental literacy, and place-based learning.

Understand Approaches to Adaptive Reuse and Modernization in Historic School Contexts. Assess how preservation and renovation efforts—such as those honoring the original Ralph Haver architecture—can be balanced with modern additions to maintain historical integrity while meeting contemporary educational needs.

Investigate the Role of Stakeholder Engagement in Shaping Responsive Educational Architecture. Explore the value of co-creation and participatory design processes that involve students, staff, families, and community members in developing educational spaces aligned with collective goals, identity, and evolving pedagogical practices.

West-MEC Northeast Campus

Next Gen Career & Workforce Development

1617 W Williams Dr, Phoenix, AZ 85027

The Western Maricopa Education Center (West-MEC), a public high school career and technical education hub, is set to completely re-imagine and reinvigorate its Northeast Campus (NEC). Serving over 40,000 students in Maricopa County, the NEC has been a beacon of innovative programming for over a decade, offering courses in Aviation, Automotive, Heavy Diesel, Pharmacy Tech, and more. This transformative project aims to develop architectural solutions for innovative, next-generation career-ways-based workforce development and college readiness programming. By integrating cutting-edge technology and industry collaboration, West-MEC’s Northeast Campus is poised to become a leader in career and technical education, preparing students for the future workforce.

Key Enhancements and New Programs:

Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Program: With the invaluable assistance of TSMC’s technicians, West-MEC is developing a comprehensive semiconductor training program. This initiative aims to equip students with the skills and expertise required in the rapidly evolving semiconductor sector.
Welding and Digital Welding: A state-of-the-art welding lab will be established, incorporating both traditional and digital welding techniques.
EV Servicing and Battery Technology: The expansion will include a specialized bay for servicing electric vehicles (EVs) and battery technology, preparing students for the growing demand in the EV sector.

Pharmacy Tech, Medical Assisting, and Phlebotomy: Future expansion plans include enhancing the existing pharmacy tech and phlebotomy programs to offer more comprehensive training in medical assisting and related fields.

Community/Industry/Hub/Innovation Commons: A multipurpose space will be created to foster industry partnerships, community-based instruction, professional development, mock interviews, social gatherings, and more.

Revamped Career-ways Branding: An advanced augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR)-based rebranding initiative will be launched to enhance the campus’ career pathways branding.

Quick Facts:
Opened: July 31, 2025
Campus Size: ~18,000 SF (New Build/Addition), ~100,500 SF (Existing Building), 9.45 Acres (Site Total)
Programs: CTE – Advanced Chip Manufacturing Training
Facilities: Advanced Chip Manufacturing Training, Automotive Technologies, Business Administration, Culinary Arts, Accounting, Early Childhood Education
Student Body: 250 Students
Contact: Matthew Heath at matthew.heath@west-mec.org or 623.256.7366

Cherokee Elementary School

Community Engagement in Action

8801 N 56th St, Paradise Valley, AZ 85253

The 80,000 SF, PK-5 replacement campus was completed in April 2021 in three phases on an active campus during the pandemic. Phase one involved demolition and construction of classroom, administrative, and multipurpose buildings while maintaining existing systems. Phase two included building the gym, cafeteria, and new administration building, installing infrastructure, and removing old systems. Phase three included the demolition of two northernmost buildings, replaced by a parking lot, an extended queuing lane, and a drop-off zone.

The team coordinated with the utility company for new infrastructure and worked closely with school district staff on move-in and move-out days, directing movers, redirecting traffic, and assisting staff during busy times. A standout feature was the addition of a real school bus altered to create an interactive experience in the library, inspired by Barbara Park’s Junie B. Jones series.

The design team collaborated with students, parents, teachers, staff, community members and district representatives through a robust visioning and community engagement process. This form of co-creation was used to establish project goals and continued throughout design. One goal that came to the forefront was the desire for a strong connection to nature. The existing building had virtually no windows, so the reinvention of this school leaned heavily on biophilic design principles. These patterns and principles of biophilia and an emphasis on outdoor learning were used to create a Cherokee 2.0, one that created a garden and courtyard style campus focused around three outdoor classrooms landscaped with plants representing local biomes as learning opportunities.

Quick Facts:
Opened: Summer 2020
Campus Size: 80,905 sqft (New Buildings), 19.39 Acres (Site)
Programs: Traditional School
Facilities: Split Gymnasium, Amphitheater, Indoor/Outdoor Learning Communities, Immersive Library/Media Space
Student Body: 675
Certifications: National Literary Landmark, AEF A+ School of Excellence, National Blue Ribbon School, Cognia – NCA CASI, NWAC, & SACS CASI, Ranked #4 Elementary School in AZ – 2024
Contact: Dennis Roehler, Facilities Director at 480.415.8564

Hohokam Elementary School

8451 E Oak St, Scottsdale, AZ 85257

SPS+ led the full campus modernization in 2021, blending the historic 1959 Ralph Haver design with the new. After evaluating the existing campus and engaging with the community, our team determined that many of the original school buildings could be saved and renovated. The 45,000 SF renovation, paired with a 34,000 SF addition, modernized the PreK–5 campus while respecting its roots.
Preservation was at the heart of this project. Before demolition began, we carefully set aside bricks from one of the original buildings, a gesture to honor the story and architecture held within each timeworn surface.

Demolishing five of the eleven buildings made room for a new administration building, media center, and multipurpose space, along with updated parking, an extended drop-off lane, and refreshed playgrounds—blending history with forward-thinking design.
Quick

Quick Facts:
District: Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD)
Grades: K–5
Original Build/Renovation: Opened 1959; renovation completed Summer 2021
Campus Size: ~79,000 SF total (45,000 SF renovated + 34,000 SF new)
Facilities: New admin/library building, multipurpose hall, playgrounds, and updated parking
Special Features: Ralph Haver architecture; vibrant, modern interior; community design input
Enrollment: ~600–800 students
Contact: SUSD Facilities at 480.484.1800 or Director Dennis Roehler at 480.484.8503

LearningSCAPES 2025 Conference in Phoenix, Arizona

Venue

Phoenix Convention Center
South Building
100 North Third Street
Phoenix, AZ 85004

Dates

October 29-November 1, 2025

Contact

Email: donna@a4le.org
+1 480.391.0840