Master Planning Your Facilities

Jordan Public Schools in Minnesota undertook a master plan to analyze their existing facilities for educational and operational efficiency, to work with district and community stakeholders, and to develop strategy to improve all facilities. Jordan Middle School (pictured above) was completely renovated with an updated learning environments for all occupants.
Photo copyright: Brandon Stengel, courtesy of DLR Group

by Sara Guyette, AIA, EFP, LEED AP

Undertaking a district-wide facilities master plan is often an overwhelming task for public school districts. I know, I’ve been in your shoes. Before I joined DLR Group I served as Director of Facilities and Plant Planning, and I personally led capital projects, facility master planning, and facility operations and maintenance at multiple school districts in Minnesota.

During my time working with districts, I recognized that plans are frequently born out of internal and external user frustrations with existing space and facility conditions, compounded by on-going requirements to prioritize projects based on limited funding. Often the most difficult task is planting the seed internally to convince leaders that the timing is right to undertake a large and extremely public planning process amidst many other initiatives the district may have on the docket. My experience has proven those district’s that do recognize the need for a plan, understand the basic master plan concepts, and can link its benefits back to other district goals and initiatives, are often much better positioned to know when and how to start having the conversation with their stakeholders.

Common Challenges Facing School Districts

Realizing potential issues before they escalate is essential in the master planning process. This proactive approach requires districts to look at their facilities and grounds holistically, and to understand how facilities, curriculum, and funding impact each other. Some of the most common problems districts aim to solve through facility master plans include space utilization, capacity concerns, funding requirements, and educational and operational changes.

Space utilization is many times the first indication of a potentially larger enrollment issue within a district, especially when designated spaces are functioning other than intended. Some of the challenges I’ve observed include extra classrooms being used for storage, which may signal a decline in enrollment, or teachers forced to use carts for mobile instruction, which typically translates to enrollment growth. In addition, mismatching classrooms, such as using science classrooms for language studies, depicts a change in educational programming.

Capacity struggles can be felt either in a single building or district-wide. Challenges at a local level may be solved by adjusting school boundaries to allow that building’s enrollment to flux, while challenges across the district are more complex. An increase in overall enrollment necessitates more space and more schools. On the flip side, a decrease in enrollment may require consolidation and selling a portion of the district’s physical inventory.

As a public entity, school district funding is limited. Districts often have more projects and initiatives to accomplish than available funding, which forces districts and communities to prioritize projects in a manageable time frame.

·      Implementing new district-wide educational programs is a significant undertaking. The key to successful deployment is understanding how a new program impacts a district’s facilities; whether it is the expansion of a STEM or special education program, a 1:1 device roll-out, or a change in high-school schedule. During the planning process, I often challenge districts to think about what education will look like in 20 years and work to plan their space around those goals.

·      The annual budgeting cycle is a prime opportunity to uncover operational changes that could result in reduced energy usage and utility costs. Saving operational dollars allows districts to reinvest in better facilities and/or invest in new educational programs.

Master Plan Components

After identifying the challenge(s) to solve, a district can then move forward with a comprehensive master plan. Most master plans involve common components however, each district should customize the process to fit their specific personality, desired outcomes, and to remedy their targeted concerns. Most master plans include the following five elements:

1. Data Gathering: Be prepared to dig everything out of the archives. If a district is working with a consultant to complete a master plan, that firm will need detailed information such as building and site plans, the district’s strategic plan, utility bills, and emergency preparedness and health-life-safety reports, just to name a few. 

2. Enrollment Projections: Most districts prepare state reports annually, and therefore have a solid understanding of short-term enrollment projects. When undertaking a facilities master plan, the need to forecast ten+ years out often calls for an independent demographer to be hired by the district. This long-term knowledge becomes increasingly important if there is noticeable enrollment growth or decline, specifically to establish planning thresholds around student enrollment trends.

3. Curriculum & Instruction: Educators are amazing professionals and can function in almost any environment. A primary goal throughout a master planning process is to define the type of environment learners will best excel given the district’s curriculum and delivery now and in the future. By understanding the preferred instruction delivery model, a master plan effectively aligns the physical environment with curriculum. For example, space needs for project-based learning are much different that space needs for a traditionally delivered curriculum.

