When Johnson College cut the ribbon on Ideal Saldi Hall in April 2024, it wasn’t just unveiling a new 19,000-square-foot facility—it was showcasing a vision for how design can fuel learning. The industrial, modern building houses classrooms, program labs, student-facing services like enrollment and financial aid, administration offices, and even a state-of-the-art conference room. Its exposed interior elements turn the building itself into a teaching tool, blending function and form in a way that mirrors the college’s hands-on approach.
That same philosophy carried into the smallest details. Even the four restrooms were designed with both aesthetics and durability in mind, featuring Scranton Products’ Hiny Hiders partitions. Chosen for their sleek appearance and long-lasting performance, the partitions offered an economical solution that reduced maintenance while maintaining a polished look.
But Ideal Saldi Hall is more than a new academic space—it’s also a story of community connection. Just 10 miles away, Scranton Products has long been a destination for Johnson College graduates. Involving local companies that actively hire its students was a priority for the college, ensuring the new facility not only supports education but also reflects the very partnerships that make Johnson’s mission possible.
“We’re a Technical College focused on getting our students ready for industry,” says Roger Orlandini, Associate VP of Facilities and Campus Projects at Johnson College. “Scranton Products falls right into the line of work we train our students for, and we’re always willing to work with local companies to help them get the staff they need.”
Learning in real time
The project involved getting students and their instructors out of the classroom to observe construction so they could understand the building in the context of their chosen career paths and get a glimpse of the day-to-day work they may soon be doing.
Construction was led by L.R. Costanzo, whose staff frequently spoke with the students and demonstrated various facets of the construction process, allowing them to gain a deeper understanding of career opportunities within the industry.
“Our general contractor partnered with us to help teach and train students while the build was going on,” Orlandini says. “Welding students watched the welding of the building’s steel frame. The architecture and design students compared the blueprints with how the actual construction was progressing. We left the building elements exposed because we teach skills for building trades and technology. It’s an important opportunity for our students to see how things come together in a new build.”
Even the restrooms at Ideal Saldi Hall were designed with learning in mind. Rather than covering up the infrastructure behind finished walls, certain areas were intentionally left exposed to serve as ongoing teaching tools for students. In one section, a glass viewing panel allows students and visitors to observe the inner workings of the building, including insulated water lines, the furnace, ventilation systems and clearly labeled electrical lines.
“We labeled some of the building and restroom elements to highlight how things go together,” says Stephen Peterson, Project Engineer at L.R. Costanzo. “Classes can walk through the building and trace how everything connects. Training the students as the building was going up was pretty neat.”
Design that teaches
By revealing what’s typically hidden, the space invites students to think critically about building systems, energy efficiency, and best practices in construction and maintenance. It turns a routine space into a mini-lab where students can see theory in action, reinforcing their classroom learning in an everyday setting. It’s a small detail that highlights how every square foot of the building was designed to support student growth.
The non-standard design led to a few construction challenges that were expertly addressed by L.R. Costanzo and the subcontractor who handled the restroom installation, Scandale Associated Builders & Engineers.
Due to the building’s exposed structure, the skin and the insulation layer are situated outside the structure itself and a narrow steel girt stands between the interior and flat wall. When installing the Hiny Hiders restroom partitions, the contractors had to navigate around the exposed structure to access the exterior of the wall.
“The physical installation was difficult because the new metal building has exposed steel girts within its structure,” says Brian Brister, Project Manager at Scandale Associated Builders & Engineers.
Unlike a uniform flush wall, these metal girts created gaps between the wall and Hiny Hiders partitions. To address this issue, additional panel pieces were ordered and custom-cut to fill these gaps, creating a polished and private appearance.
Additional challenges included maintaining the budget during the COVID-19 pandemic and following a tight schedule that was based on the academic calendar. As costs for materials and labor fluctuated unpredictably, the team had to remain agile by reassessing expenses, sourcing alternatives, and making strategic decisions to stay within scope without compromising quality or safety.
‘Innovation at Work’
Coordinating construction crews, material deliveries and inspections within the narrow window required a high level of collaboration, communication and contingency planning from everyone involved. Despite these pressures, the team delivered a finished building that exceeded expectations, even in the small details, such as the restrooms.
“The restrooms look very flashy and new,” Brister says. “It stands out as very well done because of the exposed elements and custom details to fit the partitions. It matches the industrial look of the building.”
Ideal Saldi Hall is a centerpiece of Johnson College’s ambitious five-year capital campaign, “Innovation at Work,” which focuses on expanding the College’s facilities, programs, and long-term impact. As one of four major components of this transformative campaign, the newly constructed building now serves as the official gateway to the College’s main campus.
It is named in honor of Ideal T. Saldi, a proud member of the Johnson College Class of 1949, whose generous $1 million contribution alongside his wife, Frances, represents the largest alumni gift in the College’s history. Their donation will have a profound and lasting impact, helping to shape the future of hands-on education and student success at Johnson College for generations to come.
The building was constructed on the former site of Richmond Hall, which was once part of the historic William H. Richmond estate. That land was originally gifted to College founder Orlando S. Johnson to help fulfill his bold vision: to create a practical, career-focused trade school for both women and men.
Kristen Warholic leads product development and marketing at Scranton Products, where she focuses on innovation, process improvement, and brand growth. She is committed to delivering solutions that combine lasting value with customer-focused design.
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