Designing for What’s Next: How Deseret Peak High School Sets a New Standard for Growth‑Ready Learning Environments

^{EcoWorx® carpet tile visually connects different areas of the school while supporting acoustics.}

^{Article Written by Sara Hudson, Shaw Contract, Education + Government Director | Published by Shaw Contract}

Across the country, K-12 school districts are facing a shared challenge: how do you design schools that continue to serve students for today and for the future? Rapid population growth, evolving learning models and the responsible use of taxpayer dollars place immense pressure on every design decision. 

In Tooele County, Utah, this challenge is answered at Deseret Peak High School, a new campus designed from the ground up to support growth, transparency and flexibility while remaining efficient, adaptable and community‑centered.

See more images of Deseret Peak High School

^{Glass walls and interior windows bring transparency into classrooms and learning studio. Hexagon-shaped carpet tile from the Configure collection is used throughout the school.}

The Challenge: Designing Schools for Future Growth

Tooele County School District is one of the fastest‑growing areas in Utah with the school district experiencing 4–5% annual enrollment growth. As overcrowding strained existing high schools, district leaders set a clear goal: build a new school designed to support future growth.

Deseret Peak High School was envisioned as a long‑term investment that would make smart use of public funds while creating an environment where students, teachers and the community could thrive.

The 336,000-square-foot campus opened for the 2025-2026 school year and is designed to hold 1,800 students. The Deseret Peak project is part of a $170 million bond initiative passed in 2020 to expand educational facilities across the district. 

Tooele County School District challenged architecture and interiors team VCBO to rethink traditional layouts and occupancy models. Typical high schools average about 70% classroom utilization due to teacher prep time and fixed classroom assignments. For Deseret Peak, the district set an ambitious goal: achieve a 95% utilization rate to maximize instructional space.

That challenge pushed VCBO to reimagined how learning environments function throughout the day. Working closely with Tooele County School District, VCBO Architecture developed a plan that supports both current and future learning models while keeping efficiency at the forefront.

Flexible Learning Spaces Built for Adaptability

Classrooms at Deseret Peak vary in size and layout, allowing educators to select spaces that best support their instructional goals. Rather than long hallways lined with identical classrooms, students move through learning suites that offer a mix of studios, collaboration zones and flexible support spaces. This adaptability helps the school respond to changing enrollment patterns and teaching styles without costly renovations down the line. 

^{Teachers have dedicated office suites, allowing classrooms to remain focused on instruction.}

Teacher Offices That Maximize Instructional Time

One of the most transformative decisions was relocating teachers from assigned classrooms into dedicated office suites. This allows classrooms to remain focused on instruction 95% of the time, significantly increasing building efficiency while supporting teacher collaboration and student engagement.

Transparency That Encourages Connection

Glass walls and interior windows bring transparency into classrooms and learning studios, which creates visual connections between spaces. The design allows natural light to travel deeper into the building. The result is a school that feels open, welcoming and encourages accountability in a shared learning culture.

^{The unique hexagon carpet tile shape draws the eye toward expansive windows to the surrounding mountain scape.}

Flooring as a Design Solution: Enhancing Acoustics, Aesthetics and Well-Being in Schools

In a school designed for openness and flexibility, flooring plays a critical role, both functionally and emotionally. VCBO Architecture partnered with Hart Floor Company to bring the project to life. 

At Deseret Peak, Shaw Contract EcoWorx® hexagon carpet tile from the Configure collection is used throughout learning spaces and the school theatre auditorium to visually connect different areas of the school while supporting acoustics. Active collaborative classrooms and corridors also feature EcoWorx carpet tile, a flooring choice that aids in noise reduction, focus and collaboration for students and teachers.

The unique hexagon carpet tile shape draws the eye toward expansive windows to the surrounding mountain scape.

What is the warranty on Shaw Contract EcoWorx carpet tile in education settings? With a Lifetime Commercial Limited Warranty, EcoWorx carpet supports long-term adaptability as space and student population shifts at Deseret Peak.

Real Impact: A School Built to Last

Deseret Peak High School reflects a community’s investment through design and strategic decision-making, creating a school of the future that supports:

• Flexible instructional models that evolve with teaching practices
• Efficient use of space and taxpayer resources
• Durable, low-maintenance material palettes
• Interior environments tuned to human experience and well-being

Learn more about how Shaw Contract carpet tile and hard surface flooring solutions support the future of K–12 school design.