Five Ways to Create an Inviting, Engaging Multipurpose Space

By Courtney Billig and Lisa Moretti

We always knew that it would be great to have a dedicated space for students who needed pull-out testing, different accommodations, and/or more individualized instruction. We also knew that by creating a modern, multipurpose space from an existing facility, we’d be able to meet those needs while also using the space for staff meetings, academic clubs, Bible study, and other purposes.

Using funding from our Parish Picnic and donations, we picked the perfect place for our new multipurpose room: a common space that was central to the gathering area near the entrance to our church.

The facility was previously used as a meeting space for adult faith formation and is part of the school’s building. The space itself didn’t need much renovation other than the removal of an aging mini kitchen and countertop.

Here are five steps we took to get that space modernized and ready to use:

  1. Brainstorm your wants and needs. We needed a space where we could have multiple grade levels in a space at once, with up to 15 children in one space and 15 in another at any given time. We needed a large-enough space for that, and we wanted it to be something that was inviting, welcoming, and modern.
  2. Fill it with modular furniture options. We wanted to make sure all of the furniture was able to be moved and reconfigured in different ways. That was important because after school we have larger meetings that have to be held there, so we need greater flexibility to be able to move the tables and chairs around.
  3. Get creative with tables, chairs, and fixtures. We wanted students to be able to stand or sit at different heights. We have two study carousels, which are one-person units where a student can sit and have a quiet space. Also, we wanted everything to be able to be wiped down so that it could be cleaned easily because we knew that there would be a lot of students in there utilizing the space.
  4. Work with a flexible partner that provides a variety of options. MiEN and their designers worked with us both in person and remotely. They would present their initial renderings; we would suggest revisions because we weren't sure at the beginning what we wanted. After we'd throw out ideas, then they'd go back to the drawing board and provide a new rendering. Having that kind of collaborative partnership and flexibility was very nice.
  5. Check out similar spaces. We looked at spaces in two other schools and took pictures of a similar space at the high-school level. We looked at how the space was being used, but we still couldn't quite visualize how that would transfer here. It was very helpful to see how other schools used their space to help us finalize our plans and move to installation.

Our new space was available for use for the 2023–24 school year, and we’ve received a lot of positive feedback on it so far. The kids love going in there and using it. Our principal takes families on tours that are interested in coming to our school and they have been astounded by the new space. Most of the Catholic schools don't have a space like that, so that's also been a wonderful selling point.

Courtney Billig is the Director of Student Achievement for PreK-4 and Lisa Moretti is the Director of Student Achievement for grades 5-8 at Holy Trinity Catholic School in Louisville, Ky.

Featured

  • Creating a First and Lasting Impression with Thoughtful, Sustainable Design

    Clemson University’s Nieri Family Alumni and Visitors Center serves as the new front door to campus, anchoring the Tiger experience through each step in the student journey.

  • New Jersey PreK–12 School Breaks Ground on New STEM Building

    Saddle River Day School (SRDS) in Saddle River, N.J., recently announced that it has broken ground on the new Dr. Kristen Walsh Hall of Science & Entrepreneurship, according to a news release. The school partnered with DIGroup Architecture for the design of the new facility, which will provide the school with space to expand its STEM and business education classes.

  • K12 Tutoring Earns Every Student Succeeds Act Level II Validation

    Personalized online tutoring service K12 Tutoring recently announced that it has received Level II validation underneath the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), according to a news release. The independently validated study provides evidence of K12 Tutoring’s role in creating positive student outcomes through effective academic intervention and research-based solutions.

  • Pangram Secures Funding for AI Detection Technology

    Pangram, which provides technology that detects AI-generated text, recently announced that it has secured nearly $4 million in pre-seed and seed funding, according to a news release. The most recent round of investments, totaling $2.7 million, come on top of the pre-existing seed fund of $1.25 million.

Digital Edition