What You Need to Know听

• The project team marked a topping-out milestone for the Saban Center now rising in Tuscaloosa鈥檚 River District.听

• Plans call for a 118,000-square-foot complex on a 7.71-acre site along the Black Warrior River, with a 70-foot glass tower as a centerpiece.听

• Campus partners named include the State of Alabama STEM Hub, the Tuscaloosa Children鈥檚 Theatre and IGNITE (formerly the Children鈥檚 Hands-On Museum).听

• Design/delivery partners cited include Steinberg Hart (with Davis Architects), Stone Building Company,听CambridgeSeven听and Theatre Projects.听

Learn More听

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. 鈥� The Saban Center reached a key construction benchmark March 30 as crews and project partners celebrated the building鈥檚 topping out at the future STEM-and-arts听learning campus in Tuscaloosa鈥檚 River District.听

The facility, described as a first-of-its-kind campus combining science, technology, engineering and math with arts programming, is expected to open in 2027.听

The marble-clad complex is being designed by Steinberg Hart in collaboration with Birmingham-based Davis Architects, with Stone Building Company serving as general contractor. Newly released renderings depict a series of curved pavilions connected to a transparent central tower.听

鈥淪aban Center is deeply personal to us鈥攚e鈥檝e been involved every step of the way, working closely with the design team to shape a place where children of all ages can explore their curiosity and imagine what鈥檚 possible for their futures,鈥� according to听.听

Renderings also show the building set into a natural slope on the 7.71-acre site, intended to reduce the perceived height at street level while creating a prominent landmark from the north. Project materials describe multiple outdoor approaches meant to position the campus as a public, inclusive destination for families and school groups.听

The exterior facade is planned to use locally sourced recycled marble from the Alabama Marble Mineral & Mining Company. Inside, the design team selected regionally sourced woods and metals as part of a sustainability approach that emphasizes local sourcing, material听reuse听and resilient construction.听

At the center of the complex, a 70-foot glass tower is expected to house an 18-foot illuminated globe described in project materials as a beacon for the evolving River District and a symbol of discovery and innovation.听

Led by Nick and Terry Saban and Nick鈥檚 Kids Foundation in partnership with the City of Tuscaloosa, the campus is being delivered through a public-private collaboration that also includes the State of Alabama, which plans to听establish听the State of Alabama STEM Hub on-site.听

Project leaders framed the building design as integral to the learning mission. 鈥淭he design of the Saban Center reflects a shared belief that architecture can actively support learning and discovery,鈥� according to听.听

Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox also positioned the campus as a workforce-development asset, saying Saban Center 鈥渨ill be a catalyst for building Alabama鈥檚 future-ready workforce.”

This article is based on reporting originally published by Saban Center on March 30, 2026.听

The post Saban Center Tops Out in Tuscaloosa, Moving STEM-and-Arts Learning Campus Toward 2027 Opening appeared first on 糖心少女.

The post Saban Center Tops Out in Tuscaloosa, Moving STEM-and-Arts Learning Campus Toward 2027 Opening appeared first on 糖心少女.

By听Eric听Jay听Toll

Career readiness education is implemented through multiple methodologies, increasingly adopted by听numerous听school districts, particularly within states such as Arizona. These approaches may include academies that integrate traditional core curricula with career-oriented instruction, as well as Career and Technical Education (CTE), which deliver specialized technical听education and certifications听aligned with specific trades or professions. The associated campuses and facilities are purposefully designed to equip students with educational experiences that prepare them for future careers.听

Each unique educational setting is customized to align with听particular industries,听occupations听or career trajectories,听necessitating听facilities that enable educators to effectively prepare students for their intended professions.听

鈥淭here are more diverse learning pathways available today than ever before,鈥澨齭aid听Tyler Shupe,听senior听director听of听Education Services听at McCarthy Building Companies听in Phoenix.听听听

