Reimagining a 45+ Year Old Legacy

The Challenge: Bridging the 1970s to 2026

Lake Hazel Middle School stood as a classic example of legacy educational design: rigid, dimly lit, and operationally disconnected from 21st-century pedagogy. Our mission was to apply grit to this 46-year-old structure, realigning its aging "bones" with the needs of modern education without the cost or environmental impact of a total demolition.

The Innovation: Light, Spirit, and Logic

We approached this renovation not as a facelift, but as a complete systemic recalibration.

• Smart Kelvin-Sensing Light: To combat the "windowless" feel of older school cores, we integrated smart lighting systems that utilize Kelvin-sensing technology. These lights automatically shift color temperature throughout the day—mimicking natural circadian rhythms to boost student alertness in the morning and focus in the afternoon.

• Celebrating School Spirit: We replaced institutional beige with a fresh, modern palette. By integrating school colors into the architectural finishes—rather than just painting walls—we used the building itself to celebrate and reinforce student identity and pride.

• Intuitive Wayfinding: Large-scale schools can be intimidating. We engineered a comprehensive Wayfinding System using color-coded "neighborhoods" and environmental graphics. This logic allows students and staff to navigate the facility with ease, fostering a sense of Connection and safety.

The Strategy: Realignment for Modern Education

The ultimate goal was to transition from "passive" to "active" learning. We carved out collaborative "collision spaces" from underutilized hallways, allowing the 46-year-old footprint to support the high-tech, flexible group work required by today's curriculum.

Why This Matters for Boise

This project serves as a blueprint for school districts across Ada County. It proves that through Strategic Planning, we can honor the history of a facility while delivering a high-performance environment that looks, feels, and functions as a brand-new institution.

Project Highlights:

• Sector: Public Education / Adaptive Reuse

• Technology: Kelvin-Sensing Bio-Adaptive Lighting

• Philosophy: Modernizing 46-year-old infrastructure for 21st-century learners.

• Values: Grit in design challenge, Passion for student wellness, Connection through design.