Cary Academy, an independent, coeducational, nonsectarian, college-preparatory secondary school, is known for its innovative approach to education. Located on a sprawling 65-acre campus in Cary, North Carolina, the school serves 793 students. For over eight years, Cary Academy has partnered with Storr to redesign and improve various campus spaces, creating learning environments that align with the school’s mission of academic excellence.
Project Highlight: Cary Academy
The Client: Cary Academy
The Challenge
The Challenge
With the latest renovation of its middle school, Cary Academy faced a complex challenge: they needed to add five new classrooms while limiting any additional square footage. Ensuring design consistency was essential, given the ongoing multi-year improvements across the campus. Additionally, all furniture choices had to comply with an Educational and Institutional Cooperative Contract, further narrowing available options.
Cary Academy entrusted Storr to help navigate these challenges, knowing our team’s deep understanding of the school’s evolving needs and our commitment to providing innovative, flexible solutions.
The Solution
The Solution
Storr’s solution involved a strategic reconfiguration of common areas, offices, and existing classroom spaces to accommodate the new classrooms without sacrificing functionality. With a focus on quality and durability, we selected products from trusted brands like Steelcase, Coalesse, and Smith System, as well as integrating pre-owned furniture to optimize the budget.
Our choices aligned with Cary Academy’s values of consistency and innovation. The products not only fit seamlessly into the school’s long-term vision but also ensured that future upgrades could be easily incorporated, as the selected finishes and materials remain available and up to date.
The Results
The Results
Storr’s solution met the needs of Cary Academy, enabling them to create additional classrooms while maintaining a cohesive and modern design across their middle school project. The furniture has proven to stand the test of time—durable, modern, and still purchasable, ensuring the school can maintain uniformity in future expansions.
Mike Ehrhardt, the Head of School, commented, “Storr has been a wonderful partner for our long-term renovations. They’ve strived to understand our needs and keep us up to date on evolving trends/solutions. It is always challenging to try and meet the needs of many stakeholders and keep our spaces flexible, but with Storr’s help we feel we’ve met those goals.”
Why This Matters to You: Collaborative Innovation in Education
Why This Matters to You: Collaborative Innovation in Education
For professionals like an instructional designer with a passion for creative problem-solving and collaboration, Cary Academy’s story highlights Storr’s commitment to fostering educational innovation. Storr doesn’t just provide furniture—we provide solutions that enhance learning, improve flexibility, and adapt to evolving educational needs. Our ongoing partnership with Cary Academy underscores our dedication to consistency, long-term relationships, and delivering quality products that contribute to a greater cause: supporting education.
Whether you’re redesigning an office or an entire school, Storr’s expertise in creating adaptable, modern spaces makes us a trusted partner in educational environments. With a focus on sustainable practices, ethical choices, and a proven track record, Storr helps you elevate learning spaces to meet the needs of today and tomorrow.