4. Facilities Condition Assessments: An assessment of each facility’s building components, including the roof, windows, and mechanical systems, will assist in quantifying the remaining life-cycle of items and estimating a cost for replacement. This information can be merged with new space needs based on educational goals to give each building a Facilities Condition Index (FCI) which helps to determine the cost effectiveness of renovating an existing building or constructing a new facility.

5.  Energy and Sustainability: Utility costs are a significant portion of any district’s budget, and creating a plan to make facilities more efficient also entails making buildings healthier. Master plans can address Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) issues, lighting upgrades, and physical comfort to ultimately make learning environments better for all occupants.

Stakeholder Participation

Master plan components and elements vary district to district, but the one constant is stakeholder participation. Involving the greater community in the planning process is critical to ensure that multiple viewpoints are brought to the table and heard in a transparent manner. Plus, gathering a community of internal (administrators, staff, students) and external (parents, volunteers, business) stakeholders to collaborate often leads to greater consensus of the plan.

The pinnacle of community and district collaboration is often reached with the formation of a core group committee. This committee consists of diverse voices throughout the district and is charged with thoroughly understanding district issues and goals, prioritizing needs over wants, and considering different facility options and costs. The core group’s primary task is to review and analyze community input throughout the process and to make a formal plan recommendation to district leadership and the school board. The final plan includes a recommended budget and implementation timeline, which will vary based on the complexity of issues to be solved and the amount of community participation involved.

When you get to the point of planting that seed because issues need to be addressed, don’t feel like your district has to go it alone. Contact other school districts to learn what they’ve done and reach out to a K-12 educational planning and design firm that can help customize and lead your district through the process. Most of all, take a deep breath and know that having larger conversations with the community is a good thing; as the benefits outweigh the negatives when it comes to planning educational environments that are right-sized, efficient, healthy, and future-ready for both your educators and learners.

About the Author:

Sara Guyette, AIA, EFP, LEED AP, has dedicated much of her career to educational environments and brings a wealth of experience from both the design and district perspective. In addition to being an experienced architect, she previously served as facilities director at multiple school districts in Minnesota, overseeing capital projects, facility master planning, and facility operations and maintenance. Sara leads DLR Group’s K-12 Education practice serving school district clients in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. She is responsible for collaborating with school districts to plan and design facilities that meet the educational needs of local communities.

Photo captions

DLR Group_Master Planning Process images:

A successful master plan derives from a robust effort that ensures stakeholder input. Districts can solicit feedback through a myriad of options, including community meetings, panel presentations, one-on-one conversations, and large group workshops.

DLR Group _Jordan Schools images:

Jordan Public Schools in Minnesota undertook a master plan to analyze their existing facilities for educational and operational efficiency, to work with district and community stakeholders, and to develop strategy to improve all facilities. As part of this effort, Jordan Middle School was completely renovated, resulting in updated learning environments for all occupants.

Future Space: How Audiovisual Technologies Are Changing Where We Work and Learn

By Margot Douaihy

Editor’s note: The following article comes courtesy of our Knowledge Partner AVIXA, the Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association. More information is available at avixa.org.

Walk into a company run by today’s digital natives and you may find a space characterized not only by its floor plan, but also by its adaptability. Think mobile devices everywhere, but no assigned desks; collaboration technology throughout. When people meet, it’s via video — and not just in dedicated executive suites, but everywhere. Some workers are collaborating in person; others are patching in from distant offices and interacting with the same content and tools.

Although this “agile office” is not yet mainstream, it’s on the horizon, due in part to the ubiquity and increasing usability of audiovisual (AV) solutions, such as videoconferencing and shared computing interfaces. A similar evolution is happening in classrooms, where learning spaces are being reimagined to foster better interaction and group work.

Technology is changing the way we think about work and life, which, in turn, impacts the places where we work and live. We’re on the cusp of dramatic change, and AV is playing a pivotal role.

Workspace Design: Ready for Anything

Companies are the biggest purchasers of AV solutions. One important reason: Technology-equipped organizations are better positioned to recruit and retain top talent. According to AVIXA’s Industry Outlook and Trends Analysis (IOTA) report, “a growing faction of corporate America is attempting to create more innovation by bringing employees back to home base. AV technology implementation is the way for companies striving to make the office ‘the place to be,’ in part by improving user experiences.”

Such environments can empower employees to work in ways that match their individual strengths. Technology-rich, multipurpose spaces can also breathe new life into stagnant practices and foster more efficient workflows.

