Port Byron’s Capital Improvement Project converted existing facilities into a cohesive set of contemporary learning environments through thoughtful adaptive reuse. Instead of expanding the campus, the district set out to transform space already within its walls and align it with current educational demands. The former high school technology wing was reconfigured as a collegiate-style academic center that introduces a greenhouse and ag-tech lab, updated art and science studios, home economics, a woodshop and a reinvented cafeteria that functions as a social commons for older students. An operable connection to an outdoor classroom turns dining and gathering into part of the learning day, encouraging students to move freely between interior and exterior settings.

Circulation areas were reconceived as extensions of the curriculum. Daylight, transparency and flexible seating change corridors into places for collaboration and informal study. This shift treats movement through the building as an opportunity for engagement rather than a pause between activities.Custom graphics, glazing treatments and floor patterning were developed in partnership with the district, giving each zone a distinct look and feel while maintaining a unified visual language grounded in school spirit, local identity and program themes.

Outside of the high school renovations, two outdoor classrooms equipped with weather protection and age-appropriate furnishings support hands-on instruction tailored to younger and older learners alike. Two new playgrounds further enrich early childhood development through intentional play features.

Complementary campus upgrades, including auditorium improvements, athletic enhancements and accessible fitness facilities, reinforce the district’s commitment to education as a community asset. Through targeted interventions, the plan elevates the quality of the curriculum without ever increasing building area. It positions the district to respond to emerging instructional needs, supports student wellbeing and reflects a belief that rural communities thrive when design broadens possibility, not just footprint.