Building+Stucture

By Carmen Gioiosa

A design element that should be considered is the organization of educational faculties—should schools continue to be organized by content or grade levels or “around different ways of working-from team working, to reflection, to accessing information” (Rudd, Gifford, Morrison, & Facer, 2006, p. 23). Or should we consider the design centered around projects? For example, should a space be created for brainstorming or idea development, another for collaboration, and a third for presentation purposes? (Ibid.) A second design aspect is that of the school’s relationship with the community (Rudd et al., 2006; Kennedy, 2001). One must consider the associations or relationships learning centers will require given the variety of student learning pathways and the simple fact that learning can take place anywhere.

Building from Lackney’s (2000) design principles, or building structure of 2025 will consider all spaces as part of the “educational project”, which includes outdoor spaces (Heitor, 2005). Heitor emphasizes that “outdoor spaces are not considered as secondary areas but integrated to become part of the learning process, thus they denote a specific landscape treatment” (Ibid.). Tajimi Junior High School, located in Japan, is an example for consideration. In the image below (left) they use the courtyard as a bazaar, café, concerts, or area for student collaboration or congregation. Their second courtyard (right) is accessible from classrooms as an extension of the learning environment.  Source: []

A second design element to be included is the communal space which will “foster social interaction among school users” (Heitor, 2005, p. 47). Alpha High School (USA) and the Australian Mathematics and Science School (Australia) provide examples for consideration. 

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A third design element is the “gravity centre” where sections of the school intersect and students congregate (Heitor, 2005). Building examples incorporating this spatial design element include, but are not limited to, gallery spaces, covered patios, open courtyards, “glass box”, or dining halls (Ibid.). High Tech Middle School (USA) (left) created a gallery space to showcase student work and provide viewing access to classroom activities while creating space for student discussion or collaboration in their newly constructed school (source: []). Two schools in England experimented with patios or courtyards (below). This design connects students with their natural environment and can act as a source of inspiration and/or social emotional balance in a fast paced and technologically advanced society.

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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Whereas two schools experimented with large communal student spaces such as the auditorium, school entrance, and cafeteria as places for student collaboration. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Source: []

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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Next: Classroom Design