With the growing demand for flexible AV in the workplace comes the need for flexible office designs. Research by design and architecture firm Gensler shows that “coworking has become an essential element to navigating constant change. In 2005, tech workplaces dedicated 89 percent of space to individual desks. Today it’s 25 percent, and by 2025, individual desks may not exist.”

These open, collaborative workspaces have their upside, but they also present challenges. A recent Harvard study found that open-plan offices can hurt productivity because workers feel they lack privacy — being able to hear everyone all the time tends to be either distracting or cause enough to stop talking altogether and actually decrease collaboration.

Audiovisual solutions can play a critical role turning the modern, open workspace into a productive space. AV ecosystems, such as Plantronics’ Habitat Soundscaping, combine audio and video components — as well as non-technical physical elements — to create offices that are more conducive to collaboration. Imagine video displays that appear to be windows or skylights, sounds of nature — specifically flowing water — playing through hidden speakers, and soothingly lit, modular waterfalls. Plantronics has reimagined its own Santa Cruz, Calif., offices with its technology to create an integrated experience. It’s not just the sound of water that employees find calming; actually seeing water — live or on-display — helps complete the cognitive circuit and creates a peaceful environment that reduces the distractions of an open office.

At other companies, the AV experience starts where people often get their first impression: the lobby. Lobby experiences can help energize employees and engage visitors. Take, for example, eBay’s Main Street location in Silicon Valley, created by ESI Design, built by AV integrator Diversified, and brought to life with content imagined by multimedia studio Float4.

Upon entering the lobby, employees, partners, and visitors are immediately greeted by technology that tells the company’s story. Custom-fabricated LED columns and interactive touchscreens display content that intermingles with the environment. The lobby’s centerpiece is a 15-foot videowall where employees and visitors can tap product icons to see how many sold recently on eBay.

“Main Street has infused so much more energy and pride in our employee base,” said Wendy Jones, Senior Vice President of Global Operations at eBay.

Collaboration technologies, then, are the glue that holds together this energized, mobile, tech-savvy workforce. “Video-based collaboration will fuel improved connection and communication among employees in the workplace and remote colleagues, clients, and consultants,” says Craig Park, Principal Consultant at The Sextant Group.

But for all the technical acumen of today’s workers, and their aversion to outdated business practices, collaborative audiovisual solutions deployed in a modern office must be easy to use. There’s no time for onerous bug fixes or downtime. Employees already have many screens in their lives. They expect multi-screen, dynamic workspaces that they can enter instantly for visual immersion. And the AV implemented today must be agile enough to support the next great killer app or workgroup paradigm, whatever it might be.

New York accounting firm CohnReznick built what it calls an "Innovation Lab” in its Manhattan office, giving clients the ability to brainstorm business solutions with CohnReznick staff quickly and efficiently through a combination of AV systems, proprietary software, and data. Software that lets users edit and manipulate documents, videos, graphics, and more on multiple displays, plus a matrix of large touchscreens, form the foundation. The space also includes cameras for videoconferencing and microphones embedded in the room’s ceiling to provide pickup coverage for all seats. The company put additional videowalls in its Chicago and New York City offices so remote participants could join sessions.

“Studies suggest that those organizations that successfully nurture an innovation culture realize increased profit compared to their peers. Unfortunately, many growth companies lack the capability, including access to the latest tools and frameworks and the trained professionals to implement them, to create breakthrough growth,” says Keith Denham, Managing Principal and National Director of CohnReznick Advisory. “We created the Innovation Lab to help clients build a renewed business culture that’s fast and nimble, seizing opportunities before the competition, to get ahead and stay there.”

According to CohnReznick, its teams are now 60 percent faster at solving problems, and from an operations standpoint, they have become 45 percent more cost-efficient since implementing the Lab’s AV solution. And as good as the remote-collaboration capabilities have been, CohnReznick has found that design and strategy work is especially effective when participants are physically in the lab where they can interact with the AV collaboration tools.

“Because the workspace allows us to collaborate in real time with consultants and clients in different locations, our meetings not only have become more productive, but our team has become more aligned with clients,” says Paul Gulbin, Managing Director, CohnReznick Advisory.

The challenge in all this? Integrating AV and collaboration into workspaces so that users can be productive. “The standard worker wants to be able to use elevated technologies without extensive training,” say Shane Springer, CTS-I, an engineer and independent consultant. He’s noticed “a rise of more intelligent automation” and standards that can help employees move from room to room or system to system “without having to relearn the user interface.”