Shupe works with school districts on behalf of McCarthy. He sees districts recognizing听that听career focused听education听is听of听growing听interest听to听communities,听students听and employers.听Responding to the听call,听they听are听customizing听learning spaces, whether听by听renovating an existing campus, expanding it, or building听entirely new facilities.听

听Shupe听has听led听several of these听education听projects in the Greater Phoenix area. Two听of these听include the听currently under construction听Agua Fria Union High School District鈥檚听(AFHSD)听new听Hilltop School for the Arts and Theater听campus in Litchfield Park, Arizona,听and the听recently completed听Northeast听Campus expansion听of听Western Maricopa Education Center, known as West-MEC, in听North听Phoenix.听

Designing Schools to Mirror the Workplace

A career- or arts-focused curriculum changes how the school must be designed compared with a traditional comprehensive high school, according to Shupe. The intention is to听create learning spaces that replicate the working environment.听

鈥淢ost academies and CTE spaces require not only a classroom for learning, but also a hands-on learning space,鈥� Shupe explained.听鈥淪tudents get time in the classroom and time learning by doing, and every program has its own classroom, lab, and space designed just for it.鈥�听听

In addition to the arts and CTE, academy high schools are being built or expanded to include current technology facilities for technology, manufacturing, healthcare听and听trades听education, and other specialized careers that might not require a four-year college degree for career starts.听

For West-MEC, McCarthy听recently听expanded its CTE for welding and advanced manufacturing. At Hilltop, the new $75 million campus听blends听both听high-tech听high school听classrooms with听facilities听for literary, visual, performing and media/digital arts programs. Undertaking such tasks goes beyond design and building.听

鈥淎cross our district, I鈥檝e seen how specialty learning environments truly change the way students connect with their education,鈥� said听Mark Yslas, Superintendent for听AFHSD.听鈥淲hether听it鈥檚听hands-on career programs, advanced academics, or real-world learning experiences, these spaces are built around our students鈥� interests and goals. By creating environments that reflect industry, innovation, and creativity,听we鈥檙e听helping ensure our students graduate prepared for whatever path they choose.鈥�听

Community Partnerships Shape Campus Development

Developing a specialized high school program requires strong collaboration with the community. For听AFHSD, the Hilltop project presented听challenges, which听is听common听for initiatives that have a focused purpose. The campus is听being built听on听the site of听a historic听estate, with an application underway for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.听As the highest point in the city,听The听Hilltop is physically prominent and serves as a central feature in the District鈥檚 Academies of the Southwest transformation.听听听

鈥淭he historic estate residences remain on-site and are in the process of being transformed into museum spaces,鈥澨齋hupe said,听as he numbered off all the stakeholders in this project beyond just the high school district administration, teachers and interested parents.听鈥淭he听property is owned by the City of Litchfield Park and leased to听AFHSD,听to听expand arts opportunities for students and residents alike,听an example of strong community partnerships听in action.鈥�听

Aligning Education with Regional Workforce Demand

West-MEC has an entirely听different set听of collaborators. The Phoenix area has become听the听Silicon Desert. Taiwan-based TSMC is building one of the largest chip fabrication plants in the world. With it, Greater Phoenix is seeing extensive industrial听development,听听and听electric-vehicle and associated parts manufacturing. With the volume of new businesses, there is an insatiable demand for well-trained future employees.听

鈥淲est MEC establishes industry advisory committees for each program,鈥� Shupe explained. 鈥淭hese committees guide the district on emerging skills and priorities for student learning. West MEC then equips students with the certifications they need to transition directly into the workforce upon graduation.鈥�听

Built at the district’s Northeast Campus, the $13.5 million project totals听16,500 square feet听of advanced manufacturing floor space, complete with a clean room and industry-standard equipment. Also included is an electric vehicle bay that they outfitted to create a next-generation teaching facility for EV technology.听

鈥淥ur programs are built in partnership with the community and industries we serve,鈥� said West-MEC Superintendent Dr. Scott Spurgeon. 鈥淭hat collaboration ensures West-MEC students are听trained on current technology and workforce expectations, strengthening both individual career pathways and our regional economy.鈥�听

