High-Impact, Low-Cost: Future-Ready Classroom Design Strategies

Leveraging Bulk Purchasing for Bigger Discounts

One effective approach to maximizing value is district-led procurement consolidation. For a prior Columbus City Schools initiative, the district directed a unified procurement strategy for three distinct projects—Africentric Early College, Ecole Kenwood French Immersion, and Columbus Spanish Immersion Academy. Under this directive, Maraye Design Studio, along with two other design firms, collaborated to combine the furniture packages for all three schools into a single, large-scale order.

This coordinated effort significantly increased purchasing volume, which in turn enabled vendors to extend deeper discounts per unit. The approach not only stretched the district’s budget but also helped ensure a high level of consistency and quality in the furniture across each school, despite their unique cultural and educational focuses.

Key Takeaway: Architects can advise education clients to coordinate purchases across new builds or renovations. Bulk buying of desks, chairs, and equipment maximizes buying power, yielding cost savings that can be redirected toward other future-ready features like interactive technology or improved finishes.

Partnerships with Purpose: Cost-Saving Labor Initiatives

Another innovative strategy is to think outside the typical contractor framework for certain aspects of the project. On a past project at The Ohio State University, our team utilized penal institution labor to assemble and install furniture. In collaboration with Ohio’s correctional industries program, inmates received the opportunity to work on furniture assembly as a job training initiative. This partnership significantly lowered labor costs for the project and had meaningful social benefits – studies show that real-work programs for incarcerated individuals can impart valuable skills and reduce recidivism. Just as importantly, it kept the project’s spending local, channeling funds into a state-run program rather than external labor.

Key Takeaway: Architects should consider community-based partnerships that both save money and yield positive impacts. Whether it’s working with correctional industry programs, vocational schools, or local nonprofits, these collaborations can provide skilled labor or materials at reduced cost. The result is a win-win: the project stays on budget, and the community benefits from job training and local investment.

Smart Sourcing: Blending Direct Procurement, In-House Support, and Dealership Collaboration

When managing tight budgets, one way to stretch every dollar is to optimize the procurement process. In some cases, purchasing directly from manufacturers—especially when bundled with multiple projects—can unlock added value, reduced lead times, and even help avoid cost escalations due to tariffs on imported goods. We’ve seen success in sourcing from U.S.-based manufacturers, minimizing tariff exposure while supporting domestic industry and improving pricing consistency.

We also look for opportunities to leverage in-house moving crews or client facility teams to assist with installations. This internal coordination helps reduce third-party labor costs and gives clients more control over timelines and logistics.

That said, dealerships remain essential partners in many of our projects. Their expertise in product selection, compliance, and warranty support adds tremendous value—especially when navigating procurement requirements, contract pricing structures, or customized needs. In fact, our most successful outcomes often result from collaborative partnerships between designers, manufacturers, and dealerships working together on behalf of the client.

Key Takeaway: There’s no one-size-fits-all procurement model. By blending direct sourcing where appropriate, minimizing tariff impacts, using internal resources, and partnering strategically with dealerships, architects and design teams can maximize both budget and impact. The goal is always the same: deliver classrooms that are innovative, durable, and ready for the future.

Designing for the Future – Affordably

Cost constraints need not stifle innovation. By employing these strategies – from bulk purchasing and creative partnerships to direct sourcing – architects can deliver state-of-the-art, future-ready classrooms that honor budget limits. The savings earned through smart procurement can be redirected to educational technology, sustainable materials, or adaptable design features that keep classrooms ready for the future.

In the end, future-ready design on a budget is about seeing the bigger picture and thinking creatively. Architects who embrace cost-saving tactics like these not only help schools and universities do more with less, but also demonstrate leadership in responsible, community-conscious design. With a bit of ingenuity, we can build the classrooms of tomorrow with the fiscal prudence of today – ensuring that investments in education truly go the distance.