The Campus at a Glance

An innovative campus for inquiry-driven STEM learning.

49,000sqft
Building Area
360
Students
K–8
School Type
Orion STEM Academy — K-8 STEM in Naperville, Illinois, USA designed by Education Design International.
The Project

A campus built for hands-on, inquiry-driven STEM learning.

Education Design International led the visioning, programming, concept design, and schematic design for this new K–8 STEM campus in Naperville, Illinois. Orion STEM Academy was envisioned as an innovative learning environment centered around science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education through inquiry-driven and project-based learning experiences. The planning process explored how interdisciplinary Learning Communities, flexible laboratories, makerspaces, and collaborative environments could support hands-on exploration and real-world problem solving.

The campus framework emphasized adaptability, creativity, and strong connections between academic and social learning environments. Shared commons, innovation hubs, and flexible gathering areas were integrated throughout the planning strategy to encourage collaboration, student agency, and meaningful engagement with STEM-focused educational experiences while supporting long-term program growth and evolving technologies.

Gallery
Inside Orion STEM Academy
Concept rendering — the central learning commons and learning stair. — Orion STEM Academy Concept rendering — an upper-level open learning area. — Orion STEM Academy Concept rendering — an upper-level commons with a large display. — Orion STEM Academy Concept rendering — the commons and learning stair from above. — Orion STEM Academy Concept rendering — a reading nook with an arched living wall. — Orion STEM Academy Concept rendering — a flexible learning studio. — Orion STEM Academy Concept rendering — a science and robotics lab. — Orion STEM Academy Concept rendering — a learning street with lockers and shared seating. — Orion STEM Academy Concept rendering — a maker and science classroom. — Orion STEM Academy Concept rendering — a learning studio with STEM graphics. — Orion STEM Academy Concept rendering — a learning studio with collaborative seating. — Orion STEM Academy Concept rendering — a flexible classroom. — Orion STEM Academy Concept rendering — a science classroom. — Orion STEM Academy Concept rendering — the entrance and front plaza. — Orion STEM Academy Concept rendering — the main entrance and facade. — Orion STEM Academy Concept rendering — the building exterior from the grounds. — Orion STEM Academy Learning environment at Orion STEM Academy designed by Education Design International.
Continue Exploring

More projects from EDI's work across 59 countries.

Browse the full collection of new campuses, transformations, master plans, and learning-effectiveness evaluations from EDI's portfolio.

←Back to Selected Work
Start a Project

Have a school in mind — or just a question?

Every EDI project begins with a Discovery conversation. We'd be glad to talk.

Schedule a Discovery Call Back to Selected Work