Experience and Coordination Drive Successful Outcomes

CTE curriculum and facilities听isn鈥檛听something new for McCarthy. Shupe said that the construction company has partnered with West-MEC听over the last fifteen years听on three other campuses and many other school districts on a variety of听other CTE programs听and spaces.听

鈥淲e understand the importance听of hearing from听industry leaders听and working closely with the district and听our design partners听to provide听a听highly productive听learning environment that鈥檚 state-of-the-art,鈥� he said.听鈥淲e bring our听expertise听in听school construction to these projects and听work through a process that听incorporates feedback along with best practices to achieve the goals of the district and its听stakeholders.听We鈥檙e听all focused on student success, which makes these projects particularly rewarding.鈥澨�听

Building today鈥檚听career-oriented听learning听campuses,听renovating听or expanding an existing facility requires unique experience, from understanding project听objectives听and听collaborating with the community, to knowing how to build a successful school.听

鈥淲e learn as much听about听the project as we can, the needs of the client, and how the building is going to be used,鈥澨齭aid听Shupe. 鈥淓very program is unique, and we start by understanding what needs to go into that space.听鈥淭he effort involves a higher degree of coordination than what鈥檚 needed for conventional construction projects.鈥�听

Eric Jay Toll听is听a freelance writer and Communications Manager for the city of Phoenix Community and Economic Development Department.听

The post How Districts are Addressing Career Readiness appeared first on 糖心少女.

The post How Districts are Addressing Career Readiness appeared first on 糖心少女.

By Lindsey Coulter

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. 鈥� Huntsville City Schools has broken ground on a new shared campus that will house two rebuilt elementary schools, marking a major milestone in the district鈥檚 10-year capital plan.

The project will replace Montview Elementary School and the Academy for Science and Foreign Language (ASFL) Elementary, a citywide STEM magnet program that will be reimagined and renamed when it moves to the new site. The campus will be constructed on Montview Elementary鈥檚 existing property, transforming the 18-acre site into a modern facility serving both neighborhood and magnet students.

The approximately $56 million project calls for a single 110,000-square-foot building, with each school occupying about 55,000 square feet. Both schools will serve students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. Construction is scheduled to begin this month, and the campus is expected to open in August 2027.

Although they will share a building, the schools will operate in dedicated spaces tailored to their instructional needs. Montview Elementary will continue serving the Lee High School feeder pattern and include specialized classrooms, flex labs, a full-size gym, safe rooms and multiple age-appropriate playgrounds.

The new STEM magnet school will support students from across Huntsville and feature STEM laboratories, interactive teaching walls, flexible learning rooms and multi-use spaces aligned with its curriculum.

鈥淭his groundbreaking represents our promise in Huntsville City Schools to deliver the very best for students, and progress is already happening inside our classrooms each and every day,鈥� Superintendent Dr. Clarence Sutton said. 鈥淥n the recent state report cards, Montview Elementary rose to a B, and ASFL Elementary rose to an A. Our capital plan and strategic plan are working hand-in-hand to support students and empower teachers.鈥�

The district credited its project partners, including architect McMillan Pazdan Smith, TCU Consulting Services and contractor First Team Inc.

District leaders said the campus will honor Montview鈥檚 long-standing presence while creating an innovative environment for future generations. The effort is part of Huntsville City Schools鈥� wider plan to modernize learning facilities and expand academic opportunities across the system.

McMillan Pazdan Smith is serving as architect for the $49.8 million construction contract. Max White is the project manager, and Randy Jones will serve as superintendent for the build.

This marks the second significant construction milestone for HCS in 2025, as HCS opened its new central office and Huntsville Center for Technology campus in August. The $60 million investment aims to strengthen district operations and expand career training opportunities for students and marked a major step in HCS鈥� long-term effort to modernize its infrastructure and enhance student preparedness for future careers.

