Including input from staff and students in the school design process

When Putnam City High School’s class of 2021 was asked about their prom location preference, administrators expected diverse venue suggestions within Oklahoma City.

However, opting for James L. Capps Middle School nearby pleasantly surprised the staff as students chose the then-new building in Putnam City Schools.

The school, established in 2020, sprawls over 38 acres, boasting a spring-fed creek flowing under a glass skybridge connecting various building wings. Capps, with its expansive indoor spaces and towering glass windows, stands as a source of community pride.

“Being a destination for all our schools, Capps Middle School is simply extraordinary,” remarked Putnam Superintendent Fred Rhodes. “It’s incredibly cool and beyond expectation.”

The district’s strong enthusiasm for the school’s architecture stems from their diligent inclusion of student and staff input in the design process, Rhodes pointed out.

“Living in the building every day allows students and staff to identify what is essential to them and what best serves their needs,” he emphasized. “Involvement in the design ensures alignment with their requirements.”

Across the nation, school districts renovating or constructing new facilities increasingly prioritize gathering feedback from those intimately connected — the students and staff.