Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

A 2020 Reflection

  • By Yvonne Marquez
  • 12/01/20

This year was a whirlwind of obstacles and it’s finally coming to a close. As we wind down the most challenging year in education to date, take a moment to reflect on everything you learned in 2020. More than likely, you had to think outside the box, adapt quickly to many changes, and make difficult decisions. You were not alone.

In the Fall issue of Spaces4Learning, we surveyed facilities managers, administrators, faculty, policymakers, architects, and maintenance professionals from around the country and asked them about their Fall 2020 experiences and plans for the new year. Take a peek at what others endured, the lessons learned, and what can be improved on in 2021.

Although this year was rough, I hope you celebrate your wins — big or small. In this issue, we're celebrating our Education Design Showcase winners, where we honor outstanding design in educational environments. Each project is exemplary and demonstrates innovative design for today’s students. I hope you take inspiration from these amazing learning spaces to your own districts and institutions. We’ll have more detailed information about the winners online so be sure to check out www.spaces4learning.com.

After a year full of zoom meetings and emergency measures, I wish you a restful holiday season. A new year brings a fresh start and with it, a chance to expand upon what we learned this year.

This article originally appeared in the Fall 2020 issue of Spaces4Learning.

About the Author

Yvonne Marquez is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • 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.

  • University of Rochester to Break Ground on New Student Life Center

    The University of Rochester in Rochester, N.Y., recently began construction on a new Student Life building, according to a news release. The first floor will contain campus-wide gathering, program, and rehearsal space; the second floor will play home to the Greenbaum Center for Jewish Life.

  • TCU Marks Campus Expansion Milestone

    Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas, recently held a topping-out ceremony to mark progress on a major campus expansion effort including four new residential facilities and a five-story parking garage, according to a news release.

  • Q&A: How to Prevent Kitchen Grease Fires in Commercial Kitchens

    School cafeterias and university dining halls serve thousands of meals daily, relying on high-heat equipment like fryers, grills, and ovens. While these operations keep students fed, they also generate significant grease-laden vapors. Without proper controls, this grease becomes a silent fire threat. As a certified exhaust cleaning specialist and business coach who has helped hundreds of institutional facilities achieve NFPA 96 compliance, I emphasize that proactive grease management isn’t optional; it’s a core fire/life safety practice.