school multi-purpose

  In an era where “one size fits all” has become increasingly outdated, the design of K-12 schools is no exception. Gone are the days of rigid, single-purpose classrooms that merely serve as vessels for information delivery. Enter the age of flexible, multi-use learning spaces that foster creativity, collaboration and adaptability. Adapting to the Dynamics

  A school fieldhouse or gymnasium can host a lot of events and activities. From intramural tournaments to local blood drives, there is a wide array of community events that need space to operate. When coordinating a schedule for this type of facility, it’s a good idea to be as adaptable as possible. Here are

  In today’s schools, flexibility is key to serving an ever-changing array of student and instructor needs. Here are some of the trends our K-12 team is seeing, and implementing, in educational facilities. Q: What are some of the materials/features supporting flex spaces that are popular with schools these days? CHAD RETTKE, CONSTRUCTION EXECUTIVE: The

  By Steven Herr, AIA For educators, students and families, 2020 has been a test of patience and persistence. Finishing the school year remotely, creating contingency plans for a new year and preparing facilities for in-person learning this fall has forced many of us to reflect on the state of our learning environments. Even if

  By Julie Wenckowski As schools are moving towards a more holistic approach to learning, creating flexible spaces that accommodate a variety of pedagogical learning styles has become a critical design element. Schools are removing sterile and cold spaces like cafeterias and large hallways and transforming them into flexible, functional spaces. Here are a few

Pre-K–12 education has become far more sophisticated over the years, and with that has come the need to re-evaluate how school design must evolve to keep up with the current curriculum. There is a greater emphasis on student collaboration and creativity today, and technology has become a standard part of every learning environment. Many elementary,

By Julie Wenckowski Recently I worked with a school district that had a mixture of newer and older buildings. While the new buildings are constructed for the 21st Century learner, the older buildings’ “traditional” structure fell short. Administrators challenged the faculty and staff to think outside the box and transform the older buildings to meet

By Ron Fenhaus From sporting events to after-school activities, your school’s gymnasium is designed to serve a multitude of purposes built to withstand the test of time. And for schools that have hardwood floors, there’s more to that flooring system than the boards beneath your feet. Hardwood floor systems are comprised of multiple layers, and

When you think about the ingredients for academic success, some of the obvious ones likely spring to mind, like curriculum, teaching style, and individual discipline. While these all play a role, the physical setup of the classroom can be just as important. According to a report from Partnership for the 21 Century Learning (P21), the