LEARNING
ENVIRONMENTS
Intentional
Space Design
Above: A flexible learning environment at the Saunalahti School.
Left: Real time energy use data displayed at the entry to the Kolla School
grouping of classrooms or “village”
features large windows at varying
heights, interior glazing that allows
visual connections between class-
rooms, a group work area with built-
in furniture, mobile workstations for
individual instruction and an adjust-
able height smart board to accom-
modate students in wheelchairs.
school to demonstrate how architecture
can enhance the student’s relationship
to education. As we walked Mats said it
best; “A well designed school will make
the students feel good. When students
feel good they will perform better aca-
demically.”
Inclusion of special needs students
is the design focus of the educational
wings. Kolla School has a high per-
centage of special needs students and
the educational wings are designed to
integrate these students with their peers
while providing the sense of security
they need to be successful. A typical
Different but the Same
Designers and educators can make
large impacts on the experience of stu-
dents with minor interventions. In the
United States today we face very differ-
ent hurdles than our European col-
leagues in securing our schools, but we
are all seeking the same goal of provid-
ing the best educational environment
MAX MCCLOSKEY will be presenting
“Cutting-Edge Scandinavian Schools:
A Design Research Mission” on Friday,
October 25 during EDspaces 2019.
possible for our students. Innovative
design thinking and collaboration with
educators will provide the revolution-
ary solutions necessary to benefit the
next generation of great thinkers. The
classroom we grew up in is dead. n
For a full account of the trip and
detailed analysis of all the schools vis-
ited please check out Max’s travel blog
at: https://maxgoes2school.tumblr.com
MAX
MCCLOSKEY
is an Associate
and Project
Architect with
Humphries
Poli Architects
in Denver,
Colorado. Max
is a leader of the
firm’s education
practice, specializing in the Master Plan-
ning and design of K-12 facilities.
essentials | www.edmarket.org 19