PLAN.
PREK-12 EDUCATION Shaping the Future of Learning
School districts must balance educational goals, community expectations, aging facilities, enrollment trends, safety, and fiscal responsibility while making decisions that will shape learning for decades. CHA partners with school districts to plan strategically, engage communities, design inspiring learning environments, and deliver successful capital programs. Our integrated planners, architects, engineers, engagement specialists, and construction professionals help districts evaluate options, build consensus, and create future-ready schools that reflect the character, values, and aspirations of the communities they serve.
ENGAGE. DESIGN. DELIVER.
CHA | PREK-12 EDUCATION
WHAT WE DO FROM VISION TO REALITY
Successful school facilities require more than individual projects. They require a coordinated strategy that connects educational priorities, facility conditions, enrollment, community input, funding, design, and project delivery. CHA provides an integrated approach that helps districts make informed decisions, gain public support, and turn long-range goals into successful capital improvements.
CHALLENGES WE HELP SOLVE AGING FACILITIES & DEFERRED MAINTENANCE Turning facility data into clear, prioritized investment strategies that extend asset life and support responsible stewardship. ENROLLMENT, CAPACITY & UTILIZATION Aligning buildings, grade configurations, and space use with changing student populations and instructional needs. COMMUNITY TRUST & CONSENSUS Creating transparent, inclusive engagement processes that help stakeholders understand needs, evaluate options, and shape a shared vision. CAPITAL PROGRAM DELIVERY Managing costs, schedules, phasing, safety, and occupied-school logistics to move complex programs forward with less disruption.
CHA | PREK-12 EDUCATION
SERVICES PLANNING & ASSESSMENT Building a defensible roadmap for future investment. • Facility condition and educational adequacy assessments • Building utilization, capacity, and enrollment studies • Long-range facilities and capital improvement planning • Consolidation and grade reconfiguration studies • Funding, state aid, grant, and financing support COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & EDUCATIONAL PLANNING Building understanding, ownership, and a shared vision. • Stakeholder engagement and visioning workshops • Educational planning and program alignment • Community forums and student engagement • Board presentations and decision-support tools • Referendum and bond communications support ATHLETICS, RECREATION & COMMUNITY USE Supporting wellness, school pride, and shared community life. • Indoor and outdoor athletic facilities • Fields, tracks, gymnasiums, natatoriums, and spectator amenities • Recreation and community-use spaces • Site circulation, parking, and event-day planning ARCHITECTURE & ENGINEERING Creating safe, flexible, student-centered learning environments. • New schools, additions, renovations, and interior design • STEAM, career and technical education, arts, early childhood, and special education spaces • Campus planning, circulation, accessibility, and site design • Mechanical, electrical, plumbing, structural, fire protection, and security design • Sustainable, high-performance, and decarbonization strategies PROJECT DELIVERY Advancing capital programs while schools remain operational. • Construction and program management • Procurement, estimating, scheduling, and project controls • Occupied and phased construction planning • Accelerated summer project delivery • Multi-building capital program coordination
CHA | PREK-12 EDUCATION
WHY CHA Districts need more than a design consultant. They need a partner who understands the educational, operational, financial, and community realities that shape public-school investment. CHA combines multidisciplinary expertise with a district-focused approach to help leaders make confident decisions and create lasting value.
INTEGRATED EXPERTISE Planning, engagement, architecture, engineering, and construction support from early study through completion.
DISTRICT-FOCUSED EXPERIENCE Experience addressing the facility, educational, funding, and public-approval considerations unique to PreK-12 capital programs. COMMUNITY-CENTERED APPROACH Inclusive engagement that connects facility decisions to local priorities, values, and the daily experiences of students and staff. LIFECYCLE PARTNERSHIP Support across the full facility lifecycle, from assessment and investment strategy through design, construction, and continued operation.
THE CHA DIFFERENCE PLAN. ENGAGE. DESIGN. DELIVER.
CHA brings the full strength of an integrated planning, architecture, engineering, and construction organization to each engagement. The result is a coordinated district solution, not a collection of disconnected services.
PLAN Translate facility conditions, enrollment, educational goals, and funding realities into actionable strategies.
ENGAGE Build trust and consensus through transparent communication and meaningful stakeholder participation.
DESIGN Create safe, flexible, high-performance environments that support learning, wellness, and community use.
DELIVER Guide projects through procurement and construction with accountability, continuity, and value.
CHA | PREK-12 EDUCATION
LAWRENCE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MSAD 49 needed a sustainable solution for four aging elementary schools challenged by underutilization, increasing operating costs, and evolving educational needs. APPROACH
CHA conducted a district-wide facilities study evaluating enrollment, capacity, educational adequacy, building conditions, operations, and potential sites. Working with the district, Maine DOE, and community stakeholders, CHA developed a consolidation strategy centered on reprogramming Benton Elementary for PreK–2 and constructing a new Grades 3–6 school on adjacent land, creating a unified PreK–6 campus. Through community workshops and transparent communication, CHA helped stakeholders understand the proposed strategy and its benefits, building support for a successful referendum. The resulting unified campus allowed three outdated schools to close while reducing long-term operating and maintenance costs.
