Lafayette High School is a shining example of how creativity and performance can coexist in a high-traffic educational environment. Today’s schools are dynamic, design-forward spaces, and Lafayette High sets a new standard with its bold use of color paired with a sophisticated, modern aesthetic. Every flooring decision was made with daily wear and long-term durability in mind, ensuring the design not only inspires students and staff but also performs under constant use.
A defining feature of the project is the extensive use of elongated subway tile, installed in a stacked pattern that creates clean, uninterrupted lines throughout the space. Unlike traditional staggered layouts, this precise installation leaves little room for error and required a high level of craftsmanship to achieve its striking visual impact. Complementing the tile work, Anytime Flooring installed expansive corridors of LVT for durability and ease of maintenance, along with significant amounts of carpet tile in areas where added acoustical control was essential. In spaces such as restrooms, multiple materials converge seamlessly, resulting in subtle yet modern transitions that elevate the overall design. The finished project reflects Anytime Flooring’s continued commitment to excellence and innovation in the educational market, and the team is exceptionally proud of the result.
Nancy Thiel, founder and principal of Thiel Architecture + Design, is a licensed architect and an interior designer. With 40+ years’ experience working with luminaries in the architecture world, including Michael Graves, Robert A.M. Stern, and Rockwell Group, where she served as a studio leader, Thiel’s extensive portfolio includes single-family homes and multi-story residences, hotels, restaurants, retail, fitness clubs, offices, theaters, schools and shopping centers. She is a member of the AIA, holds NCARB certification and is a LEED accredited professional. Prior to her career in architecture, Thiel was a dancer and choreographer.
Thiel Architecture + Design is an award-winning multi-disciplinary architecture, interior design, planning, and product design firm with offices in CT and NY. The firm’s work focuses on high-end residential design as well as hospitality, contract, and retail projects. Thiel Architecture + Design’s work has been featured in Interior Design, Architype, New York and Connecticut Cottages and Gardens, Connecticut Magazine, Archello, and Fast Company magazines. In 2022, the firm received a Connecticut AIA Excellence award for Interior Architecture. Thiel earned a BA from Penn State University and her Master of Architecture degree from Syracuse University.
