DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION
Where Education Meets Workforce Park City High School’s new Career and Technical Education wing is teaching students to fly planes, build tiny homes and take on the local culinary scene By Lindsey Coulter As schools adapt to changing learning needs — as well as workforce trends — educational environments are increasingly geared toward fostering creativity, collaboration and student and community engagement. A recent addition to Park City High School in Park City, Utah, showcases how secondary education classrooms are evolving to help students get a leg up through hands-on training.
CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION
Park City High School’s new 55,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art Career and Technical Education (CTE) wing is an innovative addition that aligns with the school district’s vision of creating “A Place for All.” The three-level facility supports the Park City Center for Advanced Professional Studies (PCCAPS), which facilitates hands-on, real-world application of educational principles through project-based learning and collaboration with local businesses. As such, the CTE’s nontraditional classrooms and learning spaces allow students to explore careers in high-demand local industries from hospitality and trades to business and healthcare. For example, the CTE building includes culinary arts training tied to Park City’s vibrant hospitality scene, where students learn in a culinary arts environment that closely resembles professional settings. Another innovative feature is a construction lab where students design, build and even market tiny homes — a unique project linking education to service and community needs. Additional spaces include robotics and aviation studios, healthcare training spaces and business labs. The two-phase project is financed by a $50.3 million bond measure, and design for the CTE was managed by MHTN Architects of Salt Lake City. The firm worked alongside the Salt Lake City office of Moca Services, which served as the owner’s rep, and designbuild contractor Hogan Construction to ensure that every dollar invested delivered the maximum value to the educational environment. Principal Architect Scott Later, who specializes in K-12 education, led the MHTN team in designing flexible, inspiring and collaborative spaces that can evolve with educational needs. “Part of the uniqueness of this project was understanding the possibility surrounding mentoring relationships between students and industry partners,” Later said. “This approach creates a more engaging learning environment, helping to build essential skills that directly translate into the workforce.”
all design needs, MHTN positioned the CTE on the western edge of the existing school building, which involved a careful demolition and construction sequence and preserving the community’s cherished football field. Aside from the building’s footprint and orientation, one of the significant challenges in designing a learning environment tailored to the PCCAPS program was the need to rethink conventional classroom layouts. From the outset, the MHTN Architects team asked critical questions about student projects and learning goals, industry partnerships, mentoring dynamics, and how the facility could and should serve the greater community. “Over time, our understanding of next-generation learning has become more sophisticated,” Later said. “We’ve shifted from traditional classroom structures to designs that encourage collaboration and flexibility. This is accomplished with flexible furniture solutions, transparency and plenty of writable surfaces.”
SAFETY AND SUSTAINABILITY
“Materiality was also a critical aspect of this project,” Later added. “While we worked with contemporary interior designs, we aimed to blend with the existing building’s metal panel and brick façade.” The CTE structure is predominantly steel, which permitted flexibility in terms of natural daylight and energy efficiency. Unique features like sliding doors were incorporated to create transparency and flow between classrooms and community spaces, fostering connection. Transparency was also a critical safety measure, allowing clear lines of sight into common areas and classrooms. The state’s House Bill 84 also imposed stringent security standards, and the team incorporated Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design strategies. “Transparency between learning spaces allows one teacher to monitor multiple students effectively, reducing the potential for bullying or other negative behaviors,” Later said. “This design feature is about much more than protection; it creates an inclusive atmosphere where students feel safe and supported while they learn.” Incorporating transparent materials even supported the building’s environmental sustainability goals by introducing natural light. Recognizing that a responsible architectural approach is crucial for future generations, the design team also incorporated a low-flow mechanical system to ensure healthy indoor conditions, and many building materials were locally sourced.
A TRUE COMMUNITY RESOURCE
Park City High School’s new Career and Technical Education wing includes open collaboration areas with outside views and natural daylight. | Photo Credit: MHTN Architects
PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE
The project first got off the ground in 2020, when the Park City School District recognized the need for additional learning space and for a fundamental shift in how education could be delivered to its diverse student body. The district employed MHTN Architects to create a high-level master plan and overarching educational strategy that included increasing the high school capacity to accommodate secondary grade. The school currently serves about 1,200 students and anticipates an eventual student body of 1,600. The PCCAPS program alone serves several hundred sophomores, juniors and seniors. “The district sought not just to accommodate students in an already small high school but to realign their grades, improve educational outcomes and integrate principles of nextgeneration learning,” Later said. “We needed to consider affordability and how to create spaces that would not only service current populations but also allow for future growth. Conversations focused on supporting the emerging PCCAPS program and CTE pathway programs that offer students industry certification.” MHTN developed a two-phase solution. The CTE addition marks the completion of Phase I, and a future expansion with additional learning studios will comprise Phase II. However, the design solution had to overcome a few challenges. New learning space was critical, but as the site is somewhat landlocked, fluidity and vertical expansion were key. Additionally, balancing the CTE design with respect for the community’s values was a priority, as Park City is known for valuing its open spaces and views. To address 8 / www.schoolconstructionnews.com / november - december 2024
Seeing the new building take shape and knowing it empowers teachers and students alike is an amazing experience for the MHTN Architects team and everyone involved in the project, according to Later. “The buzz among educators in particular has been inspiring,” Later said. “Their enthusiasm around the learning possibilities these spaces offer affirms our initial vision. We’ve also volunteered our time in the PCCAPS program, which has further ingrained us in the community.” In addition to changing how education is delivered at Park City High School, the CTE project exemplifies the larger K-12 shift toward hands-on, career-oriented education. MHTN Architects is currently collaborating with other districts on similar ventures, and Later believes the Park City CTE addition will serve as a model for future projects — especially as perceptions shift from schools as simple buildings to schools as dynamic learning environments integrated with community needs. “The future of educational approaches will likely reflect these interactive, experiential learning environments across disciplines,” he said. “It’s about moving beyond textbook confines and encouraging students to consider their impact on society through various lenses.”
A state-of-the-art commercial kitchen prepares students for real-world environments.
The CTE’s healthcare simulation labs connect students with industry partners. Photo Credit (all): Park City School District