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

  • Campus Safety Requires Using Every Resource Available

    Across the U.S., school and campus leaders are facing a security landscape that has changed dramatically over the past decade. Incidents on school property have increased in recent years, with several consecutive years setting record totals. According to analysis of data by CNN, dozens of shootings now occur on school grounds annually across K-12 and higher education environments.

  • Houston-Area High School Breaks Ground on 117,000SF Multi-Use Facility

    North Shore Senior High School, part of Galena Park ISD in Houston, Texas, recently broke ground on a new multi-use facility for student extracurriculars, according to a news release. The North Shore Multi-Use Facility will include dedicated practice and training space for the school’s athletics and fine arts programs.

  • University of Arizona Approves New Residence Hall

    The Arizona Board of Regents recently approved plans for a new residence hall at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Ariz., according to a news release. The new facility is scheduled to open in fall 2028 and have the capacity for more than 1,200 students, enforcing a new university expectation that all first-year students live on campus.

  • Can AI Help Build Stronger Communities in Student Housing?

    Student housing success is shifting from operational performance to student experience, with belonging now at the center. A recent 2025 report underscores a growing emphasis on student well-being, community, and engagement, signaling that expectations now extend beyond logistics to ensure students feel supported in their living environments. AI is enabling that shift by reducing administrative workload and giving teams more time to focus on meaningful student engagement.