Tennessee K–12 District Breaks Ground on New Administrative Building

The Franklin Special School District (FSSD) in Franklin, Tenn., recently announced that construction has begun on a new Central Office Building for the district. A groundbreaking ceremony took place on June 21, and completion is scheduled for early 2025, according to a news release. The district partnered with Wold Architects and Engineers for the project’s design and with Nabholz Construction as the project’s construction manager.

The two-story facility will cover 38,400 square feet and will play home to the district’s administrative and central office staff members. Amenities will include office space, multipurpose space for School Board meetings and professional development opportunities, an outdoor courtyard, and a 2,800-square-foot assembly space integrated with AV technology, the news release reports.

“We are excited to offer a more innovative and modernized space to work, gather, and welcome the community,” said FSSD Director of Schools Dr. David Snowden. “Having all of our district staff in one place will improve efficiency and communication, as well as foster our organizational community as we continue to do the important work of providing a world-class education for our students.”

Every workspace in the building will have access to natural light for employee and staff well-being. Other features are set to include kitchen and cafeteria space, a wellness area, and loading and storage spaces.

On the same property, in addition to the construction of the new central office building, renovations have also begun to a metal structure that will become the FSSD Facilities and Transportation Center. The 12,400-square-foot space will include administrative space for facilities and transportation staff, a drivers’ lounge, a meeting area, vehicle maintenance equipment, and space for “generous storage,” according to the release.

“We’re honored to be a part of this special project and are grateful for our ongoing partnership with the Franklin Special School District,” said Wold Architects & Engineers Principal Steve Griffin. “Supporting the communities in which we live and work is our priority, and we’re proud to continue designing innovative buildings with a historic touch to represent Franklin’s unique architecture.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • St. John Fisher University

    Classroom Revitalization – Basil Hall Room 216

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. St. John Fisher University's Basil Hall Room 216 Classroom Revitalization has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Project of Distinction award in the category of Spaces.

  • Minnesota District Opens New PreK–12 School

    Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop Schools in Gibbon, Minn., recently announced that construction is complete on a new, $68.9-million school for students in grades PreK–12, according to a news release.

  • Rethinking K-12 Schools as a Continuous Learning Experience

    Most students move through three or more separate facilities during their K-12 journey, yet the built environments they encounter at each stage have traditionally been designed in isolation, with little continuity in spatial language, learning philosophy, or physical resources. Each new school is a reset with different layouts, learning models, expectations, and ways of moving through a building. The next generation of school design is making the case that the first day of kindergarten and the last day of high school can and should feel connected through common support systems and infrastructure in the physical environment.

  • Higher Ed is Betting on New Buildings While Quietly Undermining Their Campuses — Here’s Why

    In this climate, the owner’s representative has changed from a delivery-focused advisor to a strategic campus partner. Institutions are increasingly relying on owner’s reps not just to manage, cope, schedule, and budget, but also help evaluate whether a project should proceed at all.