By Lindsey Coulter

The new 217,500-square-foot Western Grove K-8 prototype campus for Port St. Lucie, Fla., Public Schools is a massive undertaking. Construction is expected to span approximately 18 months, ending in August 2026, and will include a plethora of new facilities: two-story academic buildings, a two-story administration building, several playgrounds, a multipurpose field a gymnasium, athletic courts, a chiller plant with thermal storage and a particularly innovative auditoria.

The auditoria is a foundational and multi-functional part of the overall project. The expansive space will double as a cafeteria and auditorium, containing dining facilities, a kitchen, custodial areas, a stage, a band classroom, a vocal classroom and even an art classroom. As the campus is located on the coast of southern Florida, an area often in the path of hurricanes and severe weather, it will also serve as an Enhanced Hurricane Protection Area (EHPA), keeping students and school employees safe in the event of extreme weather.

Full-service architectural, interiors, and design firm Spiezle Architectural Group Inc., with several offices throughout Florida, was selected to provide design services for the project, which will be constructed by Wharton-Smith, headquartered in Sanford, Fla.

“Spiezle’s design for Western Grove K-8 builds on the extensive history shared between us and the school district, as we continue to evolve and modernize our prototypes, while creating a model that is easily replicable at other future school sites throughout the district,â€� said Anthony Donadio, principal at Spiezle. “This new school will provide students in Port St. Lucie with a safe, clean and forward-thinking facility that will suit their needs for many years to come.â€�Ìý

Â鶹¸£ÀûÍø spoke with Steven Siegel, a fellow principal and EHPA expert at Spiezle, to learn more about the intricacies of designing an expansive project for an estimated 2,000 students that considers safety and security from a multitude of perspectives.Ìý

SCN: How did the team develop the Port St. Lucie Prototype Campus auditoria? Does it look and feel different from any other spaces on campus?

Siegel: The design process involved updating a K-8 prototype built 18 years ago with modern technology and features to meet the heightened building codes and latest standards, ensuring it can withstand Florida’s intense hurricanes, storms and other catastrophic weather events. It does look and feel like a different space from the other five buildings on campus, as it doubles as a cafeteria and auditorium and is freestanding. At 33,569 square feet, this building contains dining facilities, a kitchen, custodial spaces, a stage with specialized lighting and ceilings for theatrical performances, and separate classrooms for band, vocal, and art, in addition to serving as an Enhanced Hurricane Protection Area (EHPA).

The school district preferred the auditoria to be the EHPA as the kitchen and cafeteria could provide fresh meals and space for the community to shelter in place during bad weather. The design process balanced making the auditoria look and feel from the exterior structural and interior design as an aesthetically pleasing place versus a drab shelter. Spiezle Architectural Group then enhanced the structure to withstand wind loads of up to 184 miles per hour (mph), installed standalone emergency generators for backup power, and further hardened the structure to meet Florida building codes and Florida Department of Education State Requirements for Educational Facilities (SREF). Spiezle partnered with the mechanical engineering firm CMTA and construction management firm Wharton-Smith to help transform this building.

ÌýSCN: What specific design strategies and materials were used to ensure the space can also serve as an Enhanced Hurricane Protection Area?

Siegel: The design strategies and materials used, which often exceeded code requirements, include, impact-resistant concrete block walls, hardened building envelope, impact-resistant windows, potable water storage and a roof structure that can withstand wind uplift pressures.

SCN: Is EHPA design within the state highly prescriptive, or do designers have the ability to tailor each area to the specific project and need?

Siegel: EHPA design is guided by Florida building codes and Florida Department of Education SREF protocols. These guidelines provide a baseline for designers to meet, and then the design team collaborated with emergency management officials to refine the design look and feel. This ensured the aesthetics would accomplish the school district’s goals while making this a more inviting shelter environment.

SCN: Has the firm designed other EHPA projects?

Siegel: Having worked on other EHPA projects in facilities—such as gyms, cafeterias and multi-purpose rooms—we’ve learned the importance of coordinating with emergency management professionals and school district personnel early on. It’s key to know what size capacity the EHPA needs to be to accommodate different population sizes within a community. Each facility also has different security precautions and features, so Spiezle was mindful of knowing these priorities as it upgraded Port St. Lucie’s Prototype Campus auditorium.

