Designing for Every Learner: Concrete Masonry Solutions at the REACH Adaptive Learning Center

The REACH Adaptive Learning Center in the Wentzville School District was designed to provide a safe, durable, and welcoming environment tailored to students with specialized learning needs. In this session, Hoener Architects will explore the design process behind the project and discuss why concrete masonry units (CMU) were selected to meet the facility’s goals for resilience, security, acoustics, durability, and aesthetics. Participants will gain practical insights into integrating masonry into modern educational facilities that support both student success and long-term building performance. The purpose-built, 47,766-square-foot facility includes specialized classrooms, therapy spaces, collaborative learning areas, and enhanced accessibility features designed to support individualized instruction.

Learning Objectives:
1. Identify the design challenges associated with creating specialized educational environments and explain how concrete masonry addressed the functional requirements of the REACH Adaptive Learning Center.
2. Evaluate the performance benefits of concrete masonry—including durability, safety, acoustics, resilience, and low maintenance—in K–12 educational facilities.
3. Describe how architectural detailing, material selection, and masonry design contributed to creating a welcoming, secure, and student-centered learning environment.
4. Apply lessons learned from the REACH project to future school designs where long-term performance, occupant well-being, and lifecycle value are critical design considerations.