Interior design is constantly evolving with the development of new teaching methods. There are three key design trends you will see more of in 2018: open, welcoming and secure entrances; flexible spaces; and decorative themes that create a sense of ownership and belonging. It goes without saying that safety and security are also at the forefront of interior design.

Open, Welcoming & Secure Entrances

Have you ever arrived at a school and wondered where the main entrance was? After entering the school, have you wondered where to go next? Schools designed in 2018 will surely negate those experiences by providing a clear, open, safe and welcoming entrance — not only into the building, but also upon approach to the site.

It all begins in the parking lot with signage for vehicles, busses and visitors, followed by appropriately placed signage to guide visitors to the school’s main entrance. Upon entry into the school, visitors should receive that same warm welcome. This can be achieved with controlled access via a buzzer and an open, airy, well-lit and comfortably furnished space that displays the school colors by way of paint or banners. Adding student artwork to the space creates a sense of ownership.

The warm welcome can be extended into the facility through the use of safety glass and skylights that convey a sense of visibility and security. It is imperative that this space can be seen from other parts of the facility, including the second floor, and vice versa.

Flexible Spaces

The types and sizes of spaces within a school facility must be flexible — it’s that simple. This includes a typical classroom, which is approximately 900 square feet, as well as large, open spaces such as extended-learning areas, lecture halls and commons, and small, intimate spaces for teamwork and collaboration. Since play is a key part of student development, each of these spaces should be designed with work and play in mind.

Informal spaces must be flexible as well. Examples of informal spaces include hallways and stairwells. In addition to serving as circulation spaces, they can serve as gathering and presentation areas. For that reason, hallways and stairwells should be wide enough to accommodate seating.

A final flexibility factor to keep in mind is being able to serve different grade levels over time. While a facility might be designed for 750 middle school students initially, it should be able to accommodate elementary or high school students in the future.

Decorative Themes

While nearly every square foot of public schools must be practical, useful and functional from a taxpayer’s point of view, today’s facilities should also create a sense of   beauty, ownership and belonging. There are several examples of this throughout the country. The Dan Dipert Career + Technical Center in Arlington, Texas, introduces geometric design and school colors at the main entrance and continues them throughout the facility. The walls and furnishings mimic the entrance by incorporating angles, curves, and a gray and red color palette. Inspirational quotes cover several walls.

Another example is Old Donation School in Virginia Beach, Va. The school’s interior reflects the exterior by using natural colors such as blue to represent water, green to represent vegetation and brown to mimic trees. The use of glass in the center of the facility allows the natural daylight to stream in and infuses the area with sunshine. Indeed, glass brings the outdoors in.

Since students often learn through self-exploration and discovery, it’s our job to give them welcoming, flexible and beautiful spaces to spark their interest and creativity while keeping them safe and secure. 

To read the entire article, check out the March/April issue of School Construction News.

Kerrianne Wolf, REFP, is the educational specifications specialist for Cooperative Strategies, a national company that assists educational agencies in providing quality facilities to students.

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How do you make school facilities constructed from concrete, bricks and mortar flexible? By definition, these materials are fixed. We want them to be strong and immobile. So, why is flexibility the biggest school design trend in 21st century planning?

Flexibility accommodates changes in educational delivery, technology and enrollment. The most flexible spaces trending today include lecture halls, extended learning areas, media centers and commons.

Lecture halls accommodate large groups — approximately 75 to 100 people — but flexible, mobile furnishings permit multiple space configurations, such as small-group spaces. Extended learning areas take education beyond the walls of the classroom to adjacent space that can be easily supervised. Media centers and commons are often adjacent to extended learning areas or a cafeteria — they’re typically in the center of the facility near core academic pods. Placing the media center and commons near these spaces lets students combine study and social time. Equipping these spaces with technology, outlets and charging stations increases their flexibility.

School facilities must flex over time. A district in Virginia constructed a visual and performing arts facility to serve gifted and talented students in grades 2-8; however, the facility is perfectly suited for K-12 instruction, too. It has a full-sized auditorium, a black box theater, dance studios, classrooms for instrumental music instruction and a lecture hall, making it conducive for K-12 instruction as well as community use.

A district in Ohio is in flex overdrive because of massive enrollment surges. The district had one high school in 1989; the fourth will open in 2018. Along the way, one of the high schools was repurposed into a middle school to accommodate the growing student population.

Another Ohio district repurposed in the opposite direction: A middle school became a high school — not to accommodate an enrollment increase, but to provide students with a curriculum focused on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

A Georgia district is planning a high school devoted to STEM programming, too. It will serve 1,500 STEM students, but it can also serve a traditional high school population if programming shifts or enrollment changes. The facility will include a “touchdown space” in the center of the school. It’s a hybrid of a cafeteria, library and commons, so students can study in small or large groups and socialize. They will have quick access to administrative offices that flank the perimeter, enabling them to meet impromptu with guidance counselors throughout the day.

Flexibility is good on a small scale, too. Adding a makerspace for a STEM or STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) curriculum enables students to carry out hands-on investigations that foster critical thinking and problem solving. A Virginia high school added a makerspace to the perimeter of the facility that doubles as a rainwater catch-and-store lab and a greenhouse. An Illinois elementary school added equipment to an extended learning area so the space can double as a makerspace. It has direct access to core academic classrooms and the outdoors.

The biggest challenge in facility planning is predicting the future, and since that’s nearly impossible, creating flexible spaces is the safest bet. Today’s optimal learning environments might not be tomorrow’s, but flexible spaces such as lecture halls, extended learning areas, media centers and commons help us prepare for future needs. They enable buildings to be used for different purposes.

Don’t forget to check out this article in the September/October issue of School Construction News.

Kerrianne Wolf, REFP, is the educational specifications specialist for Cooperative Strategies, previously DeJONG-RICHTER.

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