SENSORY-FRIENDLY DESIGN ENTERS THE CLASSROOM
As more students with special needs enter school systems nationwide, educators are increasingly designing their classrooms to boost behavior and academic performance.
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RECAP: A Crucial Conversation on the Challenges of Shared Spaces in a COVID-19 Environment
On October 21st, 2020, Experts and Educators joined forces to discuss how to safely share spaces in this day and age. Watch the Conversation Now
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src="https://www.saxtonbradley.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/SBI_BackInTheClassroom_RecapBlog_Speakers-1.png" title_text="SBI_BackInTheClassroom_RecapBlog_Speakers" url_new_window="on" align="center" force_fullwidth="on" align_tablet="center" align_phone="" align_last_edited="on|desktop" _builder_version="4.4.6" background_enable_image="off" min_height="1px" custom_margin="-16px||16px|||" custom_css_main_element="min-height:0 !important;" border_radii="|0px|0px|0px|0px"][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.4.6" custom_padding="||47px|||"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.4.6"][et_pb_divider _builder_version="4.4.6"][/et_pb_divider][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure="1_3,2_3" _builder_version="4.4.6" custom_padding="19px|||||"][et_pb_column type="1_3" _builder_version="4.4.6"][et_pb_image src="https://www.saxtonbradley.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Asset-5@2x.png" title_text="Asset 5@2x" force_fullwidth="on" _builder_version="4.4.6" background_color="rgba(0,0,0,0)" custom_padding="0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false"][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="2_3" _builder_version="4.4.6"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.4.6"]BACK IN THE CLASSROOM: OUR DISCUSSION ON SHARING SPACES
October 29, 2020 • Jayme Caruso
On October 21, we hosted a the second installment of our critical conversation series, where we met with experts and educators to discuss the challenges of sharing spaces during COVID-19.
Our panel of experts included Brian Morris – an innovative middle school technology arts teacher of 35 years, Lara Sawers – Arts educator with a decade of experience ranging from collegiate level to Pre-K, Amanda Hoehn – Associate Principal at Bassetti Architects with over 14 years of experience designing schools, Matt Heath – District Facilities and Construction Manager at West MEC with over 25 years of construction experience, and, of course, our very own RaeAnn Fox – a leader in education, technology, and online professional development.
To watch a recording of the conversation, click below.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url="https://event.webinarjam.com/go/replay/7/38y5wt7axaoa5" url_new_window="on" button_text="WATCH THE CONVERSATION NOW" _builder_version="4.4.6" custom_button="on" button_text_size="15px" button_text_color="#FFFFFF" button_bg_color="#95c93d" button_border_width="7px" button_border_color="#95c93d" button_border_radius="11px" button_font="|800|||||||" button_use_icon="off" box_shadow_style="preset3" box_shadow_blur="25px" box_shadow_color="rgba(0,0,0,0.2)"][/et_pb_button][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version="3.25" custom_padding="19px|0px|19.8785px|0px|false|false"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="3.25" custom_padding="|||" custom_padding__hover="|||"][et_pb_post_nav in_same_term="off" prev_text="PREVIOUS POST" next_text="NEXT POST" _builder_version="3.18.7"][/et_pb_post_nav][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]OWL LABS, NOW FROM SBI
The Meeting Owl Improves Remote Learning
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The Meeting Owl is a 360° conference camera, microphone, and speaker. As schools across the country continue to utilize hybrid or distance learning models, technology has become even more important in the modern classroom.
Using the Meeting Owl in your classroom helps create hybrid learning spaces, enable, engagement for students or teachers who are at home, and facilitate synchronous distance learning.
You don’t have to take our word for it, here is what our education customers are saying about the meeting owl:
“As someone who has been teaching and consulting remotely for more than 15 years, the Owl allows me to move around the whiteboard and other places in the room without a need to focus on a webcam. It is essential for anyone venturing into online work and learning spaces...”
To learn more about using the Meeting Owl in the classroom, see this PDF from Owl Labs.
