Middle School Reconstruction and Renovation

Challenge

Troy City School District set out to do more than renovate an aging middle school—it sought to reimagine how the building could support teaching, learning, and student success. Originally constructed in the early 1970s, the school lacked natural light, had poor circulation and limited visibility, and no longer supported contemporary educational practices. Working collaboratively with district leaders, teachers, and stakeholders, the design team developed a vision to transform the underperforming facility into a welcoming, safe, and student-centered learning environment while maximizing the use of the existing building and available state funding.

Results

By retaining much of the original structure while completely reimagining the interior, the project transformed Troy Middle School into a model 21st-century learning environment. More than 80 percent of the interior was reconfigured to create three small learning communities that foster collaboration, strengthen relationships, and provide each grade level with dedicated instructional and support spaces. A bright new entrance atrium and adjacent community gathering space establish a welcoming front door for students and visitors, while improved circulation and sightlines enhance safety and supervision throughout the building. Extensive daylighting, modern science labs, upgraded technology, improved acoustics, and new spaces for music and the performing arts create an environment that supports both academic achievement and student well-being. Today, the school serves not only as a place of learning but also as a source of pride and a gathering place for the Troy community.

Sector Middle School, PK-12

Client Troy City School District

Location Troy, NY

Project Type Rebuild / Redesign

Square Feet 198,000

Construction Cost 51.42 M

“I walked away from this project a believer in the power of architecture and how it can put substance to a community’s vision to change things.”

—John Carmello, Superintendent

“It’s a place now that the students and staff are proud of. It’s a 21st-century learning space and the flagship of our district.”

—John Carmello, Superintendent

Projects

Shatekon Elementary School

Challenge

As Shenendehowa Central School District experienced rapid enrollment growth, the district needed a new elementary school that would expand capacity while making the most of available funding and long-term operational resources. Rather than constructing a completely independent facility, the district sought a solution that would maximize state building aid and shared infrastructure while creating a school with its own identity, educational culture, and welcoming environment for students, staff, and families.

Results

Designed as a companion to its sister school, Arongen Elementary, Shatekon Elementary School successfully balances operational efficiency with a distinct sense of place. A separate entrance and light-filled atrium establish a welcoming identity while providing secure access and a central gathering space. The media center and multipurpose gymnasium were strategically located to support both school activities and after-hours community use. Separate academic wings create age-appropriate learning neighborhoods for students in grades K–2 and 3–5, while dedicated art, music, and technology classrooms enrich the educational experience. Throughout the building, abundant natural daylight, energy-efficient systems, and thoughtfully designed learning spaces create a comfortable environment where students can thrive. The project demonstrates how strategic planning can maximize public investment while creating a school designed to serve generations of learners.

Sector Elementary, PK-12

Client Shenendehowa Central School District

Location Clifton Park, NY

Construction Cost 19 M

Named Shatekon, the Mohawk word for “balanced life,” the school reflects a thoughtful balance of educational identity, operational efficiency, and student-centered design.

Projects

High School East Library

Challenge

Shenendehowa Central School District sought to transform its aging high school library into a dynamic learning environment that would meet the evolving needs of students and educators. Originally built in 1970, the library didn’t support collaborative learning, technology integration, or the variety of learning experiences expected in a modern educational setting. The district envisioned an inviting, flexible space where students could study, collaborate, create, and connect—a destination that would support modern teaching practices to better serve generations of learners to come.

Results

The renovated library reimagined 8,000 square feet as a vibrant 21st-century learning environment. Flexible furnishings, movable glass-walled collaboration rooms, varied floor levels, and low shelving create adaptable spaces for individual study, group work, presentations, and multiple classes while maintaining clear sightlines for supervision. A dramatic window wall fills the space with natural daylight, creating an open, welcoming atmosphere that encourages students to gather throughout the day. Designed to support evolving instructional practices as well as large school and community events, the library has become the academic heart of High School East—a place that inspires creativity, collaboration, and self-directed learning.

Sector High School, PK-12

Client Shenendehowa Central School District

Location Clifton Park, NY

Construction Cost 16 M

“This learning space epitomizes the creativity and collaborative nature of our Shen students.”

—Ron Agostinoni, Principal

Projects

High School Fitness Center

Challenge

As part of a districtwide capital improvement program, Shenendehowa Central School District sought to modernize High School East’s aging fitness facilities to better support both its physical education curriculum and athletic programs. The existing wrestling and weight room spaces no longer met the needs of students or provided the flexibility required for contemporary fitness instruction and strength training. The district envisioned a modern facility that would create dedicated training environments while encouraging student wellness and physical activity.

