Gone But Not Forgotten: Honoring Legacies Through Design

Across the country, school closures and consolidations are becoming more common. At ICON, we understand how emotional and complicated these decisions can be. Many members of our team have strong ties to education. Some have been coaches, teachers or district leaders. Others have family members who spent their careers in schools. We know what these places mean to a community. 

On paper, the reasons for closing a school often make sense. Aging buildings with outdated systems become too costly to maintain. Enrollment shifts, budget pressures, and long-term planning all factor into the decision. But even when the logic is sound, the loss is still real. A school is not just a building. It holds memories. It marks milestones. It brings people together. 

That is why our process always begins with listening. We take time to meet with students, staff, families, alumni, and community members. We ask questions. We invite stories. We learn what the school meant to people, what they hope will carry forward, and what needs to be preserved. When a school closes or merges, emotions often run deep. We believe the best way to design something meaningful is to request those voices into the process from the very beginning.

Our work is not only about creating new spaces. It is also about honoring the places that came before. When we design for districts that are going through a closure or consolidation, we look for ways to keep the legacy alive. We want everyone to feel that their story still matters.

One of the most meaningful ways we do this is by creating legacy walls. These are visual features that celebrate the identity of a former school. They might include class photos, a mascot, or important moments from the school's history. These walls often become natural gathering places. People pause, remember, and reconnect.

Beulah High School has transformed its gym concourse into a dynamic, multipurpose space that celebrates the proud legacy of the Beulah Miners. The revitalized area now serves as both a vibrant gathering hub for events—with concessions, seating, and striking murals—and an interactive showcase of school history through a new Touch Pros digital display featuring yearbooks, past teams, graduation composites, and more. During the school day, the space shifts to support collaborative learning and student connection, blending tradition with innovation in a space designed to move and inspire.

A central feature of the concourse is a rich visual timeline that honors the history of the Beulah Miners, tracing the journey of consolidation from Zap, Golden Valley, and Dodge into one unified district. The display highlights key moments, school buildings, and the transformation that led to today’s Beulah High School—preserving the legacy of each community while celebrating a shared future.

In some cases, we work with districts to bring pieces of the old building into the new space. Bricks from the original entryway, a dedication plaque, gym bleachers, or even auditorium seats can be repurposed and placed where they continue to carry meaning. These details create a physical link between past and present.

We also help districts continue the legacy through naming. A media center might carry the name of a closed school. Classroom wings can reflect the neighborhoods or elementary schools that came before. These choices send a message that the new space belongs to everyone who helped shape its foundation.

At ICON, we talk a lot about how buildings feel. We care about the finishes and the materials, of course, but the emotional tone of a space matters just as much. The right design should give students a sense of pride. It should help staff feel grounded and valued. It should help a community feel connected, even during change. A new building should feel like home, not a replacement.

When schools close, the stories tied to them do not have to fade. Thoughtful, collaborative design can help keep those stories present and alive. We believe that honoring the past strengthens what comes next. It gives people something to hold onto, even as they step into a new chapter.

Some schools may be gone. But they are never forgotten.