The 40,000-square-foot central office now serves as the district鈥檚 administrative headquarters, consolidating roughly 150 employees under one roof and improving collaboration and streamlining operations.

Located on the same campus, the 81,000-square-foot Huntsville Center for Technology serves approximately 600 students. The career and technical education hub offers programs in industrial technology, welding, culinary arts, cosmetology, health sciences, precision machining and other career pathways. The project was designed by Nola Van Peursem Architects and was constructed by Lee Builders Inc.

The post Huntsville City Schools Breaks Ground on Two New Elementary Schools appeared first on 糖心少女.

The post Huntsville City Schools Breaks Ground on Two New Elementary Schools appeared first on 糖心少女.

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. 鈥� Northern Kentucky University (NKU) has officially broken ground on an expansion project that will add 85,400 square feet to the Dorothy Westerman Hermann Science Center. University leaders and stakeholders held a ceremony on Oct. 30 to celebrate the project. 听

The $86 million expansion will enhance both lab resources and research centers while prioritizing collaboration. The building will house academic programs and STEM-focused disciplines within one state-of-the-art building. In addition to the new construction,19,000 square feet of the existing science center will also be renovated. The large public entrance will be made into a plaza, and the lobby will be a two-story atrium.听

The project was largely driven by increased student interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematic programs. The Hermann Science Center initially opened in 2002, and since then student interest in STEM-focused programs has steadily risen by 50%. 听

鈥淭he new facility will provide our natural sciences and engineering technology programs with a competitive edge, supporting our growing enrollment in these critical fields while allowing us to continue to provide an accessible and high-quality education for all,鈥� said Cady Short-Thompson, NKU president in a statement to the university鈥檚 website. 鈥淚t underscores our unwavering commitment to excellence in STEM+Health education and research, positioning NKU as a regional leader in innovation, workforce alignment and academic achievement.鈥澨�听

The added space will physically accommodate growing enrollment in science-related studies by implementing new technology, upgraded instrumentation and offering a centralized environment for cross-disciplinary studies from biology to mathematics. Seven new labs with computing and engineering capabilities will be included in the project as well as labs focusing on anatomy and physiology to support pre-medicine and health studies. Geological sciences will also be receiving two new and expanded labs for their studies. Open lounge and study spaces will be accessible on every floor of the new space, and student advising will be supported through the addition of more than 50 faculty and student advising offices.听

The new facility also opens doors for an increase in external research funding and networking capabilities by way of the location鈥檚 close proximity to the Norse Network Hub, a resource center intended to connect students and greater community in leveraging partnerships and opportunity. 听

Approximately $79.9 million of the project budget comes from a capital investment approved by the Kentucky General Assembly in the 2022-2024 biennial budget. An additional $6 million is being provided by the 2022 General Assembly as part of asset preservation funds.听听

Design on the project is being led by Lexington, Ky.-based Omni Architects, the same firm that originally designed the Hermann Science Center in 1997. Skanska USA Building Inc, will manage construction. The addition is expected to be completed by spring 2027. 听

The post STEM Interest Inspires $86 Million Expansion at Northern Kentucky University appeared first on 糖心少女.

The post STEM Interest Inspires $86 Million Expansion at Northern Kentucky University appeared first on 糖心少女.

FORTVILLE, Ind.鈥擲tructural engineering firm O鈥橠onnell & Naccarato has topped out at the Mt. Vernon School District鈥檚 151,000-square-foot Fortville Elementary School, which will serve nearly 1,000 students in grades K-4 when completed.

The $85 million two-story school will offer a media lab, flexible STEM lab, a dual-purpose cafeteria and the latest tech-enabled learning tools throughout.

O鈥橠onnell & Naccarato is working with Indianapolis-based Ratio Architects on fashioning a steel structural system for the school, which will also feature braces and moment frames for added stability.

The school is due to open for the 2025-2026 school year.

