K-12 Education

Contact one of our K-12 experts

Kirk Marchisen, AIA, LEED AP
Principal | K-12 Education Leader

Kirk doesn’t just design schools; he designs the foundations for future generations. With a career-long commitment to the Southeast’s educational landscape, Kirk has become a trusted partner for school districts seeking more than just an architect. He is a dedicated advocate for the vision, developed from the superintendent, school board, principals, teachers and students. Based in Georgia, Kirk oversees the entire lifecycle of K-12 projects—from the first handshake to the final walkthrough of a high-performance facility. His approach is rooted in the belief that meaningful relationships are the key to successful projects. By aligning stewardship of school resources with award-winning design, he ensures that students learn in spaces that inspire and stand as a point of pride for the community. Kirk’s portfolio of celebrated projects across the region is a testament to his ability to turn complex district needs into vibrant, functional realities.
Email Kirk

Tim D. Williams, AIA
Principal | K-12 Education Leader

With over three decades of specialized expertise in K-12 educational design , Tim brings a wealth of knowledge to school districts throughout the southeast helping them to further develop their visions and turning those visons into actual projects. He is a results-driven leader who understands that a school’s success begins long before the first brick is laid. Tim’s comprehensive approach spans the entire architectural spectrum—from initial programming and long-range master planning to the rigorous oversight of construction administration. Tim possesses a deep-seated understanding of the unique challenges facing school districts, where every dollar must work harder and every facility serves as the heartbeat of the community. He excels at creating high-performance, flexible  learning environments that respect tight budgets and local needs, ensuring that both large and small school districts never have to compromise on quality or innovation. Tim doesn’t just manage projects; he designs multi-functional environments where educators thrive, students excel, and community stakeholders can maximize their investment for decades to come. Tim knows, that if at its completion, a project result is a typical school, then he has failed. Failure is not an option.
Email Tim

Our expertise is far from elementary.

Our firm excels in architecture, engineering, and interior design, offering a nationally recognized K-12 portfolio and dedicated local support. We champion designs that resonate with and elevate the community, balancing aesthetic appeal with functional learning environments. As leaders in educational design and learning trends, we prioritize durable, cost-effective materials and systems. Our in-house experts in technology and security ensure a harmonious blend of these elements into every project.

For new and experienced clients alike, our visioning sessions equip stakeholders to effectively communicate their needs, supported by our visualization software to help you virtually experience your facility before it’s built—when changes are easy and inexpensive. Our commitment to practical design wins the appreciation of contractors, ensuring no surprises during construction and adherence to your budget and timeline.

Experts

Published & Proven

Our experts have been published in publications such as BD+C, Laboratory Design, University Business Magazine, American School & University, and more

$66M

Cost Savings

We’ve documented more than $66 million in cost savings for our education clients

10+

K-12 Design Awards

The latest, David T. Howard Middle School, has won four design awards to date, including the Award of Excellence for Historic Preservation from the Atlanta Urban Design Commission

    “SSOE listens to us as the owner. They are very detail-oriented. You can very much tell they’re working for us; they’ve got our best interest at heart. They haven’t just tried to give us this fancy plan. They understand that there is a budget and try to make sure that we get the best bang for our buck. It’s evident through the design process, through meetings, through plans, plan reviews, and through working with a contractor. SSOE speaks on behalf of the district and what the district wants.”

    Chief Operations Officer, County School District

    • Anthony Wayne Local School District (Ohio)
    • Archbold Local School District (Ohio)
    • Atlanta Public Schools (Georgia)
    • Berkeley County School District (South Carolina)
    • Central Catholic High School (Ohio)
    • Charleston County Schools (South Carolina)
    • Children’s Discovery Center (Ohio)
    • Cobb County School District (Georgia)
    • Decatur City Schools (Georgia)
    • Dekalb County School System (Georgia)
    • Dougherty County School System (Georgia)
    • Denmark-Olar School District Two of Bamberg County (South Carolina)
    • Emmanuel Christian School (Ohio)
    • Forest Hills Local School District (Ohio)
    • Fort Mills School District (South Carolina)
    • Fremont City School District (Ohio)
    • Fulton County Schools (Georgia)
    • Gwinnett County Public Schools (Georgia)
    • Holy Trinity Catholic School (Ohio)
    • International Academy of Flint (Michigan)
    • Jasper County School District (South Carolina)
    • Lake Local School District (Ohio)
    • District Five of Lexington / Richland Counties (South Carolina)
    • The Lovett School (Georgia)
    • Mason Consolidated School District (Michigan)
    • Maumee City Schools (Ohio)
    • Maury County Public Schools (Tennessee)
    • Meigs Local Schools (Ohio)
    • Metro Nashville Public Schools (Tennessee)
    • Miamisburg City School District (Ohio)
    • Millcreek-West Unity Local Schools (Ohio)
    • Morgan County School District (Georgia)
    • Notre Dame Academy (Ohio)
    • Ottawa-Glandorf Local School District (Ohio)
    • Richland County School District Two (South Carolina)
    • River Valley Local School District (Ohio)
    • Saint Joseph Parish School
    • Sidney City School District
    • St. John’s Jesuit High School (Ohio)
    • Sylvania Schools (Ohio)
    • Toledo Public Schools (Toledo)
    • Trenton Public Schools (Michigan)
    • The Westminster Schools (Georgia)
    • Additions / Renovations
    • Administrative offices
    • Athletics
    • Campus security and access control
    • Career and technical education centers
    • Central utility buildings
    • Data, A/V, and technology upgrades
    • Daycare centers
    • Dining halls
    • Districtwide rebuilds
    • Health sciences
    • High Schools
    • Historical renovations
    • Interior design
    • Laboratories
    • Master planning and programming
    • Media centers
    • Middle schools
    • Performing arts centers
    • Primary / Elementary schools
    • Replacement schools
    • Science and technology
    • STEM / Technical schools
    • Training and support facilities

    Have a project you’d like to discuss?