Predictions & Trends
We asked our readership to send us their predictions for 2024 trends in educational facilities. Across K–12 and higher-education campuses both, we asked for opinions on topics like technology, flexible learning spaces, campus safety & security, disaster response, and more. This article is the third in a three-part series compiling responses from educational professionals and vendors.
Textiles
Sustainable textiles and acoustical management solutions provider Carnegie recently launched a new series of fabrics called the Full Spectrum Collection, according to a news release. The series features 45 colors and patterns across a variety of price points that were designed for use in commercial spaces and offer high degrees of performance, style, and durability.
Podcast
Acoustics isn't only about creating quite classrooms. It's a critical part of the overall IEQ of a school—from classrooms to nurses' offices to administration spaces. New and better technologies exist to give schools solutions that achieve what is needed in today's world while keeping budget parameters in mind. These acoustical solutions start at the top with ceilings, and not all ceilings are alike. Join us as Sean Browne, Senior Manager of Research & Development for Armstrong World Industries, walks us through choosing the right ceiling to optimize acoustics for better learning experiences.
Campus Audio
A simple and tangible step that K–12 leaders can take to support all students more effectively is to make sure students can hear their teachers and their classmates. When students can hear instruction clearly, everyone benefits.
Campus Amenities
Islington Junior Middle School in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, which serves students in grades PreK–8, recently announced that it has installed new acoustic ceiling and wall tiles in four of its classrooms.
School Facilities
A career and technical high school in New Jersey has added new professional recording gear to one of its teaching spaces. County Prep High School, part of Hudson County Schools of Technology, added hardware from Solid State Logic (SSL), a UK-based company that manufactures analog and digital audio consoles for music and audio production. Students in the music and audio technology program learn how to write their own songs and produce their own music.
- By Dian Schaffhauser
- 03/29/21
Campus Facilities
An effort at the University of South Florida has resulted in nearly a hundred classrooms being readied for simultaneous remote and in-person learning. The updates included installation of touchless sound systems and dual cameras.
- By Dian Schaffhauser
- 03/10/21
Campus Facilities
Athens State University, located in Athens, Ga., recently installed Nureva HDL300 audio conferencing systems in almost 30 classrooms on campus.
Acoustics
When a physical space offers a little passive noise control, such as high cubicle walls, private offices or softer, sound-absorbing materials, the effects on the well-being of each person — as well as their productivity — can be profoundly impacted.
Acoustics
If there is not enough sound absorption in spaces for learning, they are overly loud, reverberant and stressful; not an environment conducive for effective education. Up to one of every four words cannot be understood by students in many classrooms, according to guidelines by the Acoustical Society of America.
Classroom Components
Why address comfort in the design of a learning space? When students are physically comfortable, they’re more at ease: They can relax, block out negative thoughts and focus more effectively on instruction.
- By Cindy Eggebrecht-Weinschreider
- 05/25/20
Components & Materials
Walls, ceilings and floors, along with all interior and other building elements, must meet budgetary, acoustic, resilience, sustainability and maintenance requirements, with builders weighing such factors and others. Here are some ways that schools are making their interiors stand out.
Case Histories (Real-World Solutions)
How Interface LVT brought peace of mind to the Reading Friends school building
Facilities (Walls, Ceilings & Floors)
- By Sarat Pratapchandran
- 09/01/19
Facility Focus (Libraries / Learning Commons)
Facility Focus (Libraries / Learning Commons)
Case Histories (Real-World Solutions)
Case Histories (Real-World Solutions)
Facilities (Learning Spaces)
Creating learning environments that positively impact students.
- By Angie Stutsman
- 06/01/18
- By Matthew McGregor, Robert Koehler
- 03/02/18
Impact on Learning
Impact on Learning
Facilities (Learning Spaces)
Today's educational trends require sound acoustical design.
- By Mark Lee, Lisa Sawin
- 06/01/17
Case Histories (Real-World Solutions)
Facilities and the conditions of the learning environment have an effect on students and staff.
Facilities (Learning Spaces)
Using audio enhancement systems in the classroom.