The Meeting Owl is already being used effectively in schools across the country. Trinity Hall uses the Meeting Owl Pro to connect students at home with their classes on campus. The 360° panoramic lens paired with the Owl Intelligence System (OIS)TM that autofocuses on whoever is speaking in the classroom creates an immersive learning experience for students at home. With the help of Smart Mics, students at home can raise their hands and be called on in class while being able to hear what teachers and students are presenting in the classroom. This allows them to be a part of the discussion instead of a fly on the wall. To learn more about how Trinity Hall uses the Meeting Owl Pro, view the full case study.
To see the Meeting Owl in action at John Brown University, take a look at this video. As we prepare, there are nuances we can’t afford to overlook – including navigating shared spaces.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url="https://www.saxtonbradley.com/contact/#form" url_new_window="on" button_text="Learn More" _builder_version="4.4.6" custom_button="on" button_text_size="15px" button_text_color="#FFFFFF" button_bg_color="#95c93d" button_border_width="7px" button_border_color="#95c93d" button_border_radius="11px" button_font="|800|||||||" button_use_icon="off" box_shadow_style="preset3" box_shadow_blur="25px" box_shadow_color="rgba(0,0,0,0.2)"][/et_pb_button][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="1_3" _builder_version="4.4.6"][et_pb_image src="https://www.saxtonbradley.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/OWLLabs_WebsiteImage3.jpg" title_text="OWLLabs_WebsiteImage3" force_fullwidth="on" _builder_version="4.4.6" background_color="#f4f4f4" custom_padding="10px|10px|10px|10px|false|false"][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version="3.25" custom_padding="19px|0px|19.8785px|0px|false|false"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="3.25" custom_padding="|||" custom_padding__hover="|||"][et_pb_post_nav in_same_term="off" prev_text="PREVIOUS POST" next_text="NEXT POST" _builder_version="3.18.7"][/et_pb_post_nav][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]COMING SOON: The Second Installment of our Crucial Conversations Series
An Interactive Conversation with Teachers and Experts on Navigating Shared Spaces During COVID-19
JOIN LIVE • October 21, 2020 at 4PM PDT
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src="https://www.saxtonbradley.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/SBI_BackInTheClassroom_LandingPageHero_V1.jpg" title_text="SBI_BackInTheClassroom_LandingPageHero_V1" url_new_window="on" align="center" force_fullwidth="on" align_tablet="center" align_phone="" align_last_edited="on|desktop" _builder_version="4.4.6" background_image="https://www.saxtonbradley.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/sbi-breakthrough-learning-insights-hero.png" min_height="1px" custom_margin="||28px|||" custom_css_main_element="min-height:0 !important;" border_radii="|0px|0px|0px|0px"][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure="2_3,1_3" _builder_version="4.4.6" custom_padding="19px|||||"][et_pb_column type="2_3" _builder_version="4.4.6"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.4.6"]BACK IN THE CLASSROOM: ANTICIPATING CHALLENGES WITH SHARED SPACES
October 8, 2020 • Jayme Caruso
If your district isn’t back in the physical classroom yet, discussions regarding your return are likely taking place. As we prepare, there are nuances we can’t afford to overlook – including navigating shared spaces. We want your help to proactively anticipate the needs coming our way, so together we can be better for our students, peers, and communities.
We've invited 5 front-line experts to our table to help facilitate this interactive discussion, and we'd be thrilled if you would join us. Together, we’ll discuss how to best prepare for the new realities of shared spaces and address these challenges head on.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url="https://event.webinarjam.com/register/7/pl8xohq" url_new_window="on" button_text="Reserve your seat Now" _builder_version="4.4.6" custom_button="on" button_text_size="15px" button_text_color="#FFFFFF" button_bg_color="#95c93d" button_border_width="7px" button_border_color="#95c93d" button_border_radius="11px" button_font="|800|||||||" button_use_icon="off" box_shadow_style="preset3" box_shadow_blur="25px" box_shadow_color="rgba(0,0,0,0.2)"][/et_pb_button][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.4.6"]In the meantime, don't forget to check out Breakthrough Learning, our digital resource on the most up-to-date recommendations and ideas for education in the age of safe and distance learning.
