Ellie Gold

Piece By Piece Logo

A detailed floor plan of an adaptive learning center, with a home-like structure at its core. The first floor includes a reception area, snack/refreshments area, kinesthetic learning area, verbal learning area, mathematical/logical learning area, and two restrooms. The second floor features additional learning areas, including auditory learning, reading/writing learning, visual learning, two restrooms, and three support center rooms. Each learning style has both an inside and outside space.

The first and second floors share a central structured form, symbolizing a home. Each learning style varies in size to meet specific needs, utilizing both the inner and outer walls. The first floor features more public, interactive spaces, while the second floor provides private, focused learning environments.

A perspective view of the reception area with a person sitting at the desk, which has “WELCOME” in yellow above with the staircase beside it. In the back is the kinesthetic learning area, featuring a rock-climbing wall with a mat below, where a boy is climbing, and a girl is watching. Nearby, two people play ping pong, while a boy sits on a blue modular portable bench.

The main entrance leads you to the reception desk for check-in or questions, with openings above revealing the home-like structure. Kinesthetic learning is revealed in the back, with the rock-climbing wall and ping pong table offering interactive, hands-on experiences.

To the right of the reception, the snack and refreshments area offers students a space to recharge and socialize. In the back, part of the mathematical/logical learning area is visible, along with lockers for students to store their book bags.

A perspective view of the back of the first floor, featuring the outside verbal learning area where a young boy stands at a podium against a green wall. The word “VOICE” is displayed in green on the right of him, next to the door leading inside to the verbal learning space. To the left, a boy is putting on headphones as he walks to enter the mathematical/logical learning area, with the word “SOLVE” in red on the wall behind him. To the right of the verbal learning area, the door to the kinesthetic learni

At the back of the first floor, the outside verbal learning area features a podium for student presentations. To the left is the door to the inside mathematical/logical learning space, and to the right is the door to the inside kinesthetic learning space.

A perspective view of the second floor, showing a window looking into the reading/writing learning area where a young boy browses a bookshelf. Above the window, “COMPOSE” is displayed in blue, and below it, an opening in the floor shows a view of the rock-climbing wall on the first floor. In the background, to the left, the visual learning area has “IMAGINE” in green above the door. In the outdoor section, three students sit on varying seats with a green graphic behind them. To the right of the reading/w

The openings on the second floor create pathways, symbolizing entrances into the "home." Through the window is the inside reading/writing learning space, featuring books, writing supplies, and cozy nooks. To the left is the visual learning area, and to the right, the auditory learning area.

Section cut showing a vertical slice of the building, revealing the first-floor reception area with yellow walls and the kinesthetic learning area with blue walls, featuring an artificial light well. Above on the second floor, it shows the auditory learning space with yellow acoustic panels on the wall and the reading/writing learning area with a bookshelf. A light well brings natural light into these spaces connected to a gable roof form.

The section cut highlights the gable roof form within the "home" structure. Light wells on the second floor, inspired by a chimney, draw in natural light, while the first floor mirrors this effect using artificial lighting.

Piece By Piece Learning Center

Piece by Piece Learning Center transforms a neglected building in Franklinton into a vibrant after-school learning center for 6th to 12th graders. Franklinton has faced long-term challenges, including high crime rates, low-income levels, and population loss. In the 2022–2023 school year, Franklinton schools experienced a chronic absenteeism rate of 81.9%, with students with disabilities facing even higher rates. Test scores in the area consistently fall far below the state average, further highlighting the critical need for enhanced educational support. This project will contribute to that renewal by providing a “home outside the home,” offering a safe, supportive space where students can grow academically, socially, and personally.

Inspired by the concept of a puzzle, the center features adaptable spaces tailored to diverse learning styles, empowering students to take charge of their learning through group collaboration, hands-on activities, and individual work. A dedicated support center offers resources for students and parents to explore learning strategies together, with personalized guidance from tutors.

Teens in Franklinton often spend their after-school hours participating in extracurricular activities like team sports and local youth programs, but these spaces are often overcrowded and lack the resources to fully meet their needs. This project builds on these programs by collaborating with local schools and organizations to address critical gaps in the educational support system. By doing so, Piece by Piece Learning Center will help shape the Franklinton community, creating a space where every student is an important piece of the whole.

Ellie Gold is a fourth-year student at The Ohio State University, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design. She is passionate about designing inclusive, adaptable spaces that prioritize people’s needs and create a positive impact. While at Ohio State, she earned academic honors and was a member of the CMG Student Chapter, where she developed color forecasts and studied their impact on design. Ellie is eager to grow and learn in a dynamic environment, bringing her strong technical skills, creativity, and collaborative mindset to future projects.

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