Flexible Learning Spaces Support Career Exploration
Published On: June 15, 2026
Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan
When Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency (KRESA) set out to create a new home for Career & Technical Education, the goal was ambitious: build a future-ready campus that would prepare students for meaningful careers while strengthening the workforce pipeline across Southwest Michigan.
The result is the new Career Connect Campus, a $100 million, 162,000-square-foot facility designed to centralize career education programs and provide students throughout Kalamazoo County with access to immersive, hands-on learning experiences.
Custer partnered with Wightman to support the vision for the new campus, focusing on the design and furnishing of the learning studios. Led by Wightman designer Casey Bourdo, the project team created environments tailored to a wide range of career pathways, with each space designed to support the specific needs of its program and students.
Unlike traditional educational environments, Career Connect was intentionally designed to replicate the industries students will enter after graduation.
From healthcare simulation labs and culinary training spaces to advanced manufacturing environments, transportation labs, veterinary science programs, and one of Michigan's first high school supply chain and logistics programs, students learn in spaces that closely resemble real-world workplaces. To support this approach, Custer worked closely with the project team to provide furniture solutions that balance flexibility, durability, collaboration, and performance.
Every environment needed to support a unique style of learning. Students move between hands-on training, focused individual work, team collaboration, instructor-led demonstrations, and problem-solving activities throughout the day. The furniture and workspace solutions selected by Custer help accommodate these changing needs while creating comfortable, adaptable spaces that support engagement and learning.
The completed campus provides students with access to industry-focused learning environments designed to support skill development, teamwork, and career readiness.
Career Connect is more than a new educational facility, it represents a forward-thinking model for preparing students for the future. By bringing together workforce development, technology, community partnerships, and hands-on learning opportunities, the campus creates meaningful connections between education and industry. Students gain access to industry-standard tools, real-world learning environments, and valuable certifications that help them enter high-demand career fields with confidence.
Through thoughtful planning and a collaborative design process, the project delivers spaces that help students explore future opportunities while supporting the evolving needs of Career & Technical Education programs.