Creative Synthesis and the New Learning Space

Like the corporate campus, the college campus is ripe for innovation. From the AV clubs of yore to 4K displays in anatomy labs, audiovisual solutions and education are inextricable linked.  Makerspaces, “sandboxes” with interactive displays, and interdisciplinary ideation spaces are becoming more common. But for Tim Van Woeart, Senior Project Supervisor for Digital Classroom Services at Rutgers University, active learning is still the dominant learning space trend.

Active-learning rooms can accommodate small groups, host break-out sessions, and support sharing ideas in multimodal, meaningful ways. Regardless of the wired or wireless audiovisual presentation systems, “everyone seems to be getting into the collaboration dynamic now,” Van Woeart says.

Active learning means giving students more agency in the process. “It’s also meeting many of the students’ needs now that were not previously met,” Van Woeart says. “Some students are learning better in smaller groups — at more of a personal and interactive level than in large lecture halls spaces.”  

The Sextant Group’s Craig Park recognizes how active learning gives students more purchase, but he also says, “There are multiple pedagogical models that can be enhanced with AV.” When he consults with faculty, he discusses what teaching modality would be the best fit for their unique pedagogy, and then builds solutions around that modality.

The Indiana University Idea Garden exemplifies the technology-rich “Thinker Space” — an environment designed to ignite student curiosity and encourage cross-disciplinary practices. An energizing interior design and the latest collaborative technologies, such as the Google Jamboard and HTC Vive, help foster innovation.

Virtual reality (VR) labs are also beginning to appear on campuses. At schools like William Paterson University in Wayne, N.J., VR labs are replacing obsolete spaces, such as photo development rooms. The debut recently of an affordable, wireless Oculus Quest VR system is being heralded as a disruptor that could help democratize the emerging technology.

“No longer do you have to go to a million-dollar space or CAVE to experience VR,” says Julie Johnston, Director of Learning Spaces for Indiana University’s Information Technology Services. As VR becomes more affordable and manageable, she says, “We need to consider putting it into our classrooms.”

The Indiana University Library Virtual and Augmented Reality Lab (VR/AR Lab) is available to all IU students, faculty, and staff. The real value of VR, as Johnston sees it, comes when the technology is embedded in a curriculum, encouraging students to think, learn, and solve problems in new and experiential ways.

Video collaboration and online lecture capture technologies make classrooms more than a physical space in a building. Designed properly to maximize acoustics, lighting, and sightlines, and integrated with the latest AV conferencing solutions, the campus space extends to rooms of students and lecturers all over the world.

“We can do lot more with lecture capture,” says Van Woeart, “like bringing in professors who are experts in their field, outside of New Jersey.” He shares the example of a graduate-level sports management class in which the instructor, an Olympic gold medalist, taught from Jacksonville, Fla., for 95 percent of the class. “We virtually brought her into the classroom,” he says. “It was an immersive experience for the students, with live interaction.”

Whatever new technology impacts learning-space design, it must be tied to a genuine student need, says Justin Rexing, CTS-D, Audiovisual Design Engineer at Western Kentucky University and owner of the Rexing Consulting Group.

“We have to keep students’ perspectives in mind,” he says. This requires candid discussion, a needs analysis, and involving various stakeholders early in the process. Rexing believes “wise investments in audiovisual solutions can dramatically elevate the classroom experience.”

Margot Douaihy is a writer, editor, and storyteller based in Northampton, MA. She is the author of three books and a contributor to Tech & Learning, Systems Contractor News, and AV Technology Magazine, published by Future Plc. Douaihy is the August 2019 I-Park Foundation Resident Fellow in Writing. Dan Daley and Kirsten Nelson also contributed to this story.

Activate Classroom Design

An Interview with Andrea Durbin, NCIDQ, IIDA, MA+ Architecture

Vendor partners: KI Furniture, Milliken

What was your concept in designing this classroom?

We wanted to design a classroom that would encourage movement during the learning process.

What role does technology play in the space?

The classroom features wireless microphones and speakers allowing more flexibility to the presenters.

How does the design and technology plan encourage attendee interaction?

The classroom design features flexible furniture that allow people to move within the furniture as well as within the space. The sensory paths at the back of the classroom encourage movement to disperse built up energy and stimulate the area of the brain that retains information.

How does the choice of furniture impact the space?

The furniture was a crucial part of the design. The wide range of colors and flexibility of each of the pieces were major contributions to the ‘active’ classroom idea.

