Catherine Hershey Schools

Hershey, PA
Harrisburg, PA
New Dearden, PA
Middletown, PA

Catherine Hershey, the wife of chocolatier Milton Hershey, believed that every child should thrive. She and Milton created the Milton Hershey School in 1909, which has educated thousands of youth and transformed lives throughout Pennsylvania. The Catherine Hershey School’s inaugural campus in Hershey opened as an early childhood education center with the mission to nurture, educate and families in social and financial need to lead fulfilling and productive lives.

Completed as Studio Director, Project Executive, and Creative Lead with G&A Strategy & Design. Liza partnered with the client to develop a kit-of-parts at the inaugural campus to be adapted at future campuses (one is planned for each county in Pennsylvania!). From initial concepts to installation, Liza guided the client management team in interactive and interpretive design for the lobby, courtyard, and STEM garden that would appeal to parents and young children alike, integrating the CHS branding. Additional campuses have successfully adopted the Hershey model, with one bespoke element updated to represent its new location. Liza has counseled CHS on design choices to ensure efficiency and keep the investment modest.