鈥淥&N is proud to partner with our colleagues and the Mt. Vernon School District to deliver this state-of-the-art project on time and within budget,鈥� O&N Principal Tom Miltner said at the topping-out ceremony.听 鈥淪tudents at Fortville Elementary will be equipped with the latest and greatest resources in an innovative space that promotes discovery and growth.鈥�

O鈥橠onnell & Naccarato鈥檚 previous structural engineering work for school-related projects in the state includes the McNutt Residence Center at Indiana University.听 In addition to Indianapolis, the firm operates from offices in Orlando, Philadelphia, New York and Miami.

The post O鈥橠onnell & Naccarato Tops Out Indiana Elementary School appeared first on 糖心少女.

The post O鈥橠onnell & Naccarato Tops Out Indiana Elementary School appeared first on 糖心少女.

DALLAS鈥擲tantec has been selected to provide integrated design services for the new 122,000-square-foot Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) building at the University of North Texas at Dallas (UNTD). The latest addition to the Dallas campus will reflect the logic, rigor, efficiency, and optimism of scientific learning through an innovative design that is clearly and functionally organized. The groundbreaking ceremony will take place Friday, September 29.

The US$79 million, four-story STEM building will house instructional spaces including general purpose 鈥渉igh-flex鈥� classrooms, instructional labs, research space, and wet labs that adapt to facilitate various classes including biology and chemistry disciplines. Support areas will include an instrumentation room, cold room, and dark-enabled room to conduct research and store materials in optimal conditions. In addition, a caf茅, pre-function area, and 200-250 seat classroom/meeting space is situated on the ground level, with a variety of collaboration spaces throughout the building.

Empowering community through education

UNTD鈥檚 state-of-the-art facility will improve the lives of students and their families by recruiting, training, and employing a more diverse workforce. Through STEM education, UNTD will create upward mobility to a community of learners and first-generation college students by encouraging curiosity and engagement in the sciences.

In addition, Stantec is collaborating with HarrisonKornberg Architects, a minority-owned firm certified as a historically underutilized business, as well as with local educational and community institutions to encourage employment opportunities and internships, provide new technology for training, and prepare students for science careers.

Design through sustainability and wellness

With a direct tie to the natural beauty of the campus, the STEM building will be surrounded by meaningful outdoor spaces and provide views of a courtyard, promenade, and amphitheater. Exterior gathering areas will promote water conservation through native, drought-resistant, and indigenous plantings that direct rainwater to a natural creek bed.

The interior design focuses on occupant well-being by embracing biophilia as a connection to nature through highly filtered clean air, locally sourced materials, and natural daylight and views. Building efficiency will be achieved through smart control systems and physical mobility is encouraged through easy access to stairwells.

Creating spaces for STEM

Stantec has steadily helped clients across North America respond to evolving academic and STEM learning, with related projects such as: Yale University Science Building; The University of Texas at Dallas Sciences Building; University of Lethbridge Science Commons (with KPMB Architects); West Chester University Sciences & Engineering Center; Central Michigan University Biosciences Building; Texas A&M University 鈥� Corpus Christi Engineering & Life Sciences Research Building; and The University of Texas at Permian Basin School of Engineering Building.

The post Stantec Tabbed to Design Spacious Higher-Ed STEM Building in Texas appeared first on 糖心少女.

The post Stantec Tabbed to Design Spacious Higher-Ed STEM Building in Texas appeared first on 糖心少女.

SAN FRANCISCO鈥擜rchitecture firm DLR Group and general contractor McCarthy Building Companies have been hired by the San Francisco Unified School District to build a new school in the city鈥檚 bustling Mission Bay neighborhood.

The school will encompass 82,000 square feet of educational space on a 2.5-acre parcel of land. The school will eventually be home to 600 preK-5 grade school students, a STEM-focused learning laboratory as well as office space for SFUSD personnel. DLR鈥檚 design plan calls for ground-floor learning space that will connect directly to the outdoors to bring learning out of the classroom itself. The second and third floors will feature learning studios as well as collaborative learning spaces and breakout rooms. Meanwhile, the fourth floor will host a learning lab that focuses specifically on guiding high school students to consider potential career options in the STEM fields.