What do the flooring choices say about your classroom?

The carpet tile with a cushion backing creates a soft and inviting environment for students to learn, while the LVT at the back of the space adds an additional area for movement and play.

How will this space work for presenters?

The presenters will be able to move freely throughout the space using the wireless technology. The flexible furniture can be reconfigured for group or lecture type environments. Acoustic panels have been places throughout the space to help achieve an acoustically pleasant atmosphere.

What do you see as the largest benefit of being chosen as a design team winner?

We are honored to have the opportunity to serve the design and education community by allowing them to ‘think outside the box’ with us.

Trends and Opportunities in K-12 Capital Improvement Funding: 2018-2020 & Beyond

by Jim Norwood

K-12 Solution Providers need to track school funding closely to be successful in a highly competitive business environment. Capital improvement funding for schools, however, continues to be difficult and contentious. SchoolBondFinder has found that as daunting as the funding challenges are, the good news is that educational construction spending has almost recovered from the great recession, and is on track in 2019 to finally meet or exceed levels not seen since 2009. As an election year, 2020 is poised to be a particularly large year for capital improvement dollars. The last decade has been difficult, but school districts have been scratching and clawing to find improvement funding, driven by both population growth trends and increasingly aging facilities in need of replacement, renovation, and upkeep.

SchoolBondFinder believes it is more important than ever for companies who serve schools to have timely knowledge of where “actionable” dollars will be available. Traditionally, public schools pay for ongoing operating expenses through funds raised primarily from local property taxes. Capital improvement projects, on the other hand, are often funded by the issuance of bonds to raise the dollars to build new schools, to renovate and improve existing buildings, and to acquire new physical items. These bonds are then paid back over time from an increase in local tax revenues. Early knowledge of bond dollars becoming available (or disappearing) is crucial for companies providing equipment and services to K-12 schools, especially when funding dollars may not be found where they were in the past.

Public schools, often in struggling areas, must compete for much-needed funding. In this environment, SchoolBondFinder believes there are still significant opportunities for companies supplying construction and renovation services to K-12 districts, as well as school safety, transportation, and technology upgrades, but that now more than ever companies need the most accurate, up-to-date information in order to accurately identify where those business opportunities are.

SchoolBondFinder has found public school capital expenditures are driven by two main factors, tempered by local, state, and national political pressures: 1) Aging, outdated facilities and 2) Growth and shifts in population. In the instances where new construction and/or renovation is being discussed or proposed, SchoolBondFinder tracks the availability of those “actionable” dollars and has identified trends that are affecting where those dollars will flow, in terms of both funding areas and geographical location. One such trend is that many states are dealing with years of deferred maintenance, particularly after the Great Recession of 2008-2009. The average public school building in the United States is over 45 years old. In extreme cases, such as Hawaii, 1 in 5 schools is more than 100 years old, and the average age of a school building is 61. Thus, deferred maintenance issues are driving demand for renovations and, in some cases, for new construction to replace buildings that are no longer viewed as viable.

During 2018, SchoolBondFinder tracked over $80 billion in school bond elections, of which almost $67 billion passed. This is a passing rate of 84%, a similar percentage to past years. In short, most bond issues pass, but the dollar amounts at stake vary from year to year. For instance, Presidential general election years are when the most dollars are at stake. Mid-term election years follow close behind, trailed by years in which there are no statewide or nationwide elections. Overall, K-12 capital improvement spending continues to rise. If these trends continue, 2019 will continue to be a strong year for capital funding opportunities, and 2020 may see school district capital funding greatly surpass levels last seen before the recession of 2008-2009. SchoolBondFinder is already tracking opportunities into 2021, 2022, and beyond.

Geographically, the population growth trend in states in the West and South continues, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This growth is driving facilities needs in Texas, Florida, and California especially, but it should be noted that Nevada and Idaho are currently the fastest growing states by percentage. Utah, Arizona, Florida, and Washington also continue to see strong growth. On the other hand, New York and Illinois saw a decline in population.

All data SchoolBondFinder tracks includes links to NCES (National Center for Education Statistics) demographic information, as well as to online news sources describing in greater detail how bond issues and needs are being presented to the local public. Bond opportunities are also presented on an interactive map, giving site users the ability to select “favorite” bonds for easy access and tracking, as well as finely filter search results. Data results can be listed directly from the site, or exported in a comma separated value format (CSV) for import into spreadsheets or customer relationship management system, or exported as alerts to a user’s email or SalesForce installation.         

