Spotlight on Student Centered Design

Chris Gibbs is a principal at DLR Group Architects and has seen many changes and trends come and go in educational facility design.  Designing for student engagement and experience are part of what informs his process, along with the goal of holistically transforming the outcomes for all learners.  

Q. Designing for student engagement has become a hot topic in past years. What are some of the developments on the horizon when it comes to designing schools promote student attention and alertness?

A. Educational facilities play a critical part in the engagement of learners at all levels. As learning place design continues to better align with curriculum and pedagogy, designers must consider spatial variety to maintain student attention and alertness. Spaces may range from individual nooks for quiet contemplation to larger spaces that support active group learning. Each option is equally important to meet the varying needs of young learners.

Q. Is there more of a trend toward designing buildings for career- and college-readiness? How can building and classroom design help students to be better prepared for life after the K-12 world?

A. Preparing students for the ever-changing world that they are launching into after their K-12 experience is more challenging than ever. The pathways students chose after high school are wide-ranging and many of the careers they will pursue have not been invented. Providing learners with a variety of learning places and experiences, when paired with effective best-teaching practices, will develop a solid foundation for their future endeavors. School facilities should provide for seamless day-to-day flexibility in their ability to be modified to support the diverse learning activities that may need to occur.

Q. What are some elements of school design that are overlooked, but really benefit students when thought out and planned carefully?

A. All human beings are social creatures and one critical part of K-12 education is the development of social skills. School design sometimes overlooks the importance of designing spaces for young people to be social. K-12 students of all ages need to continually refine their ability to make friends and be friends in addition to an ability to communicate on a variety of levels.

Featured

  • StarRez Releases 2025 State of Student Housing Report

    Student housing software solutions provider StarRez recently released its second State of the Student Housing Industry Report, according to a news release. The report is based on the results of survey data from more than 400 higher education institutions around the world, both StarRez clients and not.

  • AP Construction Breaks Ground on Two Projects for Austin ISD

    Adolfson & Peterson Construction (AP) recently announced that it has broken ground on two renovation projects for the Austin Independent School District, according to a news release. The work at McCallum and Anderson High Schools totals 97,350 square feet and is scheduled for completion in January 2027.

  • New Kent State Academic Building Earns LEED Silver Certification

    Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, recently announced that its newest academic building, Crawford Hall, has earned a LEED Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, according to a news release. The facility was recognized for its innovative design, water conservation technologies, energy-efficient systems, and sustainable construction materials, among other features.

  • Anderson Brulé Architects Rebrands as ABA Studios

    Anderson Brulé Architects, based in San Jose, Calif., recently announced that it is celebrating 40 years of service by rebranding under a new name, according to a news release. The architectural, interior design, and planning firm will now be known as ABA Studios to refresh its identity underneath a new generation of leadership.

Digital Edition