In a recent release from McCarthy, the firm鈥檚 vice president, Jack Carter, said that the addition of the new school was necessary as the Mission Bay area of the city has continued its upward swing in development.

鈥淭he addition of this vital piece of infrastructure will not only be a cornerstone within Mission Bay but also allows San Francisco Unified School District the opportunity to develop a school from the ground up to provide for today鈥檚 and future students,鈥� he said.

Added DLR Group Principal Christopher McGiff-Brown: 鈥淭he Mission Bay School will become the nucleus of community life within this vibrant neighborhood. Our team鈥檚 design solution expresses the joy of learning with dynamic architecture to create a vivid and welcoming campus for all users.鈥�

Construction is scheduled to commence sometime this year, with the school opening its doors in 2025.

The post McCarthy and DLR Group Team Up on Unique Bay Area School appeared first on 糖心少女.

The post McCarthy and DLR Group Team Up on Unique Bay Area School appeared first on 糖心少女.

PHOENIX鈥擬cCarthy Building Companies is rolling out the metaphorical welcome mat at South Mountain Community College鈥檚 new Science Complex. The $13.6 million project is fully built out, with students anticipated to commence instruction there in the spring.

McCarthy鈥檚 job was to meld two existing buildings with an entirely ground-up additional structure to create the SMCC Science Complex, which will eventually serve approximately 5,000 students across the STEM fields.

McCarthy renovated nearly 35,000 square feet of space, and the skeletal structure of those two older buildings were incorporated into the frame for the redesigned complex. This allowed the project to move along at a brisker clip and save money at the same time.

The redesigned Science Complex will host a 19,000-square-foot Physical and Life Science building, and offer state-of-the-art laboratories and support space, faculty offices, classrooms and even a modern cadaver lab鈥攚hich will help the school鈥檚 healthcare students to gain practical knowledge.

McCarthy added structural connections between the previously existing Physical Science and Life Science buildings. Additionally, the general contractor relocated the complex鈥檚 botanical garden.

In the fall of 2020, McCarthy previously worked with SMCC personnel to commence the school鈥檚 Construction Trades Institute, which offers crash courses in carpentry, framing, electrical and plumbing trades.

鈥淢cCarthy values STEM education programs and having the opportunity to be part of making this project a reality in South Phoenix is something we鈥檙e all very proud of,鈥� Mike Gonzalez, vice president of McCarthy Building Companies Education group, said in a recent statement. 鈥淭hanks to the extensive collaboration with SMCC and its program end-users, the designer and our trade partners, we found solutions to challenges, and this remarkable new Science Complex is being delivered earlier than planned to help more SMCC students pursue their dreams.鈥�

Gensler came aboard the SMCC Science Complex redesign as both architect of record and design architect. Gensler鈥檚 design incorporated a 鈥渇orward-thinking鈥� layout as well as a modern look and feel to the complex.

鈥淲e are proud to have an impact on the next generation of STEM leaders in our community with the completion of the new Science Complex,鈥� Martha dePlazaola Abbott, principal and managing director at Gensler Phoenix, said of the project. 鈥淭he design of the new building enhances the on-campus learning experience with high-functioning classroom spaces and adjacent areas to foster connections and collaboration.鈥�

鈥淥ur students deserve a space to pursue their dreams of becoming engineers, scientists and medical professionals,鈥� SMCC President Dr. Shari Olson said of the expansion at her campus. 鈥淭he community in South Phoenix needed this new facility, and we鈥檙e bringing it to them with the latest technology and labs to help students pursue their desired careers.鈥�

Subcontractors at the SMCC project included Urban Energy Solutions Inc., S&H Steel, Wholesale Floors, SKF Tile & Stone, Gothic Landscape, Marks Valley Grading and Kinkaid Civil Construction.