Public education is in the midst of a daunting shift in where state dollars may potentially flow. This shift will present many challenges but also opportunities to companies who provide services in construction, renovation, school safety, technology, and transportation. The opportunities will come from the ability to track where aging facilities, deferred maintenance, and population shifts have led to public support for construction and updating.

As more states begin to supply funding for educational choice initiatives, there may also be more bond dollars available for private and charter school construction and renovation as well.  SchoolBondFinder will continue monitoring these trends and tracking where actionable dollars will be available as capital projects move through our system, from being on our watch list, to being proposed for an actual vote, and then to eventual passage or failure.

It is important to note that “failed” opportunities almost always come back as future opportunities on our watch list. From watch list, proposed, passed or failed, the SchoolBondFinder platform provides companies with an agile tool set for staying tuned to real-time information, shifting trends, and business opportunities. Early, accurate, information is critical, now more than ever.

Jim Norwood is the Director of Innovation for The Amos Group. He performs research, development and design for both SchoolBondFinder and SchoolBondNetwork. For more information on this new EDmarket member service, please visit http://www.edmarket.org/school-bond-finder/.

The Game Changer Classroom by RATIO | OnPoint

An Interview with with Mallory Hyde and Emily Dunneisen

Design Team: Emily Dunneisen, IIDA, RATIO; Mallory Hyde, Assoc IIDA, LEED AP ID+C, RATIO; Kristen Ambrose, AIA, CSI, LEED AP BD+C, RATIO

Vendor partners: Mien Company, Muzo, Mannington Commercial, Boxlight, Lightspeed

What was your concept in designing this classroom?

The Game Changer classroom creates a central focal point that fosters engagement and inclusivity at the core. The arena-style classroom is divided into three groupings that are reinforced by the floor pattern and collaborative style furniture.

What role does technology play in the space?

By integrating multiple presentation displays at the center, each zone engages content in multiple modes: the speaker and the visual display in lecture mode, the individual zones in a collaborative mode, and a combination of the two in competition mode when the zones are matched against each other in an inquiry-based activity.

How does the design and technology plan encourage attendee interaction?

Our approach to this classroom’s technology provides attendees a view of the content and each other with ample opportunity to engage with the speaker throughout their presentation. With no true “front of classroom”, it creates a level playing field for communication and collaboration between “teacher” and “learner”. 

How does the choice of furniture impact the space?

The furniture selections feature a diverse range of soft, lounge seating in-between tiered, collaborative style desks/tables and chairs meant to accommodate different vantage points and learning preferences. The layout spurs learners to engage content and appeal to the competitive spirit.

What do the flooring choices say about your classroom?

By using one pattern in three different color-ways, we have created a bold but uniform experience that is visually separate without creating physical barriers.

How will this space work for presenters?

This classroom offers a unique opportunity to push the presenters out of the comfort zone of a standard, front-of-room teaching style. Unlike classrooms of the past that feature rows of traditional desks and chairs all facing forward, this design allows presenters to have free reign to walk about the classroom engaging individuals more personally.

What do you see as the largest benefit of being chosen as a design team winner?

RATIO takes a special interest in creating K-12 educational spaces that encourage life-long learning and cultivate future generations of leaders.  We believe that schools are beacons of diversity, culture and identity for communities and are humbled by the opportunity to share our passion for learning environments at EDspaces.

Learning from the Best

by Max McCloskey, AIA

Last summer my wife and I boarded a Lufthansa 777 at Denver International Airport bound for Helsinki.  It was the beginning of a formative three-week research trip to Finland, Sweden, and Denmark to study cutting-edge schools throughout Scandinavia. The trip was made possible through the support of my firm, Humphries Poli Architects (HPA), now part of RATIO Design, and a scholarship from the Colorado chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). 

The classroom we grew up in is dead.

It has been replaced with flexible spaces that honor individual learning, embrace collaboration, and foster inclusion. The question I sought to answer was how does the design of contemporary learning environments support the academic success of the student? As I researched trends in educational design Scandinavia emerged as the ideal region to focus on based on the long-standing cultural commitment to design excellence and the academic achievement of its students. Over the last ten years these Scandinavian countries have produced math, reading, science, and problem solving test scores that consistently rank within the top 25 countries in the world.

