A 2020 Reflection

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

  • University of Kansas Breaks Ground on Entrepreneurship Hub

    The University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new KU Entrepreneurship Hub, according to university news. The Hub is part of the university’s School of Business and will include spaces for experiential learning and programming.

  • Wenger Names New Vice President of Sales for Performing Arts, Controls

    Wenger Corporation, which provides products and solutions for music and theater education, performing arts and athletic storage, recently announced the hiring of a new Vice President of Sales for Performing Arts and Controls.

  • 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.

  • UT-San Antonio Begins Residence Hall Renovations

    The University of Texas at San Antonio recently began a $6-million renovation project to one of its residence halls, according to a news release. Originally completed in 1986, Chisolm Hall measures in at 120,860 square feet and is the oldest and largest residence hall on campus.