SCN: Does including an EHPA generally increase a project budget, or are they budget-neutral spaces?Ìý

Siegel: It depends on how the project is built and designed. If it’s a new build, it can increase the cost, which varies depending on the building size and the number of people it needs to accommodate. In the instance of Port St. Lucie’s Prototype Campus auditoria, it was already designed as a cafeteria and auditorium, which helped keep the cost down versus it being a new EHPA.

SCN: In what other ways does the Port St. Lucie Prototype Campus enhance student safety?

Siegel: There are many student safety measures in place at the Port St. Lucie Prototype Campus, including controlled access points, video surveillance, and a hardened perimeter with concrete block walls encircling the buildings and bollards to minimize the amount of harm that could be done. Spiezle intentionally made these perimeter walls aesthetically pleasing so that the campus is more visually appealing, rather than seeming like a fortress.

For first responders, all buildings have a distinct number, and the fire detection systems inform firefighters exactly where the issue is occurring. There is also a clearly marked evacuation zone path for emergencies. Structural resilience is paramount, and the building was upgraded to withstand up to 184 miles per hour, per the Hurricane Risk Factor 4 ratings, sustained winds of up to 143 mph, and tornadoes up to 76 mph, since all of these considerations can happen during hurricanes and bad storms.

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By John F. Wright, AIA, LEED AP BD+C

Student centers have always been a place of prominence on the collegiate campus, but in recent years the focus on their capability and responsibility to provide a wide array of social, physical and mental support services has heightened greatly. As architects design the next generation of higher education student-centered buildings, the primary goal should be crafting spaces where individuals can feel supported and welcome. In addition to the common pressures and outside influences that every student encounters, mental health challenges on college campuses are a reality that students face more often. The American Psychological Association’s peer-reviewed journal “Stigma and Health� published a recent showing how struggles with mental health are linked to college students performing worse academically and being more likely to drop out. It is the responsibility of architects to approach design opportunities in a holistic manner to create spaces that consider both students’ physical and mental health so that their individuality and creativity can thrive while they grow as learners.

Fortunately, over the last few years, more colleges and universities are emphasizing a comprehensive approach to student health and transforming on-campus spaces to empower students to rest, rejuvenate, and connect through an array of recreation and engaging options. Architects and college administrators can—and should—continue to partner with student representatives and groups to ensure that these places meet the needs of the current and future generations of learners and elevate their mental health, creativity and academic outcomes.

At Rider University in Lawrenceville, N.J., campus administrators, facilities leaders and the student government have a strong history of collaboration on projects. As the need continued to escalate for spaces to support neurodivergent students and the demands of elevated stress levels, an underutilized computer lab in the Bart Luedeke Center (BLC) was identified as a prime candidate for renovation. Working together, the initial vision evolved into the concept of creating a relaxation lounge. Dubbed the Zen Den, the space is the culmination of an inclusive process where the design team conducted focus-group meetings with the students and staff to explore their needs and select the features that would craft a welcoming environment, spark creativity and remove the excess “noise� of the busy campus beyond its walls. This former tech-heavy space has transformed into a peaceful venue where students can put devices down and engage in calm, healthy activities while mentally recharging.

A crucial role of the Zen Den is supporting neurodivergent students, many of whom struggle with feelings of overstimulation and need a break from technology as well as being surrounded by a bustling campus community. However, rather than a blank room with white walls where sensory input is removed, Spiezle designed the Zen Den so that students can interact with its features, such as textured surfaces and light patterns that create warm colors when touched. Light-based therapy tools such as touch lights in different colors and brightness have demonstrated benefits for neurodivergent individuals.

Other interactive elements of the Zen Den include hanging chairs, which allow students to experience sensory input through gentle swinging movements they control themselves. Beanbag chairs and built-in alcove lounge seating provide soft, comforting options for rest and mental recharge in either a group or individual setting. The variety of options allows each visitor to shape their personal experience in the space and adjust it to their specific needs.

The Zen Den also features biophilic design elements, which aim to reduce anxiety while increasing cognitive function and restoring a depleted attention span by bridging the divide between inside environments and the natural world outside. Covering an entire wall, a sunlit forest mural mimics the natural world—offering a chance for students to recenter through peaceful contemplation.