Our itinerary included visits to six schools, one University Campus, and three community centers while immersing ourselves in world class urban environments. The study of the buildings visited was concentrated into three “lenses” of focus: connection to the community, innovation in learning environments, and integration of sustainability: environmental, social, or psychological. All the buildings visited were included for their exemplary modern design. The following buildings represent standouts within each lens:

Connection to the Community: Maunula House

The first stop on the trip was Maunula House, a community learning center designed by K2S Architects located in a suburban neighborhood on the North side of Helsinki. Maunula House is physically connected to a grocery store anchoring the building to the core of the neighborhood and the daily patterns of the community. A pair of glass doors open from the library right into the produce section, makes a lot of sense! The building is comprised of a public library, adult education center, and youth center. 

In a literal sense Manaula House is a building for the community. K2S architects held a year’s worth of community charrettes to design the facility, a key to the overall success of the project. Three seats on the board of trustees are held specifically for neighborhood residents. With brick masonry street facing elevations that match the adjacent commercial buildings and a double height curtain wall that reflects the surrounding town, Manaula House truly reflects the community it serves. To turn the corner from the bus stop is breathtaking.

Natural light is a precious resource in Scandinavia. The interior of Manaula House is organized around a voluminous atrium featuring a north facing clerestory window that brings light deep into all levels of the building. The design is successful in the intent to support the wellness of the user as the facility sees its highest patronage during the winter months.  

The star of the show is undoubtedly the expansive curtain wall that visually connects the building to the neighborhood…it is a pure design statement articulated through technical precision and elegant engineering. One enters the Manaula House at the upper level. As the site drops away the architecture works with the site design to create the double height library on the lower floor looking out onto the landscape and surrounding neighborhood.

Innovation in learning environments: Saunalahti School

The second building we visited was the Saunalahti School designed by Verstas Architects in 2012, located Espoo, a 40-minute metro ride away from Helsinki. We met up with the Vice Principal, Minna to tour the building. Saunalahti School embodies much of what I traveled to study; an architecture that is designed specifically to bring education out of the traditional classroom and create innovative environments that accommodate a variety of teaching methods.

The heart of the school is the Auditorium. Centrally located, this area can function as the theater, cafeteria, or assembly space. Aligned to a large curtain wall, the room is flooded with natural light allowing for minimal use of artificial light. The administrative offices are located above the auditorium providing direct sightlines down to the space. Felt on the bottom side of tables and the perforated wood ceiling make the large volume fell acoustically intimate.

The corridor connecting the auditorium to the main entrance is a learning environment made up of small seating groups centered around a massive concrete fireplace looking out onto the playground.  The architect activated this space turning a simple hallway into one of the most unique experiences in the building. Minna identified this as her favorite area of the school.  She often sits with students in the “green chairs” to have one on one conversations, and she observes the kids utilizing the space in the same way.

This space also represents an overlap in the building between public and private use. Portions of the Saunalahti School are open to the community after hours. At the main entrance there is a public library that accesses the fireplace seating. Minna describes this as another opportunity to enhance the security of the building: by opening the doors to the residents the administration is able to get to know the public and bring them into the school’s community. As we toured residents were coming and going from the green chairs, reading magazines and working on tablets. There is no scenario I could imagine this openness being accepted in a U.S. School. 

Where traditional classrooms occur they are grouped together around a small communal space and teacher work room. This provides teachers with a variety of spaces to support all types of learners.  All classrooms have sightlines into adjacent teaching spaces. Minna tells us this feature both enhances security and allows younger students to observe the classroom behavior of their older classmates.

Sustainability: The Kolla School

The Kolla School, designed by Kjellgren Kaminsky Architecture is located in Kungsbacka a suburb outside of Gothenburg, Sweden. This was a key building for the trip based on the remarkable achievement of being the first Passive House certified school in Sweden, but I found that the culture of inclusion and respect for the individual student were just as compelling. One of the greatest moments of the trip was the discovery of student made glazed brick installations on the schools street façade letting everyone know this building is special.

The Head Master spent hours with us describing every inch of the school and explained how the design of each space was curated to the specific needs of their pedagogy.  He attributes the overall success of the project to the critical component of trust as the guiding principle of the team. The building was completed on time on schedule, and Passive House certification was achieved the summer before they opened for the first school year making it the largest Passive House school in Sweden at the time. As you enter the building the commitment to sustainability is reinforced with a digital display showing real time energy consumption data.

