By Alfonso Araullo, Jeff Leesman, Mark Stevenson 

Kalamazoo’s new Career Connect Campus is more than a school—it’s an investment in the future workforce, wrapped in an innovative structural and systems design. IMEG provided structural, mechanical, electrical, and technology engineering design services for this 167,000-sf educational center. The result is a world-class, hybrid mass timber facility exemplifying sustainability and educational innovation. 

Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency (KRESA) developed the two-story building that will support more than 23 high-demand career pathways—from automotive repair and manufacturing to veterinary science and culinary arts—the campus is organized around hands-on learning. Flexible classrooms, simulation labs, and industrial-grade labs foster real-world skill development.  

Sustainability is extremely important to KRESA’s students and faculty. To reflect that, this facility incorporated a mass timber structural system to reduce embodied carbon and an efficient variable refrigerant system that will reduce energy costs and its operational carbon footprint. 

The building design uses a structural system of mass timber and steel-braced frames with CMU shear walls, exposed cross-laminated timber (CLT) roof panels and glulam beams. Four dramatic X-columns support expansive roof overhangs and a central atrium, creating both structural integrity and architectural impact. This hybrid approach reduces the building’s embodied carbon and fosters a biophilic learning environment—an intentional design decision aimed at promoting student well-being and cognitive performance. 

Inside, the building puts its systems on display. Exposed ductwork and conduit invite curiosity, while visible server racks in the IT labs demonstrate how data flows through a modern building. Mechanical systems are deliberately uncovered, helping students grasp the interconnected nature of building operations and technology. 

Acoustics and lighting design are tailored to each program’s specific needs, with spaces like the commons area enhanced by ambient light, color-changing LEDs, and acoustic treatments that promote collaboration without compromising concentration. 

The technology infrastructure highlights the implementation of a cutting-edge technology design in a school, showcasing how it was tailored to future-proof infrastructure and meet the diverse needs of the students. The stakeholder’s vision and strategy behind the technology integration included accessibility and inclusivity for all students, providing real-world examples of enhanced collaboration and personalized learning with outcomes achieved through innovative tools and infrastructure. 

The stakeholders asked for consistency across instructional spaces. To meet this need, we developed a standardized AV framework for each classroom and meeting area. All rooms share the same core equipment, user interface, and operational workflow, simplifying training and support. Camera feeds can be routed between adjacent areas when necessary, support remote hybrid learning, and special guest lecturers. Touch digital screens in the classrooms improve collaboration and interactivity. 

More than just a facility, the Career Connect Campus embodies KRESA’s mission to bridge education and workforce readiness. The sustainability features illustrate modern building design, that KRESA students can learn from and use as an operational lab as they prepare for CTE careers of the future. As education leaders elevate their CTE offerings, Kalamazoo’s newest campus is a blueprint for the future: sustainable, technological, transparent, and deeply student focused. 

Learn more about IMEG’s involvement with the Kalamazoo’s new Career Connect Campus.

 

---

 

Jeff Leesman, PE, LEED AP BD+C, is a principal of the firm and Client Executive for the Education/Science & Technology team in the Naperville, IL office. Mark Stevenson is a Senior Structural Engineer specializing in the analysis and design of steel and concrete structures. Alfonso Araullo is a Senior Technology Designer with expertise in low voltage system design and distribution including structured cabling, security design, and audio/visual system design.