Ashley McGraw Architects joined the Liverpool Central School District to celebrate the ribbon-cutting of the new Career and Technical Education (CTE) Academy at Wetzel Road at the former Wetzel Road Elementary School, marking a significant investment in hands-on learning, career exploration, and workforce preparation for Liverpool students.
This project saw the transformation of the 53,727 SF former Wetzel Road Elementary School, reimagining the former space as a modern, flexible educational environment designed to expand career and technical education opportunities, strengthen connections with local industry partners, and prepare students for the evolving demands of the workforce. By adapting an existing building on the district’s campus, the project demonstrates how thoughtful educational design can transform an underutilized space into a dynamic learning environment that serves students and the broader community.
The new CTE Academy features specialized learning environments supporting a wide range of career pathways, including advanced manufacturing, construction trades, engineering, drone technology, culinary arts, fashion design, and early childhood education. The facility was carefully reconfigured to accommodate the distinct requirements of each program while incorporating flexible instructional spaces that can adapt to emerging technologies, evolving educational needs, and future program expansion with minimal building modifications.
“We were excited to reimagine an existing elementary school as a state-of-the-art Career and Technical Education facility,” said Nick Signorelli, Principal and K-12 Leader at Ashley McGraw Architects. “The design was thoughtfully developed to create an authentic, real-world learning environment that prepares students for life beyond the classroom and empowers them to become informed, critical thinkers and effective problem-solvers.”
Greg Warner, Associate Principal, also emphasized the project’s broader community impact, highlighting the connection between education, local industry, and future workforce development.
“What was once Wetzel Road Elementary is now a hub for career and technical education where Liverpool students can explore career pathways, build real-world skills, and prepare for what comes next,” Warner said. “This project is about more than reimagining a building. It’s about connecting education, our community, and the local workforce in a way that will pay off for generations.”
The opening of the CTE Academy reflects the Liverpool Central School District’s commitment to providing students with meaningful, career-focused learning experiences. Through purpose-built instructional spaces and opportunities for practical skill development, the facility is designed to help students explore their interests, develop technical competencies, and build a foundation for future education and employment.
For Ashley McGraw Architects, the project underscores the lasting impact of educational design that responds to the needs of students, educators, and the communities they serve.
“Thank you to Liverpool Central School District for its vision, and to everyone who helped bring it to life,” Warner said. “Thoughtful educational design can have a lasting impact on an entire community.”