The post Arizona Community College Debuts New Science Wing appeared first on 糖心少女.

The post Arizona Community College Debuts New Science Wing appeared first on 糖心少女.

For generations, educational curriculum has been based on the principles of reading, writing, and arithmetic. While these fundamentals remain, the emphasis in recent years has shifted to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) to prepare today鈥檚 young learners for high-tech careers. School systems are also focused increasingly on the four C鈥檚 鈥� critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity 鈥� qualities that shape future contributions to the workplace and society as a whole.

These changes have led schools to adopt an integrated curriculum that moves away from a single instructor focused on a single subject, stationed at the front of the classroom, to a model designed to empower students to discover information on their own through creative problem solving and decision making. This approach, according to Education Week, removes the barriers that limit children and separate learning into content areas.

Clearly, these new styles of teaching and learning require new kinds of spaces to support them. Classroom furniture, for example, must be mobile, flexible, and adaptable to allow and encourage movement throughout the day. Mobility allows students to get up from their chairs, while empowering teachers to adjust the classroom configuration as they move through their daily lesson plans. By moving desks, chairs, tables, power sources, and even walls, teachers now have the flexibility for students to tackle individual assignments, work in small groups, or come together as a class to solve problems, often presented on an interactive white board at the front of the room.

Ancillary furniture听(informal furniture and accessories that support a range of postures, including sitting, perching, lounging, and standing) also plays an important role in improving student engagement. Just as it is increasingly seen in office environments to support diverse working styles, ancillary furniture provides students with choices that help them feel more in control, while acknowledging the fact that students have different learning styles. Some prefer to sit by themselves, while others want to work in groups. Some want to sit upright at a traditional desk, while lounging is the preferred posture for others. Walking into a classroom and seeing a variety of comfortable, colorful furniture helps students to feel more engaged and, in turn, makes learning more fun and exciting.

This same approach applies to open spaces, where noise levels and speech privacy are often concerns. To support individuals looking for a quiet place to study or students trying to complete group projects, pods provide privacy and offer another learning option. Sound masking can also be incorporated in open collaboration areas, student hubs, and active learning classrooms to reduce noise transmission.

At the opposite end of the noise spectrum, the school library 鈥� traditionally the location for students to quietly immerse themselves in books and periodicals at private carrels or at shared tables where they scribble notes for homework or an upcoming book report 鈥� has evolved into a 鈥渓earning commo鈥� where students and teachers at every level can gather and share knowledge. And because everyone learns differently, the library space must offer a variety of ways to use it.

Today鈥檚 learning commons should encourage active learning with comfortable and inviting spaces designed to cultivate student engagement and motivation. Students and teachers must be able to choose between different spaces and furnishings to accommodate their current task at hand, whether it requires heads-down focus, collaborative teamwork, or presentations to a group. And they need the flexibility to reconfigure the space or furnishings as their tasks change.

Just as in the classroom, flexible furniture throughout the library space helps students adapt to different group sizes and tasks. Ideally seating should allow for easy mobility for individual versus group work, and to provide different posture options to match a student鈥檚 study needs. Walls, white boards, and tables (many of which have built-in media screens and height-adjustable legs) must also be moveable to enable privacy and offer a choice of working with analog or digital tools.

Beyond flexible learning spaces, the integration of technology obviously plays a pivotal role in keeping students and teachers connected with each other and their peers. When applied properly, technology (computers, mobile devices, digital displays, etc.) can complement the curriculum by assisting students as they gather information and share content. Utilizing intuitive AV equipment, teachers can take advantage of video and audio conference systems to supplement instruction with recorded lessons and demonstrations. These collaborative tools also facilitate viewing a specific lesson multiple times or at a later time, encouraging students to become self-directed learners.

