Why Bathrooms/Locker Rooms Matter More -- Spaces4Learning

Restroom / Locker Rooms

Why Bathrooms/Locker Rooms Matter More

By Cyrus D. Boatwalla
05/01/17

We behave and perform optimally in optimal environments. Merchants, restaurateurs and employers know that if we don’t love our environment we can rather easily choose to shop, dine or work elsewhere.

Can students switch schools as easily if they don’t love their schools? Think of students as shoppers of knowledge and as professional learners and it is clear that we must view them with the same respect — as professionals and people with choices.

To our credit, in schools, we adopt new technologies, design spaces to inspire creativity, experiment with teaching methods, and strive to foster feelings of camaraderie, equality, and school pride — all with one aim “so young minds can focus on learning”.

However, primal needs like hygiene, privacy and feeling safe have a magnified effect on our ability to focus and, given the nature of the space, school bathrooms can hurt or help focus in a disproportionate way. Yet people often underestimate that impact. It’s time we change, and here are some easy examples of how.

Consider privacy toilet partitions — they go lower to the floor, and eliminate sightlines into stalls with overlapping doors and pilasters.

Service bathrooms at unpredictable intervals to reduce the opportunity for vandalism or bullying, and, with greater frequency to improve hygiene and ensure enough consumables.

Provide automatic hand dryers as well as paper towel dispensers — both serve specific needs.

Foster a sense of belonging and school pride by using school colors on lockers and partitions.

More than specific solutions your “hot tip” is to “think differently”. Go back and look at one of the most important spaces in your building with a different set of eyes and ask, “How can I improve this space to help a learning mind?”

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

About the Author

Cyrus D. Boatwalla, heads up Marketing for the ASI Group; he can be reached at [email protected].

E-Mail this page

Printable Format

Featured

FAU Starts Construction on Holocaust and Jewish Studies Building

Florida Atlantic University recently began construction on a new academic building for its campus in Boca Raton, Fla., according to university news. The Kurt and Marilyn Wallach Holocaust and Jewish Studies Building will stand two stories, measure in at 22,000 square feet, and play home to the university’s Holocaust education and Jewish studies programs.
Tennessee State University Gains Approval for New Engineering Facility

Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tenn., recently announced that it has received approval from the Tennessee State Building Commission to build a new engineering building on campus, according to a university news release. The 70,000-square-foot, $50-million facility will play home to the university’s engineering programs and the Applied & Industrial Technology program.
Why a Fire Loss Is More than Flames

We've all seen what fire damage can do to a property, but the types of damage building owners often encounter after a fire loss can exceed expectations. Having full awareness of the different forms of damage properties can sustain helps owners respond faster, reduce continued damage, and get back on the road to recovery in short order.
Designing for Engineering Excellence: Integrating Sustainability and Wellness at UNLs Kiewit Hall

Kiewit Hall at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln exemplifies how academic institutions can integrate sustainability and wellness into modern learning environments. With an integrated and collaborative team approach, Kiewit Hall addresses enhanced learning and creativity, physical health, and mental wellness, and fosters a sense of community through innovative design, operations, and policy solutions.