Design Besties Launch First Student Space with Grizzlies Prep
The Design Besties partner with Memphis Grizzlies Preparatory to create a unique student space, expanding their mission beyond restorative teachers' lounges.
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MEMPHIS, TN, UNITED STATES, September 8, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — National nonprofit behind the Teachers’ Lounge Movement partners with Grizzlies Prep to create a restorative teachers’ lounge and, for the first time, a student space, both shared by the boys’ and girls’ schools inside the new South Memphis campus.
The Design Besties, the nonprofit collective behind the nationally recognized Teachers’ Lounge Movement, today announced a new partnership with Memphis Grizzlies Preparatory Charter School (Grizzlies Prep), the nation’s only public charter school backed by an NBA franchise, as the school prepares to open its new South Memphis campus in August 2026.
As Grizzlies Prep relocates to a larger facility and launches its first-ever Memphis Grizzlies Preparatory STEAM School for Girls, The Design Besties have been selected to design two spaces that reflect the school’s commitment to its community: a signature restorative teachers’ lounge and, for the first time in the organization’s history, a dedicated student space.
Since launching the Teachers’ Lounge Movement, The Design Besties have partnered with schools across the country to transform overlooked faculty spaces into environments that promote restoration, appreciation, connection, and wellbeing for educators. The Grizzlies Prep collaboration builds on that mission, extending their human-centered design approach beyond educator spaces to include a space built specifically for students.
“When we started the Teachers’ Lounge Movement, our goal was simple: to remind educators that they are valued and that the spaces where they work matter,” said Rhobin DelaCruz, President of The Design Besties. “This partnership with Grizzlies Prep lets us carry that same belief forward while creating our first student-centered space, one that tells young people they belong, they’re supported, and their futures are worth investing in.”
For nearly 15 years, Grizzlies Prep has served students in grades 6-8 through hands-on learning, character development, and a strong academic foundation in literacy and mathematics. Backed by the Memphis Grizzlies NBA team, the school is entering a new chapter with its move to a larger South Memphis campus and the launch of the Memphis Grizzlies Preparatory STEAM School for Girls, its first all-girls campus and only the third all-girls public charter school in Tennessee.
The new campus will give students and educators expanded learning environments, a gymnasium, and outdoor space, along with new opportunities for connection and growth. Through the partnership, The Design Besties will help create spaces within that campus that reflect the school’s values and reinforce a sense of belonging, well-being, and community.
“We’ve always believed the environments we create for students and educators should reflect the excellence we expect from them,” said Tim Ware, Executive Director of Grizzlies Prep. “The Design Besties understand that design is about more than how a space looks. It’s about how it makes people feel. Their work will help our educators feel supported, and our students feel seen as we start this new chapter.”
The new teachers’ lounge and student space will be unveiled as part of the opening of Grizzlies Prep’s new South Memphis campus, with a reveal targeted for mid-September 2026. An exact date and additional details about the public unveiling will be announced in the coming weeks.
About The Design Besties:
The Design Besties is a nonprofit design collective founded by Nikki Watson, Rhobin DelaCruz, Lori Johnson, and Whitney Atkinson. Through its nationally recognized Teachers’ Lounge Movement and other community-centered design initiatives, the organization transforms overlooked spaces into environments that foster wellbeing, belonging, and connection. By partnering with schools, brands, and communities, The Design Besties shows the power of thoughtful design to support the people who teach, learn, and serve.
About Memphis Grizzlies Preparatory Charter School:
Memphis Grizzlies Preparatory Charter School (Grizzlies Prep) is a Memphis-based public charter school serving students in grades 6-8. Backed by the Memphis Grizzlies NBA team, the school has spent nearly 15 years preparing students through rigorous academics, character development, and experiential learning. In 2026, Grizzlies Prep is expanding its mission with the opening of the Memphis Grizzlies Preparatory STEAM School for Girls, its first all-girls campus.
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