But what is technology without power? Distributing power throughout a space and providing all users with equal access to keep their devices connected is crucial in keeping students engaged. When students don鈥檛 have to search for a power source when they see the dying red battery symbol on their devices, they鈥檙e better able to stay focused on the lessons at hand. Whether it鈥檚 integrated Thread power solutions or Flex mobile power units that students can take with them, providing users with access to power encourages them to study and learn for longer periods.

Whole communities benefit from making schools, classrooms, and libraries more active and better connected. By investing in today鈥檚 students and giving them spaces that are better equipped for active learning, we can ensure that the academic and corporate sectors of our society advance in parallel, ultimately building a better workforce for the future.

Maureen Tracy is an Account Executive at dancker (), a leading interior solutions company that fully integrates architectural, furniture, and technology solutions as a one-source provider and logistics manager for corporate, education and healthcare facilities.

听

The post New Classroom Furniture Styles Boost the Four Cs appeared first on 糖心少女.

The post New Classroom Furniture Styles Boost the Four Cs appeared first on 糖心少女.

ORANGE, Calif.鈥擟.W. Driver Companies has completed work on the three-story Swenson Family Hall of Engineering at Chapman University, located in Orange.听 The building is named after engineer Jim Swenson and his Swenson Family Foundation, which donated $5 million to Chapman University, and Swenson Hall will house Chapman鈥檚 Dale E. and Sarah Ann Fowler School of Engineering.

Work at the site entailed a 31,000-square-foot buildout of interior space within the extant 49,697-square-foot Keck Center for Science and Engineering, which was constructed by C.W. Driver in 2018 as the permanent home for the Schmid College of Science and Technology and Fowler School of Engineering.听 Swenson Hall increases Chapman鈥檚 focus on the STEM fields鈥攁nd is meant to foster a sense of interdisciplinary collaboration, as students at Swenson Hall will work together on problems facing not just Southern California specifically but the globe more generally.

Over its trio of levels, the Swenson Family Hall of Engineering entails laboratories for both teaching and research, a robotics lab, collaborative spaces, dean鈥檚 suite as well as dedicated faculty space.听 The building also features meeting areas and dedicated workspaces.

The design by architecture firm AC Martin Partners, Inc. entails a grand stairwell that connects the uppermost two floors and is thus meant to foster conversation and collaboration outside of the classrooms in an open space.听 Meanwhile, the bottommost level is connected via an 鈥渋deation path鈥� with other facilities of the Keck Center for Science and Engineering.

C.W. Driver Companies worked in conjunction with Chapman University鈥檚 Campus Planning Department on the project.

鈥淭he opening of the Keck Center鈥檚 science wing in 2018 signaled a tremendous step forward in the STEM fields at Chapman University,鈥� Collette Creppell, vice president of campus planning and design at Chapman University, said in a recent statement. 鈥淭hanks to the valuable expertise of C.W. Driver Companies in building the Swenson Family Hall of Engineering, our new Fowler School of Engineering has a place to call its own.鈥�

Added Aimee Siemianowski, project executive at C.W. Driver Companies: 鈥淲e were honored to partner with Chapman University in constructing a both beautiful and highly functional hall for its newest academic program, the Fowler School of Engineering.听 Our long history of constructing higher education and research facilities for Chapman University and colleges across the state enabled us to deliver a cutting-edge facility designed to foster collaboration, reconfiguration and blur the lines between teaching and education.鈥�

C.W. Driver has also worked on numerous other educational projects in the Golden State including at the University of California, Santa Barbara; Biola University; Loyola Marymount University; California State University Dominguez Hills; and Orange Coast College.

鈥淭he facility will be paramount to attracting high-quality faculty and talented students pursuing undergraduate and graduate-level study of engineering, which in turn will help meet the growing demands of the California economy,鈥� said Creppell of Chapman about the new facility.

The post SoCal鈥檚 Chapman University Unveils New Engineering Building appeared first on 糖心少女.

The post SoCal鈥檚 Chapman University Unveils New Engineering Building appeared first on 糖心少女.