Features such as garage doors or large windows are used to maintain clear visual supervision between indoor and outdoor learning areas. | Photo Credit: Courtesy of HED
By Jennette La Quire, AIA, LEED AP ID+C听
Across all grade levels,听hands-on learning is听gaining renewed momentum. As teachers and administrators听increasingly embrace experiential approaches, education is transforming into a more active,听collaborative听and dynamic process听for students. This shift is fueling a demand to听creatively and effectively听connect theoretical knowledge and practical听application听鈥� and is听set to define 2026 and beyond.听听
Nurturing Wellbeing with (and without) Technology听
Safety is the priority for all school design stakeholders. Creating a single point-of-entry, while allowing for emergency egress from various parts of the campus, is a strategic way to enhance security without installing overbearing fencing. Windows enable passive supervision and enhance the overall atmosphere. While light and healthy learning spaces are ideal, they must also be designed with potential threats in mind. Aside from window treatments, interior locks, places to duck-and-cover, and screening via shrubbery, schools are starting to install call buttons (also known as panic buttons), which can instantly alert the entire campus to an emergency. This style of broadcast system is an听additional听tool to make students feel safe without making them feel confined.
High-resolution听security cameras听are becoming increasingly common, and not just on the听exterior. High schools are experiencing an uptick of students vaping in bathrooms, setting off smoke detectors, and flushing vapes down the toilet, often leading to plumbing issues. One trending solution involves placing a high-resolution camera at the bathroom鈥檚 exterior entrance听as a deterrent,听since听they鈥檒l听be seen entering or exiting the restroom where these incidents occur.听
Adapting to Pre-K (or TK) Inclusion听
At the elementary level, school districts are听following听funding听and policy听shifts to incorporate听transitional kindergarten (TK),听also known as pre-K,听into听both听new and听existing听buildings. The听challenge听for planners and designers is that state听policies听often require preschools to听meet听lower teacher-to-student ratios than the rest of the school,听along with听in-class restrooms听that are easy to supervise.
In听HED鈥檚听听across听the听San Francisco Bay Area, cost-effective use of existing infrastructure has been central to successful modernization efforts.For new construction, districts that have not yet received funding or mandates are proactively planning for future TK integration by including听stubbing in听plumbing and听allocating听additional听classroom space.听
Fine-Tuning Food Service听
For school districts in California (and elsewhere), the free-lunch policy instituted during the COVID-19听era has听continued.听As a result, the number of students taking advantage of accessible food has ballooned. To adapt to the听increased strain on the cafeteria space and staff, food service is shifting away from long queues of counter service to 鈥渟peed lines.鈥澨鼳t听Palo Alto鈥檚 Gunn High School,听HED听instituted lines that move along both sides of grab-and-go, center islands. Minimal staff听members听are听required to听scan items at the end of the two lines, ensuring each student receives a well-rounded听meal听and the food service director can track the volume of items听consumed.听The trend to听streamline food service听helps听minimize听queues,听allowing听more time for children to eat,听and听measures听the impact on kitchen capacity.听
Reimagining CTE听
Career Technical Education (CTE) spaces have become听drivers听for design innovation. Gone are the days of tucking woodshop or auto mechanics in a back room. Practical, hands-on learning environments are taking center stage alongside technology, math,听science听and art instruction.听
In some cases, schools are proactively linking the contemplative and kinetic aspects of CTE,听facilitating听connectivity through all aspects of a particular career pathway. HED鈥檚 project at Santana High School听in听San Diego County, Calif.,听involved converting a formerly HVAC equipment-filled mezzanine into a viewing corridor linking the computer lab to the fabrication lab. Given this easy connection, students can work on architectural and engineering project calculations and drawings; then, they can easily move to the neighboring auto shop, fabrication lab, or electronics lab to bring their creation to life. Incorporating both the technical and hands-on aspects of that learning experience helps students get a feel for different careers, such as engineering versus construction, and gain insight into potential pathways after graduation.
Embracing the 鈥渋f you can see it, you can be it鈥� philosophy, the Grossmont Union High School District integrated a听into its campus. The facility delivers professional training and certifications for in-demand careers, such as dental assistant, vet tech, phlebotomist, EMT and nursing assistant. For younger students, it creates a sense of access and possibility.听
Read more about听CTE spaces, and听how adaptable spaces and听new technologies听can also support flexibility and sustainability,听in the听November/December Technology edition of 杏吧原版視頻.听
Jennette La Quire, AIA, LEED AP ID+C, is the听Pre-K-12 Sector Leader听at HED and a member of the 杏吧原版視頻 Editorial Advisory Board.听