In addition to offering a blend of relaxation and healthy recreation, student centers must also be places where students can focus on their physical health. a correlation between physical activity and mental wellness for college students, and recreation centers can be a crucial part of that mission. This is especially true for elite intercollegiate athletics.

The National Institutes of Health that with the vast spread of name, image, and likeness (NIL) income opportunities for student-athletes, pressure to choose the “right� school—and then maintain their success in athletics so that endorsements don’t dwindle—presents a constant concern. Add to this the normal academic pressures of completing assignments on time and achieving good grades. Amid such constant stressors, student athletic centers should be imagined as places where those pressures fade away. Biophilic elements are as welcome in a sports training facility for their calming aspects as they are in student relaxation areas. Neutral or other less-obtrusive colors for walls also create welcoming and tranquil spaces.

Making positive architectural design choices in wellness spaces also helps colleges attract and retain top talent, especially as more students are opting for trade schools or vocational training over the traditional four-year college path. At the same time, student-athletes have a wider range of options when choosing where to enroll, and a wellness-focused athletic center can be a key factor in their decision—particularly when it reflects a broader institutional commitment to comprehensive physical and psychological well-being.

Atlantic Cape Community College (ACCC) in Hamilton, N.J., has developed a master plan for its athletics department to boost its competitive appeal. ACCC’s efforts include maintaining gender parity across all sports programs, expanding offerings to engage more students and attract additional candidates, modernizing physical education buildings and facilities, and embracing a more personalized, supportive approach to physical and mental health. This consistent level of support fosters a strong sense of purpose in student-athletes, which translates into school spirit and a shared commitment to team sports. As a result, colleges can experience reputational gains and increased student interest in institutions that truly prioritize student wellbeing.

A student-first approach is critical for designing campus student centers and wellness spaces. College administrators, architects, and design teams collectively have an excellent opportunity to engage students to plan and build campuswide amenities that drive mental and physical fitness. Whether a college builds something new or renovates an outdated venue, students expect and deserve holistic resources on campus. A collaborative process between architects, campus leadership, and student groups leads to positive outcomes that support more sustainable student growth and development while driving a school’s recruitment and long-term success.

John Wright, AIA, LEED AP BD+C,Ìýis a principal at Spiezle. He can be reached atÌýjwright@spiezle.com.

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HAMILTON, N.J.—Spiezle Architectural Group, Inc., an employee-owned, award-winning full-service architectural, interior design, landscape architecture, and planning firm, is pleased to announce the company has been awarded the 2023 Firm of the Year by the American Institute of Architects-New Jersey Chapter (AIA-NJ). The annual award is given to a design firm that has produced notable architecture and made an impact on the architectural profession.

Celebrating 70 years in business, Spiezle prioritizes innovation, industry involvement, and sustainability. The firm is an employee-owned company whose work across multiple industries and market sectors is recognized in this award of distinction by the AIA.

“This is a remarkable honor for all of us at Spiezle. We thank AIA NJ for awarding us this recognition,� said Thomas S. Perrino, President and CEO at Spiezle Architectural Group. “We’re exceptionally proud of our history here in New Jersey. This award is a testament to our dynamic and talented team members and meaningful partnerships within the state. We’re focused on continuing to build an incredible team of employee-owners who will keep driving innovation and creativity in our industry.�

Spiezle’s nomination touts the firm’s inclusivity initiatives, which include the Women’s Leadership Committee, Design Committee, and a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging advancement. This year, Spiezle has been recognized as one of NJBIZ’s inaugural 2023 Empowering Women Honorees for being committed to supporting and elevating women in New Jersey. Spiezle is also dedicated to developing the next generation of architects. The firm supports its Emerging Professionals Group in its pursuit of licensure and is an active participant in summer internship programs with area universities.

Spiezle will receive the formal award as AIA’s NJ Firm of the Year for 2023 at a ceremony taking place at Clarks Landing Yacht Club on January 13th, 2024. The event will be attended by AIA members from across New Jersey.

“We celebrate our 70th anniversary in 2024 and this award is another example of seven decades of our continued success. Congratulations to everyone at Spiezle for this very special achievement,� said Perrino.

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