Real-world installations illustrate how an in-depth review of existing performing arts curricula and facilities can be of benefit when considering how best to upgrade existing spaces versus when to build new facilities.
- By Jonah Sacks, Robert Long
- 04/08/19
Facilities (Learning Spaces)
The structure and surrounding landscape can be active learning tools.
Accessibility in higher education has many different implications and can be viewed from either a physical, economic, or social standpoint.
The interior spaces where students’ high school careers and experiences unfold are of prime importance to those young people, faculty, staff, and administrators. The best such spaces help districts and individual schools express and realize their goals while guiding high school students toward achieving theirs.
Today's community colleges are interested in placemaking, in creating campuses where students learn, linger, and interact. With an eye to design, here are three examples of community colleges stepping up their interior spaces to improve the student experience.
Maintenance & Operations (Managing the Physical Plant)
An update on how the planning has come into being on the BGSU campus.
- By Bruce A. Meyer
- 11/01/18
What higher education can learn from kindergarten classroom design.
Facility Planning
Reflecting on this has affected my view of educational design.
Former Governor of Massachusetts Deval Patrick once said, “No child will be able to succeed academically if they don’t first feel safe in school. No teacher will be able to teach at their best if they aren’t confident there’s a plan in place to ensure their school is well prepared for an emergency.” Creating a safer educational institution begins with the facility’s design. Mariana Lavezzo, a K-12 Education designer with the DLR Group, recently talked with SP&M about this approach to creating safer schools.
- By Mariana Lavezzo
- 09/18/18
Facilities (Campus Spaces)
Urban-based institutions are often limited in the size of their campus footprint. Initiatives and installations at these urban campuses are optimizing outdoor spaces to maximize wayfinding, safety, and aesthetics.
Facilities (Learning Spaces)
Creating learning environments that positively impact students.
- By Angie Stutsman
- 06/01/18
In recent years, more research has come to light in support of the impact that facility design has on student performance. These studies reveal clear evidence that the physical characteristics of a classroom impact learning, and furthermore, that a link exists between well-designed school facilities and increased academic achievement.
The evolution of academic spaces on campus continues to transform interiors into areas that are interactive, tech-enabled, and adaptable to a variety of uses for collaborative engagement.
Getting students ready for college and ready for careers is becoming ever more important in all levels of K12 education. The ideas of collaboration, and hands-on learning, also known as “next-generation learning is also impacting how schools are designed. Steven Herr, AIA, is director of Design for Fanning Howey, an architecture and engineering firm specializing in learning environments, and is quite familiar with some of the ideas and challenges presented by next-generation learning. School Planning & Management asked Stephen a few questions on the subject.
Hot Tips (Furniture Design)
Building Blueprints (Facilities in Focus)
Designing for special needs in k-12 schools.
- By Christian Owens
- 03/01/18
Legally Speaking
Here is one school safety issue that we can address.
Legally Speaking (Insight on the Issues)
If an emergency occurs, we need a comprehensive plan that includes everyone.