ON THE MAP | K–12 School Design Integrates Learning and Wellness

Flexible learning and wellness-focused design foster student growth at Hardin, Montana’s Big Horn Academy.
Oct. 21, 2025
2 min read

Key Highlights

  • Integrated wellness space adjacent to academic zones supports both student health and learning outcomes.
  • The design prioritizes flexible learning zones that adapt to student needs rather than fixed rows of desks.
  • Interior learning environments connect to the outdoors through natural light and views, supporting engagement and sense of place.
  • Carefully selected exterior materials and finishes reflect community context, maintain durability, and manage budget.
Image courtesy of Cushing Terrell
Big Horn Academy K–12 facility with white exterior cladding and clean lines, blending with the neighborhood aesthetic and honoring local Native American culture.

Designed by Cushing Terrell, Big Horn Academy serves as a model for alternative school environments. The exterior cladding and clean lines harmonize with the local residential context, while the building’s layout supports collaboration, student agency, and wellness programming.

Formerly operating in a modular building across from campus, the Hardin, Montana school district’s new K–12 facility helps the district to support both academic and personal growth goals. By uniting learning, mentorship, and wellness under one roof, the alternative school’s design nurtures student agency, peer-collaboration, and holistic development, serving as an example of emerging best practices in K–12 education design.

Image courtesy of Cushing Terrell
Interior collaborative learning spaces at Big Horn Academy featuring a light-colored wood ceiling, large windows, and flexible zones that support student engagement and well-being.

Designed for collaboration and student well-being, Big Horn Academy’s interior spaces use light-colored wood ceilings and large windows to bring nature indoors (above). These biophilic design elements complement flexible layouts that encourage socializing, mentorship, and holistic development (below).

Image courtesy of Cushing Terrell
Interior collaborative learning space at Big Horn Academy featuring a light-colored wood ceiling, large windows, and flexible zones that support student engagement and well-being.

Space Planning Prioritizes Belonging

Designed by Cushing Terrell, the standalone facility—now known as Big Horn Academy—spans approximately 10,400-square-feet of educational space, with flexible areas tailored to meet the individual needs of students, and an additional 1,600-square-feet dedicated to the wellness center.

The layout places the wellness center adjacent to the learning zone, signaling an integrated approach to student well-being and academic performance.

A large family room, surrounded by four learning centers, fosters a sense of belonging and encourages peer interaction—a shift from isolated classroom spaces to open, collaborative zones.

Interior and Exterior Design Unite Place with Purpose

Adjacent to the family room are a student kitchen, presentation space, and small group rooms designed for focused learning. The learning centers feature expansive ribbon windows, making use of biophilic principles by bringing in an abundance of natural light and offering views of the surrounding plains of the Hardin region in Montana.

Clean lines and a limited palette provide a modern and sleek design that transitions to connect the interior and exterior. To blend with the surrounding residential community, the exterior is clad in durable, cost-effective fiber cement board. The white color of the cladding symbolizes purity and peace, honoring the local Native American culture.

Holistic Interior Design Approaches Span Markets

Image by Tom Bonner
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Image courtesy of Schmidt Hammer Lassen | Aesthetica
Exterior view of courtyard with people outside.
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About the Author

Robert Nieminen
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Robert Nieminen

Chief Content Director

Chief Content Director, Architectural Products, BUILDINGS, and interiors+sources

Robert Nieminen is the Chief Content Director of three leading B2B publications serving the commercial architecture and design industries: Architectural Products, BUILDINGS, and interiors+sources. With a career rooted in editorial excellence and a passion for storytelling, Robert oversees a diverse content portfolio that spans award-winning feature articles, strategic podcast programming, and digital media initiatives aimed at empowering design professionals, facility managers, and commercial building stakeholders.

He is the host of the I Hear Design podcast and curates the Smart Buildings Technology Report, bringing thought leadership to the forefront of innovation in built environments. Robert leads editorial and creative direction for multiple industry award programs—including the Elev8 Design Awards and Product Innovation Awards—and is a recognized voice in sustainability, smart technology integration, and forward-thinking design.

Known for his sharp editorial vision and data-informed strategies, Robert focuses on audience growth, engagement, and content monetization, leveraging AI tools and SEO-driven insights to future-proof B2B publishing.

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