Warren G. Harding Wellness Center

The Warren G. Harding Wellness Center at Warren City Schools is the culmination of years of planning, driven by a commitment to creating new opportunities for students following a tragic accident that deeply impacted the district. Conceived by the leadership and Board of Warren City Schools, this state-of-the-art facility reflects a dedication to student well-being and success.

Housed within a $34 million, 136,000-square-foot facility, the wellness center provides an array of innovative resources. Students have access to indoor sports practice areas, golf simulators, yoga and sensory rooms, and a cutting-edge robotics center. The facility also features an expanded e-sports space, and outdoor classrooms areas, further broadening the spectrum of extracurricular experiences available.

Beyond physical wellness and recreation, the center serves as a vital resource for student health, incorporating a student health center and a community clinic. Phillips Sekanick Architects recently completed the build-out of a new student-run bistro, reinforcing the facility’s commitment to holistic student development. 

The Warren G. Harding Student Recreation and Wellness Center in Warren, Ohio, designed by Phillips Sekanick Architects for Warren City Schools, represents a transformational approach to educational architecture—bringing academics, athletics, healthcare, technology, and student wellness together within a single flexible facility. Developed through years of planning by district leadership and the Board of Education, the $34 million, 136,000-square-foot center was created to expand opportunities for students while strengthening connections between Warren G. Harding High School, Mollenkopf Stadium, and the broader community.

Phillips Sekanick Architects designed the Wellness Center as a highly adaptable educational and recreation environment capable of supporting changing programs and student needs. A large indoor activity area incorporates a 200-meter track and upper-level walking track, complemented by training and practice spaces, golf simulators, yoga and sensory rooms, and fitness facilities. Dedicated areas for FIRST Robotics and e-sports integrate STEM education and technology with traditional athletic and wellness programs, while study stairs, student gathering areas, and outdoor classroom spaces encourage learning and interaction throughout the building.

Student and community health are equally important components of the design, with dedicated space for healthcare services and a community clinic. Sustainable and forward-looking elements include provisions for solar energy, a green roof, reduced stormwater discharge, and a dramatic north-facing bird-friendly glass curtain wall overlooking Mollenkopf Stadium. The project’s integration of education, recreation, and wellness earned a 2024 AIA Youngstown Design Awards Honorable Mention.

The facility has also been recognized for its broader community impact. At its opening, DeSalvo Construction President Joe DeSalvo predicted it would become “a source of pride for the community, while Ohio Governor Mike DeWine added that “Schools will come from all over Ohio just to look at this facility.”

Through educational architecture, wellness design, athletic facilities, healthcare integration, STEM learning, and sustainable design, Phillips Sekanick Architects created a new center of student life that expands what a contemporary school facility can provide.

to include an adaptable green roof, and an opportunity for the addition of solar panels.  Designed to be a transformational hub within the district, the Warren G. Harding Wellness Center sets a new standard for integrating academics, athletics, and student well-being.