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="1_3" _builder_version="4.4.6"][et_pb_image src="https://www.saxtonbradley.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/sbi-back-classroom-blog-speakers.png" title_text="sbi-back-classroom-blog-speakers" force_fullwidth="on" _builder_version="4.4.6" background_color="#f4f4f4" custom_padding="20px|40px|10px|10px|false|false"][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version="3.25" custom_padding="19px|0px|19.8785px|0px|false|false"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="3.25" custom_padding="|||" custom_padding__hover="|||"][et_pb_post_nav in_same_term="off" prev_text="PREVIOUS POST" next_text="NEXT POST" _builder_version="3.18.7"][/et_pb_post_nav][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]Industry Experts Host a Crucial Education Conversation
On August 6, Leaders in Learning Environments and Education Came Together to Discuss the Future of Education Post-COVID. Watch the Conversation Now
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src="https://www.saxtonbradley.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/speakers-1.png" title_text="speakers" url_new_window="on" align="center" force_fullwidth="on" align_tablet="center" align_phone="" align_last_edited="on|desktop" _builder_version="4.4.6" background_image="https://www.saxtonbradley.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/speakers-1.png" min_height="1px" custom_margin="-16px||16px|||" custom_css_main_element="min-height:0 !important;" border_radii="|0px|0px|0px|0px"][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.4.6" custom_padding="||47px|||"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.4.6"][et_pb_divider _builder_version="4.4.6"][/et_pb_divider][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure="1_3,2_3" _builder_version="4.4.6" custom_padding="19px|||||"][et_pb_column type="1_3" _builder_version="4.4.6"][et_pb_image src="https://www.saxtonbradley.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/sbi-breakthrough-learning-hero.png" title_text="sbi-breakthrough-learning-hero" force_fullwidth="on" _builder_version="4.4.6" background_color="rgba(0,0,0,0)" custom_padding="0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false"][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="2_3" _builder_version="4.4.6"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.4.6"]A RECAP OF BREAKTHROUGH LEARNING IN 2021
August 10, 2020 • Jayme Caruso
On August 6, we hosted a critical conversation about what our future will look like in the education space. With the emergence of COVID-19, our ideas about what "future-proofing" means have changed. Not only are matters of hygiene and safety top of mind, but also issues of social equity and engagement.
Our panel of experts included our own RaeAnn Fox – a leader in education, technology, and online professional development, Stacey Crumbaker – Associate Principal at Mahlum and winner of the 2020 AIA Associates Award for outstanding creative thinking and leadership, Alan Rheault – an Industrial Designer for Fleetwood with 30+ years of experience in Human Centered design, and Mark Davenport – Partner at SPS+ Architects and leader in community building through educational design with over 20 years of experience. We also brought on special guest Kelly Lipscomb, a high school teacher from southern Florida, to share her experiences and expertise from the front lines of the classroom.
We'll be releasing answers to questions from the live audience that we didn't have time for in the live session later this week, and we'll also be revealing a special online resource to provide the most up-to-date information around this critical topic and keep the conversation going.
To watch a recording of the conversation, click below.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url="https://event.webinarjam.com/replay/1/6ky5zi5t3t9t2v" url_new_window="on" button_text="WATCH THE CONVERSATION NOW" _builder_version="4.4.6" custom_button="on" button_text_size="15px" button_text_color="#FFFFFF" button_bg_color="#95c93d" button_border_width="7px" button_border_color="#95c93d" button_border_radius="11px" button_font="|800|||||||" button_use_icon="off" box_shadow_style="preset3" box_shadow_blur="25px" box_shadow_color="rgba(0,0,0,0.2)"][/et_pb_button][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version="3.25" custom_padding="19px|0px|19.8785px|0px|false|false"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="3.25" custom_padding="|||" custom_padding__hover="|||"][et_pb_post_nav in_same_term="off" prev_text="PREVIOUS POST" next_text="NEXT POST" _builder_version="3.18.7"][/et_pb_post_nav][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]Look at these faces... they are the reason we do what we do as educators. Here is a kindergarten class that has a learning environment that enhances teaching and learning. LinkedIn Article
Formally dedicated June 6, 2016, the new Alaska State Museum in Juneau opened offering exhibits that are home to history and cultural artifacts in a 120,000 square foot building. The new facility is much larger than the old museum and allows more room for current displays and future exhibits. The previous museum, constructed in 1967 for the Alaska Centennial, was torn down in 2014 to accommodate the new museum. Despite the size, complexity of needs and extraordinary detail, the new building was completed on time and slightly under budget.
