Delivering Flexible Modular Classrooms for Oak Park Schools
When Oak Park Unified School District identified an urgent need for more classrooms, speed, predictability, and cost-effectiveness became the highest priorities. At Medea Creek Middle School, located in a suburban residential neighborhood, HED worked with the district to design a modular classroom cluster that could expand capacity quickly while still supporting modern teaching and learning.
The new classroom cluster, positioned adjacent to the school’s playfield, consists of six modular learning studios arranged around a shared, outdoor commons and a vegetable garden. HED collaborated closely with the manufacturer to design modular units that arrived on site with systems and finishes already in place, ready for rapid assembly.
This streamlined approach reduced construction time and disruption to the campus, delivering a long-term solution with the efficiency of modular construction.
The design emphasizes the seamless integration of indoor and outdoor learning. By staggering the classroom units around a central courtyard, the cluster naturally extends academic activity outdoors. The outdoor classroom is fully equipped with Wi-Fi, flexible furniture, a trough sink, and a shade sail structure supported by newly planted trees. These features create a shaded, technology-enabled environment where lessons can flow easily between traditional classrooms and open-air spaces.
Inside each studio, flexibility was a guiding principle. Teachers can readily change layouts to match lesson plans or activities, supporting everything from small group discussions to hands-on projects. Open floor plans, durable finishes, and modular furniture give educators the tools they need to adapt to the environment throughout the day.
While modular, the design is far from temporary. The classrooms are built to serve as permanent additions to the campus, while remaining flexible enough to adapt to the specific site, program, and pedagogy. This balance between permanence and adaptability reflects HED’s broader approach to educational design, where environments respond to current needs while anticipating future changes.
By pairing modular efficiency with thoughtful design, the new classroom cluster at Medea Creek Middle School provides more than additional space. It delivers adaptable, connected environments that enhance learning while giving the district confidence in its investment. For students and teachers, it creates a setting where education is not confined to four walls, but expands into the landscape, reinforcing the idea that learning can happen anywhere.
