Colvin Elementary Won Teacher Lounge Renovation

Design Besties selected the Wichita school following a successful community voting contest.

Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Philanthropy

A sunlit, empty elementary school staff room with a single chair near a large window showing blurred school brickwork outside. — Colvin Elementary in Wichita is set to undergo a full teacher lounge renovation after securing the most votes in a community contest. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should local schools rely on private corporate donations to fund facility improvements?

Colvin Elementary has been chosen to receive a full teacher lounge renovation by the design firm Design Besties. The school secured the project after winning a community voting contest hosted by the Wichita Public Schools Foundation.

Why it matters

This renovation serves to honor local educators for their ongoing dedication and work with students. It represents the first project of its kind completed by Design Besties in Kansas.

The staff lounge makeover is supported by $1,200 in donations from KWCH and DeVaughn James Injury Lawyers. This initiative follows a contest where the school secured victory by a margin of a few hundred votes.

The players

Design Besties

A design firm that employs professional designers who travel across the country to renovate school staff lounges.

Wichita Public Schools Foundation

A local organization that supports the school district through community engagement and fundraising initiatives.

DeVaughn James Injury Lawyers

A local legal practice that provided financial support for the renovation project.

KWCH

A local television station that contributed to the donation fund for the school makeover.

The details

Design Besties, a firm that employs traveling designers for school makeovers, is collaborating with local district engineers on the project. Community members determined the winner by casting ballots through the Wichita Public Schools Foundation website.

September 29, 2026: The announcement of the renovation project.
By end of 2026: The projected completion date for the lounge.

Market Landscape

This project follows the pattern set by recent regional efforts to improve teacher retention through enhanced school environments. It highlights a growing corporate reliance on community-led voting platforms to drive philanthropic engagement.

The renovation provides staff at Colvin Elementary with an updated, dedicated space for rest during the workday. The project demonstrates how community-backed initiatives can successfully influence the allocation of corporate charitable resources.

The takeaway

Community voting contests provide a direct mechanism for residents to advocate for local facility improvements. Educators can benefit from increased morale when businesses and design firms invest in their everyday working environment.