Annehurst Elementary School, Westerville City Schools

THE VISION

At Annehurst Elementary, Triad led a full-service architecture and interior design effort to transform the school into a vibrant, student-centered environment rooted in imagination and function. Through multiple engagement sessions with students, the concept of a “treehouse school” emerged — inspiring a design that blends playfulness with purpose.

This vision came to life through the creation of a two-story extended learning area (ELA) housed in a glass tower, complete with a spiral staircase that overlooks the surrounding school grounds. Integrated interior design was central to the project, with color palettes and materials reflecting the changing seasons and natural wood textures. ELAs were also added throughout the building to support collaboration and cross-grade learning.

NAVIGATING COMPLEXITY WITH CARE

As a comprehensive renovation project, Annehurst presented several challenges — including the need to keep the school operational throughout construction. Triad strategically phased the work, beginning with a new addition to relocate students before tackling interior renovations one zone at a time.

The original building’s internal layout posed navigation issues and lacked natural light. To solve this, new windows were introduced in the classrooms, and distinct color schemes were used across learning pods to support intuitive wayfinding.

Triad remained engaged throughout construction administration, ensuring every detail aligned with the project’s vision — creating a transformed space that is functional, engaging, and uniquely Annehurst.