Learning By Design Magazine recognizes Legat Architects’ Director of Learning Robin Randall for her national leadership in school design, educational planning, and research-driven learning environments.
When Laraway School opened in Joliet, Illinois, educators noticed something unusual.
Students were interacting differently. The school’s design, organized into grade-level neighborhoods around a central courtyard, appeared to be changing how students connected with one another. Curious about the impact, Robin Randall partnered with a neuroscience researcher from Northwestern University to conduct a post-occupancy study.
The results were striking: increased school pride and significantly reduced bullying.
Randall partnered with a Northwestern University researcher to conduct a post-occupancy study at Laraway School.
For Randall, director of learning at Legat Architects, the findings reinforced a belief that has guided her career for nearly four decades: the design of learning environments can profoundly influence how students feel, interact, and learn.
The work of this year’s ICON in Education Design Award recipients reflects a deep understanding that well-conceived learning environments can positively influence the cultural, social, emotional, economic, academic, and overall well-being of the communities they serve.
Mark Goodman, Publisher Learning By Design
A National Honor for a Career in Education Design
Randall’s philosophy has now earned her one of education design’s highest honors.
Learning By Design Magazine, in partnership with Tarkett, has selected Randall as a recipient of its 2026 ICON in Education Design Award, recognizing individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to learning environments and demonstrated visionary leadership in advancing education through design.
According to the organization, Randall distinguished herself among a highly competitive field of nominees and earned the admiration of an independent jury of education, design, and industry leaders.
Robin Randall is one of five recipients of the Learning By Design 2026 ICON in Education Design Award.
“Robin is a genuine change-maker — both a visionary and an advocate for the students, communities, and clients she serves,” wrote Learning By Design Publisher Mark Goodman in announcing the award.
Randall played a key role in the research and design of A.E.R.O. Therapeutic Center, which serves differently abled and behaviorally challenged students from 11 school districts. The understated nature of the atrium, for instance, is by intent.
Research Meets Real-World Impact
Few architects have devoted themselves to education design as completely as Randall.
An Accredited Learning Environment Planner (ALEP) and Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA), she has spent her career helping school districts align educational goals with the spaces where learning occurs. Her research framework, How Buildings Teach, explores how architecture can support collaboration, social-emotional learning, curiosity, and student well-being.
Research into the needs of early learners drove design of Jefferson Early Childhood Center.
Her influence can be seen in award-winning projects across the Midwest.
At Jefferson Early Childhood Center in Wheaton, Illinois, Randall helped create a purpose-built environment that integrates nature, therapy, and play to support the district’s youngest learners, including many requiring specialized services. At A.E.R.O. Therapeutic Center in Burbank, Illinois, she helped redefine special education facility design through a highly specialized environment serving students with diverse cognitive, physical, and behavioral needs.
The research that informed those projects is not confined to the drawing board. Randall has organized symposia, led international conversations on neuroscience and learning environments, and presented nationally on topics ranging from outdoor learning and biophilic design to social-emotional development.
John Hancock College Preparatory High School uplifts an underserved Chicago neighborhood by creating a community gathering place.
Designing Schools That Strengthen Communities
Randall’s work has also helped intensify the bond between schools and the communities they serve.
At John Hancock College Preparatory High School in Chicago, she co-led the design of a community-centered campus that expanded educational opportunities for a predominantly Hispanic and economically disadvantaged student population. Shared amenities including performance, athletic, and gathering spaces help the school serve as a neighborhood hub.
Across the Midwest, Randall has guided community engagement efforts involving thousands of stakeholders and helped school districts secure more than $1 billion in voter-approved investments in educational facilities. Her approach ensures that students, educators, families, and residents all have a voice in shaping the future of their learning environments.
Her leadership extends beyond Legat as well. Randall serves on the board of directors for the Playful Learning Landscapes Action Network, helping expand research-based learning opportunities into public spaces and communities.
What makes Robin exceptional, however, is not simply her design expertise — it is her collaborative leadership. She created a process where educators, therapists, administrators, and families felt heard and valued.
Bill Roseland, Ed.D., Executive Director A.E.R.O. Special Education Cooperative
A Legacy of Leadership and Mentorship
The ICON in Education Design Awards recognize professionals who challenge convention, advance the practice of education design, mentor future leaders, and demonstrate how the built environment can improve educational outcomes.
For those who have worked alongside Randall, the recognition comes as no surprise.
Whether she is guiding a district through a master plan, mentoring an emerging professional, presenting research at a national conference, or studying how a courtyard influences student behavior, her focus remains the same: creating environments where people can learn, grow, and thrive.
The 2026 ICON in Education Design Award recipients are featured in the June edition of Learning By Design Magazine.
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