May is Mental Health Awareness Month—a time to reflect on how our environments affect emotional well-being. For students, the design of a school is far more than just walls and windows; it’s a space that can either support or hinder their development, comfort, and mental health. Dixon Middle School in Onslow County, North Carolina, is a standout example of how student-centered architecture can foster a sense of safety, engagement, and community.
Students at the Center of Design
The story of Dixon Middle School’s design is rooted in collaboration—not just between architects and administrators, but with the students themselves. Even before the first sketches were drawn, students were involved. A math teacher at the original Dixon Middle School challenged her class to design their ideal school as a project. Their ideas—complete with hand-drawn sketches, models, and thoughtful narratives—inspired core elements of the final design, such as courtyards and collaboration spaces.
When the design team from Smith Sinnett Architecture visited the students to see their ideas, they didn’t just listen—they invited them into the professional design process. Students later toured the architecture office to review early design concepts and offer feedback. Their involvement didn’t stop there: equipped with custom hard hats, students visited the site during construction, participated in the groundbreaking, and even toured the finished school as high schoolers, seeing their ideas brought to life.
A Building That Promotes Mental Well-Being
The final design of Dixon Middle School supports mental health and wellness in several key ways:
- Collaborative Learning Spaces: The layout includes multiple “nodes” or “bullpens” designed for breakout sessions, small group work, and informal gathering. These adaptable spaces give students autonomy and promote project-based learning.
- Access to Nature: Constructed wetlands and natural site features not only enhanced the environmental sustainability of the campus, but also created opportunities for outdoor learning and restorative moments in nature—known to reduce stress and increase focus.
- Daylighting and Acoustics: East-west orientation of classroom wings, strategic window placement, and acoustic treatments throughout the school create a bright, quiet, and comfortable environment—crucial for concentration and emotional regulation.
- Safety by Design: Thoughtful site planning includes natural barriers, a single point of entry, and secure internal circulation. Security elements are integrated into the landscape, balancing student safety with a non-institutional, welcoming feel.
- Flexible, Student-Friendly Spaces: From soft seating in nooks along classroom corridors to multi-use spaces like a dining hall that doubles as a performance venue, every area was designed with student comfort, flexibility, and engagement in mind.
The Long-Term Impact
By actively engaging students in the design process and prioritizing spaces that support learning, exploration, and well-being, Dixon Middle School has become more than a building—it’s a community. The design process empowered students, and the resulting environment helps them thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
Dixon Middle School stands as a reminder that when we build with students rather than just for them, we create environments that are not only functional, but transformative.