Results

The renovation completely reconfigured and reconstructed more than 7,300 square feet of the existing wrestling and weight room area into a state-of-the-art Fitness Center. Dedicated spaces for wrestling, strength training, and general fitness support daily physical education classes as well as interscholastic athletics, allowing multiple activities to occur simultaneously. New building systems, a replacement roof, improved lighting, and expanded daylighting transformed the environment into a bright, comfortable facility designed for year-round use. By investing in modern fitness spaces that support both curriculum and athletics, the district created a flexible environment that promotes student wellness, physical fitness, and athletic development.

Sector High School, PK-12

Client Shenendehowa Central School District

Location Clifton Park, NY

Construction Cost 2.3 M

The reimagined Fitness Center supports both the district’s physical education curriculum and athletic programs, creating flexible spaces that promote student wellness, physical fitness, and performance.

Projects

Aquatics Center

Challenge

For years, Shenendehowa Central School District’s swim and diving teams traveled to area pools for practices and competitions, never having a facility they could truly call home. The district envisioned an aquatics center that would strengthen its athletic programs while expanding opportunities for physical education, water safety instruction, and community recreation. Designed in collaboration with a nationally recognized aquatic consultant, the goal was to create a signature facility that would serve students, families, and the broader Clifton Park community for generations.

Results

The new Aquatics Center established a permanent home for Shenendehowa’s swimming and diving programs while creating one of the region’s premier aquatic facilities. The eight-lane competition pool features a movable bulkhead for multiple competition configurations, a dedicated diving well with four competitive diving boards, and seating for 500 spectators. Throughout the school day, the facility supports swimming instruction for elementary, middle, and high school students, while evenings and weekends provide opportunities for lap swimming, aquatic fitness, swim lessons, lifeguard training, and other community programs. More than a competition venue, the Aquatics Center has become a shared community resource that promotes athletic achievement, water safety, lifelong wellness, and school pride.

Sector High School, PK-12

Client Shenendehowa Central School District

Location Clifton Park, NY

Construction Cost 9 M

“It is a gem of an aquatics center. It is the nicest facility in Upstate New York.”

—Pat Seligman, Former Swimming & Diving Coach

Projects

High School Project Based Learning Center

Challenge

Saratoga Springs High School sought to create a learning environment that reflected the collaborative, technology-rich nature of 21st-century education. Traditional classrooms limited opportunities for project-based learning, teamwork, and flexible instruction. The district envisioned a space that could easily adapt to a variety of teaching styles, learning activities, and group sizes while supporting creativity, hands-on exploration, and the seamless integration of technology.

Results

The 4,200-square-foot Project Based Learning Center transformed former faculty space into a dynamic environment designed for collaboration and innovation. Flexible open learning areas, a dedicated maker space, and mobile furnishings allow the space to quickly adapt for lectures, presentations, breakout groups, independent study, and hands-on projects. Integrated technology, collaborative display systems, and writeable surfaces support interactive teaching and student engagement, while the maker space provides resources for designing, building, and creative problem-solving. Beyond the school day, the center hosts board meetings, professional development, and community events, demonstrating its versatility as both a learning environment and gathering space. Today, the Project Based Learning Center serves as a showcase for the district’s commitment to innovative teaching, providing students and educators with a flexible space that evolves alongside the way they learn.

Sector High School, PK-12

Client Saratoga Springs City School District

Location Saratoga Springs, NY

A single learning environment supports lectures, collaboration, hands-on making, independent study, and community events—all without changing the room.

Projects

High School STEAM Innovation Center

Challenge

Peekskill City School District envisioned a STEAM program that would inspire curiosity, encourage collaboration, and showcase student achievement. However, the program was housed in outdated classrooms tucked away on the lower level of the high school, where limited daylight, small windows, and an awkward floor plan made the spaces feel isolated and disconnected. The district sought to transform these underutilized classrooms into a vibrant learning environment that would bring together art, science, technology, engineering, and robotics while raising the visibility of STEAM throughout the school and the broader community.

Results

The new 11,500-square-foot STEAM Innovation Center transforms previously overlooked space into one of the most dynamic destinations in the school. Rather than fighting the building’s unusual wedge-shaped footprint, the design embraces it by organizing classrooms around a flexible central “Mixer”—a collaborative hub where students gather, exhibit their work, and share ideas across disciplines. Enlarged windows, interior glazing, and glass doors flood the center with daylight while making learning visible from surrounding spaces, generating excitement for the program and inviting curiosity. Flexible furnishings, write-on walls, breakout rooms, and dedicated robotics and fabrication spaces support project-based learning and allow students to move seamlessly between designing, building, testing, and presenting their ideas. The Innovation Center has become a catalyst for interdisciplinary learning, community engagement, and student pride, hosting public events, welcoming local organizations, and providing students with an inspiring environment that reflects the district’s commitment to innovation and opportunity.