The lobby opens onto a double height atrium space which serves as a central-hub linking three educational wings to community spaces and connecting to the playground through large colorful windows.  The fundamental ingredients that make a memorable building interior; light, color, acoustics, texture are elegantly combined in school to demonstrate how architecture can enhance the student’s relationship to education. As we walked Mats said it best; “A well designed school will make the students feel good.  When students feel good they will perform better academically.”

Inclusion of special needs students is the design focus of the educational wings. Kolla School has a high percentage of special needs students and the educational wings are designed to integrate these students with their peers while providing the sense of security they need to be successful. A typical grouping of classrooms or “village” features large windows at varying heights, interior glazing that allows visual connections between classrooms, a group work area with built-in furniture, mobile workstations for individual instruction and an adjustable height smart board to accommodate students in wheelchairs.

Different but the Same

Designers and educators can make large impacts on the experience of students with minor interventions. In the United States today we face very different hurdles than our European colleagues in securing our schools but we are all seeking the same goal of providing the best educational environment possible for our students. Innovative design thinking and collaboration with educators will provide the revolutionary solutions necessary to benefit the next generation of great thinkers. The classroom we grew up in is dead.

For a full account of the trip and detailed analysis of all the schools visited please check out Max’s travel blog at: https://maxgoes2school.tumblr.com/

Be Part of the Conversation about the Future of Educational Environments

The best place to find out about future-focused design and purchasing trends that are shaping today’s cutting-edge learning environments is EDspaces, October 23-25 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. EDspaces is the education industry’s only conference and expo focused the convergence of technology, space and pedagogy, and its impact on student outcomes.

EDspaces brings together professionals who design, equip and manage innovative learning environments and the manufacturers, service providers and dealers who offer the essential solutions. Two important audiences for EDspaces are personnel from school districts and colleges who are stakeholders in the building or renovating of educational facilities and the architects and designers working on those projects. EDspaces has been ranked one of the 50 fastest growing events by Trade Show Executive Magazine for the last three years with more than 160 exhibiting companies in over 600 exhibit spaces.

Once again, the American Institute of Architects Committee on Architecture for Education (AIA CAE) is co-locating its Fall Conference with EDspaces and serving as a valued Knowledge Partner. Other partners include the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), the Association of Technology Leaders in Independent Schools (ATLIS), the Independent Office Products and Furniture Distributors Association (IOPFDA), the U.S. Green Building Council’s Center for Green Schools, and, new this year, AVIXA, the Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association and DHI - Door Security + Safety Foundation.

The pre-conference Educational Distribution Symposium & Reception, sponsored by School Planning & Management and College Planning & Management, will be held on Tuesday, October 22. This education program is ideal to inspire top management and sales professionals to reach new levels of service to the educational products marketplace and to work in partnership with their vendors.

On Wednesday morning, Tony Wagner will share his thoughts on “Creating Innovators for the Future of Learning” at the Opening Plenary, sponsored by Grantells. During the conference, attendees can choose from 54 education sessions certified by AIA, GBCI and IDCEC for continuing education credit.

EDspaces has earned a reputation for “walking the talk” when it comes to educational environments with education sessions taking place in classrooms designed by leading vendor and architectural firms. These six, unique learning environments provide an immersive experience allowing participants to experience firsthand cutting-edge educational spaces.

New for 2019 are designed cafeteria spaces as well. Every school and college campus have a designated food service area. At EDspaces over 2,000 participants will be served lunch in the exhibit hall during the event and will have Cafe seating areas designed and furnished to reflect the possibilities available when planning for a new cafeteria or dining hall.

Sustainability of facilities and wellness of students and faculty are the focus of the new education experience and lounge on the exhibit floor. The Sustainability and Wellness Learning Zone will house a series of 30-minute professional development sessions to highlight these important aspects of educational design. It will also have a gallery of ideas from Knowledge Partners USGBC and sponsor Interface to highlight concepts and examples of wellness and sustainability.

Attendees can take part in experiential learning and see and experience recently built learning environments in the area through EDfacility Tours. A wide range of K-12 and higher ed tours were planned by the local, volunteer team of architects and school officials in and around Milwaukee. New for 2019 is a pre-conference STEM Innovation Tour with an education component and tour of three Makerspace and FabLabs. At each school participants will learn from administrators and architects who worked on the project as they discuss the planning, design, build and upkeep process as well as the impact the project has on the students the schools serve.

Register today at www.ed-spaces.com