Groton CSD STEAM Learning Center Earns AIA CNY Design Award

On Friday, November 15, 2019, AIA Central New York held their annual Celebration of Architecture awards ceremony. The STEAM Learning Center at Groton Central School District received a Citation for Design.

AIA CNY, a chapter of the American Institute of Architects, recognizes outstanding works of architecture through its annual design awards program. The purpose of the program is to celebrate achievements in design excellence by Architects in the Central New York region; and to honor the architects, clients and consultants who work together to create and enhance our built environment. 

The $4.8 million center is a renovated 8,000-square-foot Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) lab and shared-learning space. Our design team used form, light, and materials to create a modern learning environment where both teachers and students will feel valued, focused, and inquisitive.

During the design process, Groton CSD Superintendent Margo Martin was instrumental in leading the ideas around different thinking of educational delivery and what she wanted for her students with the design team. At the time, her students were polling at approximately 19% satisfaction in their educational delivery. That was a huge call to action that something needed to change for us. The outcomes of this have been amazing for the District. They are now in their second year in using this space and the satisfaction in education delivery from the students has gone up from 19% up to 71%.