Educational architect Robin Randall shares realistic advice about the challenges of adding developmentally appropriate, play-based kindergarten classrooms while respecting budget limitations. As of December 2022, 41 states and Washington, D.C. require school districts to offer kindergarten, but only 19 states and D.C. require children to attend kindergarten, according toThe Education Commission of the States. There […]
How to pass school construction referendums
Passing a school construction referendum requires a careful balancing act of showing the need, making the right ask, and most importantly, building community support. LaSalle-Peru Township High School District 120 operated a 90-year-old campus that had not received major updates in more than 50 years. The Illinois district needed to modernize its aging facilities, but […]
ARP ESSER Fund: how can school districts best navigate COVID-19 relief spending?
A once-in-a-generation opportunity: EDengage roundtable explores how school districts can spend ESSER III COVID relief funds for the greatest impact What projects qualify for COVID relief? How can we use the funds to improve our dated ventilation systems? Will the funds cover remodeling? What about new construction? These are just a few of the questions […]
School architecture: 3 examples of research transforming educational design
A design process that starts and ends with research results in school environments that energize learning. When it comes time to build, whether it’s new construction or renovations, design teams can transform purpose into place by putting the educational institution’s mission at the center of the design approach. But how can we bridge the learning […]
Early Learning in Ohio: Co-Location, Design for Introverts, and Outdoor Learning
Educators and architects gather to discuss critical issues impacting early learning centers in Ohio How can color and light support learning? What facilities upgrades promote accessibility and safety? How does seating impact the classroom dynamic? What can schools do about a lack of storage spaces? Earlier this year, we met with Ohio school district leaders […]
Architecture That Helps Children Fall in Love with the Environment
The coming decades present a major ecological challenge . . . so let’s encourage the next generation to do something about it! I remember a children’s story about a man who got angry when neighborhood kids threw rocks at ducks. He’d yell at them, but they would keep coming back to throw more rocks. One […]
Tech in the Classroom: Is Your School Ready for Rapid Educational Change?
It’s about time for school facilities to catch up to the Information Age. Technology is a pervasive part of our children’s lives. They’ve grown up with it. They can’t imagine life without it. Teachers continue to explore new ways of using technology as a teaching tool: virtual learning, 3D printing, coordination of diverse devices, and […]
Essentials of Early Learning Center Design – Part Four (Welcome the Community)
The early learning years can be a stressful time. In many cases, it’s not only the first educational experience for the child, but it’s also the first time that parents are sending off a child. The design of the early learning center has the potential to reduce that stress for both child and parent. In […]
Architecture and Leadership Development
“Educational architecture can create opportunities for learning, or barriers to it.” Patrick Brosnan discusses how community-based design can inspire leadership.
