Look inside for commentary from experts in the field who share their perspective on trends in education and the effect those changes will have on various learning environments.
Student dining facilities are changing—and university officials need to be flexible and prepared.
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.
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.
What higher education can learn from kindergarten classroom design.
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.
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.
Creating learning environments that positively impact students.
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.
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.
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.
Designing for special needs in k-12 schools.
Here is one school safety issue that we can address.
If an emergency occurs, we need a comprehensive plan that includes everyone.