A transformational environment breaks from traditional pedagogy and conveys an authentic experience of professional, collaborative work

Highland Park High School - Moody Advanced Professional Studies (MAPS)

As an already high achieving school district, Highland Park wanted to create something so financially and educationally compelling that other districts would be interested in doing the same. Together with our architecture, branding, and interior design teams, they brought the Moody Advanced Professional Studies (MAPS) program to life.

MAPS combines engineering and business leadership into three pillars—multidisciplinary collaboration, project-based learning, and professional engagement. Given it is located within the traditional Highland Park High School, we began crafting the visual identity before the program was defined.

Graphics and branding distinguish MAPS from the existing building, making it feel like a business incubator. We centered the spatial organization on a makerspace that facilitates and celebrates the program’s entrepreneurial nature, while classrooms were designed as an extension of this space to support both lecture and fabrication. Meeting rooms, coworking space, and presentation-ready board rooms also help facilitate the program’s business leadership and innovation pedagogy.

The flexibility of the MAPS spaces conveys an authentic professional environment, allowing students to own how and where they collaborate and giving them a post-secondary advantage.