HAMDEN HIGH SCHOOL STEM LAB

The Hamden Engineering Careers Academy (HECA) is a groundbreaking dual-enrollment program launched in 2019 through a partnership between Hamden High School, Gateway Community College, and the New Haven Manufacturing Association. Designed to bridge the gap between secondary education and the modern manufacturing workforce, HECA equips students with the technical skills and credentials needed to enter lucrative careers in manufacturing upon graduation.

CWA was commissioned by the Hamden Board of Education to design the program's new STEM Academy facility. The project involved retrofitting an existing auto repair shop and adjacent classroom into a fully equipped instructional lab. The space now houses Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machinery—including a CNC mill and lathe— alongside 3D printers, traditional benchtop equipment, and a dedicated drafting studio where students learn both hand drafting and 3D CAD modeling.

Our design reflects a deliberate, thoughtful progression—from traditional hands-on manufacturing at the benchtop to the precision of computer-controlled CNC machinery. Students develop their projects on virtual control panels before executing them on the machines, with benchtop equipment used for final finishing and adjustment. This spatial narrative reinforces the program's pedagogical arc: building foundational skills before advancing to sophisticated technology.

CWA also provided full interior design services, curating furnishings that support both focused individual work and collaborative learning—including custom combination drafting table and computer workstations.