Sector High School, PK-12, STEM

Client Peekskill City School District

Location Peekskill, NY

Project Type Renovation / Design

Square Feet 11,526

Construction Cost 4.1 M

Awards 2023 Learning By Design Magazine Outstanding Project; American School & University Showcase Outstanding Project

“Students who used to work elbow to elbow now have ample room to build and create.”

—Dr. David Mauricio, Superintendent

“The space has become a hub for collaboration and interdisciplinary projects.”

—Dr. David Mauricio, Superintendent

Projects

High School 21st-Century Learning Commons

Challenge

As enrollment declined, Glens Falls High School found itself with several underutilized classrooms that no longer supported the district’s educational goals. Rather than allowing valuable space to sit vacant, district leaders envisioned a flexible learning environment that would encourage collaboration, creativity, and student engagement while supporting evolving approaches to teaching and learning. The challenge was to transform a collection of outdated classrooms into a vibrant destination that could adapt to a variety of academic and community uses.

Results

The 21st Century Learning Commons reimagined unused classrooms as an open, flexible environment that supports collaboration, independent study, and hands-on learning. Operable classroom connections allow spaces to be opened for large group activities or closed for focused instruction, while a variety of comfortable seating options encourages students to choose how and where they learn. A dedicated maker space provides opportunities for students to design, build, and collaborate using a range of technologies and resources. Beyond supporting daily instruction, the Learning Commons serves as a venue for staff workshops, community meetings, and overflow lunch periods. Most importantly, a once-vacant area has become one of the most popular gathering places in the school—an inviting space where students choose to learn, collaborate, and connect.

Sector High School, PK-12

Client Glens Falls City School District

Location Glens Falls, NY

What was once a collection of unused classrooms is now one of the school’s most popular destinations for learning, collaboration, and connection.

Projects

High School Auditorium & Aquatics Center Renovation

Challenge

As a focal point for both the school district and the surrounding community, Glens Falls High School’s aging auditorium and aquatics facilities no longer supported the district’s thriving performing arts, athletic, and community programs. District leaders envisioned spaces that would provide students with exceptional learning and performance opportunities while serving as professional-quality venues for community organizations, including the Glens Falls Symphony Orchestra. Through a collaborative planning process with arts organizations and district stakeholders, the project sought to create facilities that would enrich the cultural life of the region for years to come.

Results

The renovation transformed the campus into a vibrant destination for performances, athletics, and community events. The new 1,400-seat auditorium features adjustable acoustics, an electronic acoustical enhancement system, motorized rigging, theatrical lighting, and modern stage systems that support school productions as well as professional concerts and performances. The renovated aquatics center includes upgraded mechanical and timing systems, improved acoustics, new spectator seating, and refreshed finishes that enhance the experience for athletes and spectators alike. Additional improvements to the athletic field, locker rooms, and building envelope further modernized the campus, creating welcoming, high-performance spaces that support student achievement while strengthening the district’s role as a cultural and community hub.

Sector High School, PK-12

Client Glens Falls City School District

Location Glens Falls, NY

Awards American School & University Interiors Showcase; Learning by Design

“The renovated Glens Falls High School auditorium is exceptional…resulting in a vast improvement in the sound of the hall.”

—Robert Rosoff, Executive Director, Glens Falls Symphony Orchestra

Projects

Elementary and High School Renovations

Challenge

Since 2011, Cambridge Central School District has partnered with Mosaic to modernize its elementary and high school facilities while creating safer, more welcoming environments that better support teaching, learning, and community use. Over the course of multiple capital improvement projects, the district sought to improve security, upgrade aging infrastructure, enhance energy performance, and create learning environments that meet the evolving needs of students and staff.

Results

A series of phased renovations has strengthened the district’s campuses while preserving their role as community assets. Secure vestibules and reconfigured administrative, guidance, nursing, and special education offices improve safety and visitor access. Renovated learning spaces—including the elementary media center and expanded gymnasium—support contemporary instruction and student engagement, while energy performance upgrades increase daylight, improve comfort, and reduce operating costs. Campus-wide infrastructure improvements modernized building systems, enhanced emergency preparedness, and upgraded playgrounds, parking areas, pathways, and athletic facilities. Building on this successful partnership, Mosaic collaborated with the district in 2022 to develop a comprehensive 20-Year Educational and Facilities Master Plan that establishes priorities and provides a strategic roadmap for future capital improvements.

Sector Elementary, High School, PK-12

Client Cambridge Central School District

Location Cambridge, NY

Construction Cost 30M

Working alongside students, staff, families, and community members, Mosaic helped develop a 20-Year Educational and Facilities Master Plan that provides a strategic roadmap for future improvements across the district.