May 23, 2025
When I was a student, our cafeteria doubled as a stage, assemblies were held in the gym, and everyone had a locker—along with a combination they struggled to remember. Those spaces were purely functional, offering little more than a place to learn the basics and move from one class to another.
Fast forward to today, and the approach to educational environments has transformed dramatically. Modern schools are designed to do much more than facilitate instruction. They are intentional spaces that inspire creativity, foster innovation, and promote wellness for students, teachers, and the entire community.
At Johnson Architecture, we’ve had the privilege of designing a wide variety of educational facilities, ranging from public and private K-12 schools to higher education campuses. In each project, we’ve witnessed the evolution of school design firsthand. Traditional lockers are becoming a relic of the past, replaced by technology-friendly spaces. Schools are embracing dedicated areas for performing arts, STEM activities, and collaborative learning, while wellness is now an integral part of the campus experience—not confined to health class alone.
Custom Design for Modern Learning Environments
Today’s school leaders face the complex task of balancing these evolving priorities with budgetary realities. Whether planning a new build or a renovation, the design process demands a customized approach—one that carefully aligns educational goals with available space, functionality, and resources.
We recognize the unique challenges that come with retrofitting older facilities or constructing new buildings on active campuses. However, with diligent planning and innovative design, these hurdles can be transformed into opportunities for growth.
Adrian Burnett Elementary: A Case Study in Intentional Planning
A recent example of this approach is our partnership with Knox County Schools on the new Adrian Burnett Elementary School. The project required us to construct a 94,000-square-foot facility while classes continued without disruption. By building around the existing structure, we ensured learning never paused. Once the new campus was complete, the original all-wooden building was safely removed.
Today, Adrian Burnett Elementary is more than a school—it’s a thriving hub for education, creativity, and community engagement. The campus includes 34 classrooms, dedicated art and music rooms, specialized suites for special education, a 7,100-square-foot gymnasium, a central library, and a tornado shelter, providing a safe and inspiring space for students and families alike.
Robotics and STEM: Preparing for the Future
As education evolves, so do the demands of future careers. Schools are increasingly investing in STEM and robotics programs, creating spaces where students can innovate, explore, and develop critical skills.
At Knoxville Catholic High School, we helped envision a new innovation lab that includes both an instructional area and a fully equipped workshop featuring CNC machines and woodworking tools. Similarly, we’ve designed STEM-focused and multi-purpose spaces at Lakeway Christian Academy and Clayton Bradley Academy—ensuring that as educational needs progress, the facilities evolve alongside them.
Investing in Fine Arts Facilities
The performing arts are also seeing well-deserved attention in modern school design. We’ve observed a growing emphasis on creating dedicated, high-quality spaces for band, chorus, and theater.
For example, we worked with Lakeway Christian Academy in White Pine, Tennessee, to create a 1,200-seat performing arts center. At Christian Academy of Knoxville, we designed a state-of-the-art Christian Life Center featuring an 18-foot LED wall as a dynamic backdrop for productions—far surpassing traditional theater rigging. The facility also includes a green room, dressing rooms, and a broadcasting studio where students can explore digital production and create their own podcasts.
Athletics and Wellness: A Holistic Approach
School athletic facilities are also undergoing a transformation. From professional-grade gymnasiums to enhanced sports fields with press boxes, we’ve designed athletic spaces that rival collegiate and even professional settings.
Equally important is the shift toward holistic student wellness. At Knoxville Catholic High School, students now have access to fueling stations stocked with nourishing options and benefit from the guidance of an on-staff certified nutritionist. While not every school has the resources for such amenities, many are reimagining traditional features to support health and wellness in innovative ways.
Redefining the Role of Lockers
One of the more symbolic shifts in school design is the fading presence of student lockers. With most students using tablets and laptops instead of lugging heavy textbooks, lockers are increasingly being repurposed—or eliminated entirely. Some schools now reserve them for staff or reclaim the space for collaborative learning zones and other priorities that align with modern education.
Designing More Than Buildings—Creating Communities
At the heart of all these changes is a core belief: schools are more than buildings. They are vibrant environments that nurture learning, creativity, and collaboration. When thoughtfully designed, they can become catalysts for bringing people together—students, families, and entire communities.
In these spaces, students can build robots, score touchdowns, or stage a contemporary production of Hamlet. Families can gather to cheer on teams, applaud performances, and support each other in ways that extend far beyond the school walls.
