Entries Now Open for New Product of the Year Award

Spaces4Learning has opened its 2020 New Product of the Year award program. Each year, the program recognizes new and emerging products and technologies for the outstanding contributions they make to K–12 and higher education.

The contest is open to all companies that put a new product (or new version of a product) on the market in the last year (between June 2019 and June 2020).

The early bird deadline for entries is June 5. The final deadline is July 10. Complte details and a registration form can be found at spaces4learning.com/npoy.

Awards will be granted in the following categories:

Building Envelope

  • Doors

  • Outdoor Signage

  • Roofing

  • Walls

  • Windows

Building Interiors

  • Carpet

  • Ceilings

  • Floorings

  • Wall Coverings

Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment

  • Auditorium/Performance Space Furniture & Equipment

  • Cafeteria/Dining Hall Furniture & Equipment

  • Classroom Furniture & Equipment

  • Commons/Lounge Furniture & Equipment

  • Indoor Signage

  • Library Furniture & Equipment

  • Mail Room Equipment

  • Partitions & Room Dividers

  • Science/Vocational Furniture & Equipment

  • Waste Receptacles

Maintenance

  • Cleaning Equipment & Supplies

  • Paints & Coatings

Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing

  • Building Controls

  • HVAC

  • Lighting

  • Plumbing

  • Surge Protection

Outdoor Environment

  • Outdoor Furniture

  • Recreation Systems

  • Signage

  • Vehicles

Restrooms/Locker Rooms

  • Dryers

  • Lockers

  • Locker Room Fixtures

  • Restroom Fixtures

Safety & Security

  • Access Control

  • Classroom Security Devices

  • Emergency Communication

  • Emergency Evacuation

  • Emergency Lighting

  • Fire & Life Safety

  • Locks & Door Hardware

  • Metal Detectors

  • Perimeter Control (Fencing, Bollards)

  • Traffic Control

Technology

  • A/V Equipment

  • Communication (Clocks, Bells, Intercoms)

  • Networking Equipment

  • Office Automation

  • Remote Learning

  • Software

Access the entry form and other details at spaces4learning.com/npoy.

About the Author

David Nagel is the former editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal, STEAM Universe, and Spaces4Learning. A 30-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art, marketing, media, and business publications.

He can be reached at [email protected]. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrnagel/ .


Featured

  • Designing Third Spaces That Do What AI Can't

    In 2026, education is evolving faster than ever. With AI reshaping everything from lesson planning to personalized instruction, schools and universities are turning their attention to what AI can’t replicate: spaces that foster collaboration, community, and creativity.

  • Georgia State University Opens New Research Tower

    Georgia State University in Atlanta, Ga., recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new, nine-story, 155,000-square-foot Research Tower, according to university news. Amenities include academic classrooms, a large lecture space, teaching labs, faculty research space, and the uppermost floors reserved for future expansion.

  • Missouri K–12 District Cuts Ribbons on Two New Middle Schools

    Springfield Public Schools in Springfield, Mo., recently celebrated the completion of two new middle school facilities with ribbon-cutting ceremonies, according to a district news release. The district officially opened the new Pipkin Middle School and Reed Academy on Sept. 3, both of which were funded through the $220-million Proposition S bond program approved by voters in 2023.

  • Construction Begins on 100+ Acre K–12 Campus Designed for Lakota Culture

    The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe (CRST) and the Cheyenne-Eagle Butte School District in Eagle Butte, S.D., recently broke ground on a new K–12 campus that will cover more than 100 acres and serve students and families across 1,600 square miles, according to a news release.