Where Vision Meets Design: How Collaboration and Programming Transformed a School Addition into a STEAM Hub — Spiezle Presents at FEFPA

Spiezle was proud to attend and present at this year’s Florida Educational Facilities Planners’ Association (FEFPA) Winter Conference, held on February 4–6 at the Hammock Beach Golf Resort and Spa in Palm Coast, FL. The conference brought together educational facilities professionals from across the state, and our team was honored to share how thoughtful programming and meaningful collaboration can redefine what’s possible in educational design.

The session titled, “STEAM Classrooms: Transforming Educational Projects Through Programming and Collaboration,” was presented by David Lindeman, Director of Planning & Project Management for Brevard Public Schools; Steve Siegel, AIA, LEED AP, Principal at Spiezle; Shad Traylor, AIA, MBA, NCARB, LEED AP, CDT, Senior Architect at TSARK Architecture; and Gianna Martinez, Architectural Designer at Spiezle. Together, the team highlighted their partnership with the West Melbourne School for Science, a project that demonstrates how careful analysis of educational needs can transform a standard classroom addition into a dynamic, STEAM-focused facility for the Brevard County School District.

Collaboration in Action
Successful school projects depend on strong partnerships between the district, stakeholders, and architect teams. By pairing local knowledge with broader design expertise, the district benefits from a local architect who understands its history, guidelines, and community context, while a partner architect contributes programming, visioning, and innovative design solutions. For this project, TSARK Architecture led compliance and coordination, enabling Spiezle to focus on overall design excellence. Together, the team aligned District goals with both functional and aesthetic outcomes.

Through an owner-centric process, Spiezle engaged District leadership to understand priorities, budget, and long-term objectives. Collaborative workshops refined program requirements and design concepts, ensuring alignment at every stage. This approach combines trusted local relationships with specialized expertise, streamlines communication, and delivers facilities that reflect the District’s vision and community needs.

From Basic Classrooms to a STEAM Hub
What began as a proposed 8 to 10-classroom addition evolved into a comprehensive campus reorganization strategy. Rather than simply expanding square footage to address enrollment pressures, Spiezle conducted a detailed assessment of existing classroom utilization and grade-level distribution. The solution repositioned classrooms by age group and instructional type, eliminating inefficient multipurpose overlap and improving daily operations. Developed in close collaboration with District stakeholders, the final plan aligned spatial organization with long-term growth and programmatic clarity.

The resulting addition established a dedicated STEAM facility that directly advances the school’s commitment to hands-on discovery and technology integration. With expanded capacity and purpose-built learning environments, the campus can now accommodate increased enrollment while offering more specialized, experiential instruction. Students benefit from collaborative spaces designed to foster experimentation, creativity, and engagement—positioning the school to meet the evolving demands of 21st-century education.

Design That Inspires Learning
The project translates this academic vision into a dynamic, purpose-built environment that elevates both form and function. The new arts and sciences hub unites STEAM, science, art, and music within a flexible architectural framework designed for adaptability over time. Anchored by a state-of-the-art lab and supported by reconfigurable classrooms and collaborative commons, the facility is organized to encourage visibility, connection, and movement throughout the day. Abundant natural light, durable finishes, and integrated outdoor learning spaces reinforce both sustainability and longevity, while the new L‑shaped building is intentionally positioned to embrace the school’s cherished garden—preserving it as a central campus feature and surrounding it with outdoor classroom spaces that strengthen its connection to the new addition. Campus‑wide improvements to circulation, dining, and site infrastructure further extend the project’s benefits beyond the addition itself.

Powered by Partnership
At its core, this project is a story of teamwork. The presentation illustrated what’s possible when district leaders, design professionals, and local architectural partners align around a shared vision. From Brevard Public Schools’ planning expertise to Spiezle and TSARK Architecture’s collaborative design approach, the team highlighted strategies to foster meaningful partnerships and leverage data-driven planning to shape facilities that create lasting impact for students, staff, and the broader community.

We’re grateful for the opportunity to share this work with fellow educational facilities professionals at the FEFPA Winter Conference and look forward to continuing to advance innovative learning environments across Florida and nationally.