The construction of Deseret Peak High School was driven by a vision to create a future-ready learning environment. Situated within a rapidly growing community west of Salt Lake City, the district sought to foster next-generation education while addressing the everyday needs of an expanding student population.
To bring this vision to life, the district collaborated with VCBO Architecture, Workspace Elements, and The HON Company to create a flexible, student-centered environment grounded in adaptability and well-being.
With growing enrollment, Deseret Peak required classrooms that could easily shift between disciplines, teaching styles, and learning modes. HON furnished classrooms with Build mobile tables, SmartLink and Motivate stackable chairs, and Roll Call caster-based podiums, granting students and educators the ability to seamlessly transition between group work, full-class discussion, and independent study.
For Principal Matthew Parker, the impact was immediately visible as he states, “The furniture became an educational tool, not just a desk.”
The furniture manufacturer’s solutions extend beyond the classroom, supporting connection and informal learning throughout the school. Common areas, libraries, and learning suites were outfitted with Tangram and SoCo lounge seating, Preside collaborative tables, and Confetti soft seating to create welcoming spaces that encourage interaction, concentrated learning, and peer engagement. By incorporating comfortable, flexible furnishings, HON empowers students to choose the environments that best support their focus, while providing educators with casual spaces that can enhance teaching and community-building.
Student well-being was also a central priority. The school’s teen center, where students can access food, clothing, laundry, and restorative spaces, reflects the district’s commitment to supporting the students’ physical and emotional well-being, in line with the whole child approach. HON furnished the center with Tangram communal seating to create an inclusive, safe space where students feel supported and connected to their peers.
Through their partnership on Deseret Peak High School, HON worked with VCBO Architecture and Workspace Elements to translate the district’s forward-thinking vision into a future-ready learning environment. The project demonstrates how HON’s thoughtfully designed, adaptable furniture can serve as an active tool in education, supporting evolving teaching methods, enhancing student connection, and helping schools create environments students can thrive in.