IMPACT •
A unified PreK–6 campus replaced three aging schools with a more efficient district solution.
•
Flexible, equitable learning spaces expand access to specialized programs.
•
Shared wellness and community spaces extend learning beyond the classroom.
•
Safer circulation and a secure entrance create a more connected campus.
PROJECT LOCATION Benton, ME SIZE 84,000 SF New Construction ENROLLMENT 574 Students | Grades 3-6
MT. ARARAT HIGH SCHOOL Topsham, ME OPPORTUNITY: MSAD 75 needed to replace its aging high school with a future-ready learning environment that could serve its four communities while remaining connected to the existing middle school campus. APPROACH: CHA engaged students, families, staff, and community members in a visioning process that shaped the school around flexibility, inclusion, collaboration, and a strong connection to its natural setting. The design organizes academics, student services, shared amenities, and athletics around a central hub and “main street.” IMPACT: • Flexible, future-ready spaces support evolving learning needs. • Makerspaces and collaboration areas foster hands-on learning. • Athletics and shared spaces promote wellness and connection. • Nature-connected design reinforces community identity and sense of place.
ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOLS SECURITY Rochester, NY OPPORTUNITY: A rise in stolen vehicles entering student-populated school property at high speeds prompted the district to strengthen safety across 10 campuses while maintaining welcoming, accessible environments. APPROACH: CHA assessed perimeter vulnerabilities and vehicle approaches at each campus, evaluating security under multiple threat scenarios. The resulting master plan combined site-specific physical improvements with community outreach and vehicle-theft prevention strategies. IMPACT: • A phased roadmap guides security improvements across 10 campuses. • Targeted barriers and access controls strengthen perimeter protection. • Landscape and site improvements enhance safety while maintaining welcoming campuses. • Community partnerships and outreach address threats before they reach school grounds.
SALAMENCA HIGH SCHOOL Salamenca, NY OPPORTUNITY: The district sought to modernize its athletic facilities as part of a four-year capital improvement plan, expanding opportunities for student-athletes and supporting future growth. APPROACH: CHA designed comprehensive upgrades to the track and field, tennis, and softball facilities, including expanded competition venues, synthetic turf, lighting, spectator amenities, and supporting site improvements, while planning for future indoor athletic facilities. IMPACT: • Competition-ready facilities expand opportunities for student-athletes. • Upgraded track, tennis, and softball venues support multiple programs. • Enhanced spectator amenities strengthen the game-day experience. • Future field house and ice facilities position the district for continued growth.
CHA | PREK-12 EDUCATION
HORRY COUNTY SCHOOLS Myrtle Beach, SC OPPORTUNITY: Horry County Schools needed a district-wide strategy to assess and modernize outdoor athletic facilities across its nine high schools. APPROACH: CHA assessed each campus and developed a master plan to guide phased improvements. CHA has since provided planning, design, and construction administration for tennis courts, tracks, stadium fields, synthetic turf, bleachers, and related upgrades across the district. IMPACT: • A coordinated master plan guides improvements across nine high schools. • Phased upgrades modernize tracks, tennis courts, and stadium facilities. • District-wide planning supports consistent, strategic investment. • Successive capital phases allow improvements to advance systematically.
NAUSET REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL Eastham, MA OPPORTUNITY: Nauset needed to modernize and expand its high school while maintaining operations on an occupied campus. APPROACH: CHA served as the Owner’s Project Manager from feasibility through construction, guiding an MSBA-funded program that combined 106,000 SF of new construction with phased renovations to more than 110,000 SF of existing space. IMPACT: • Modern, future-ready spaces expand academic, science, arts, and student programs. • Flexible classrooms strengthen hands-on learning and innovation. • Net-Zero Ready design advances sustainability while phased construction kept the school operational.
©Robert Benson
Citation Award for Excellence in Architecture, 2026 New England Architecture Awards
AVON GROVE HIGH SCHOOL West Grove, PA OPPORTUNITY: Avon Grove School District needed to replace outdated facilities with a modern high school that could accommodate growth, evolving educational needs, and expanded community use. APPROACH: As Owner’s Representative and Construction Manager, CHA guided the project from planning through construction, providing oversight to the district. The project also required significant site preparation, utility infrastructure, and roadway improvements. IMPACT: • Flexible, technology-rich spaces support evolving educational needs. • Performance, athletic, and gathering spaces expand community use. • Adaptable campus design provides a foundation for continued district growth. Outstanding Project Award in Learning, Design Magazine Spring 2024 Awards of Excellence Showcase
CHA | PREK-12 EDUCATION
SHAPING WHAT’S NEXT IN PREK-12 EDUCATION
From long-range planning and community engagement to new schools, renovations, athletics, infrastructure, and capital program delivery, CHA helps districts create environments that inspire learning, strengthen communities, and support long-term success. By bringing planning, design, engineering, and construction expertise together, we help school leaders invest with confidence and shape the future of learning.
LET’S START THE CONVERSATION Kathryn Cogan, LEED AP BD+C PreK-12 Education Leader (207) 699-4467 KCogan@chasolutions.com
CHA | PREK-12 EDUCATION Last Updated: 10.2026