Successfully handling a significant contribution, Saxton Bradley provided the millwork package inclusive of standing and running trim and casework, library stacks, high density archival storage, laboratory casework and fume hoods.
With 20,000 square feet of exhibit space on the first floor alone the Museum is home to many historical objects. A few of the exhibits: a section of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, a 30 foot sailing boat from the early 20th century and a clan house housing Alaska Native artifacts. One especially impressive sight is not historic at all but is entirely new: this is the glass and wood wall created by Ketchikan artist Evon Zerbetz. The wall dividing the reading room and research area is entitled We Are Written in the Layers of the Earth. The wall measures 80 feet by 10 feet and is made up of 15 separate glass panels sitting atop carved cabinetry. A small portion of the wall is pictured above.
Read more about the Museum opening in Alaska Beyond or at Alaska State Museums. In a state that is home to so many treasures, the new Alaska State Museum is a magnificent one.
This article by Mark Dailey of Integrus Architecture appeared in Laboratory Equipment magazine, 10.10.18. To see the article go to: https://bit.ly/2VyuzyD
On higher education campuses, multiple building types support a wide array of programs and users. Many science facilities are hybrid buildings serving multiple user groups and disciplines.
As programs grow and move, space is reallocated and repurposed. With increasing budget cuts, the motivation to combine labs, science classrooms and engineering/technical spaces is growing. Administration and program directors seek to address growing needs in this era of decreasing funding.
At the same time, science buildings are not only academic spaces, but also recruitment tools for both students and faculty. Science facilities are particularly emblematic of a university’s brand, serving as living/learning tools for students.
COLLABORATE ON PROGRAM DECISIONS
When space and funds are limited, more people are vying for the same resources. Balancing these inter-related and competing objectives presents especially arduous challenges. It is essential to start conversations about collaborative decision making early with predesign and programming efforts, setting scope in alignment with budget.
Gathering key players together—in person—to ensure everyone learns and understands each program’s individual needs is also vital. Direct faculty input is key as the people who are using lab spaces can provide valuable insight on program, design and layout.
Ultimately, internal prioritization and allocation of space requires leaders to balance the academic needs of each program area with the dispersion of net square footage, creating a cohesive academic science environment.
Additionally, technology is constantly evolving, and there are challenges to designing flexible spaces that can accommodate different technologies and programs as practices change. With space at a premium, flexibility means enabling users to ultimately do more with less.
With good communication and participation from all stakeholders, space can be allotted in a way that meets everyone’s needs through more efficient use.
INSIGHTFUL DRIVERS
Efficiency asserts itself in different ways—reallocating unprogrammed spaces for broader use, sharing resources wherever possible and efficient operations through sustainability—are all opportunities to do more with less space.
Prioritize important non-programmed space. Breakout spaces can be really hard to plan and program, but are absolutely essential and need attention from the project outset. Administrators in the past have viewed these spaces as excessive and expensive, but there is a greater appreciation for them today. Designers have taken strategic approaches, such as incorporating a glass panel wall that showcases a lab the school is proud of. As technology has become mobile, breakout spaces have been emphasized. These spaces can also be great opportunities to create flow and hierarchy for wayfinding, originating in facility lobbies, continuing through circulation and optimized with adjacencies.
When done right, breakout spaces provide opportunities for student and faculty interaction outside of instruction spaces. When square footage is intentionally programmed to include breakout areas, they are used for student collaboration, faculty prep, and impromptu discussions. Such informal spaces are well used and their popularity in academia is growing. They could include white boards or writeable glass, encouraging students to stay in the building and continue learning after classes.
Part of the appealing dynamic of a multi-program building is the opportunity to comingle students and faculty from different areas, creating a cohesive collaborative culture. It is ideal to have a vertical and horizontal mix of programs to enhance and stimulate programmatic cross-pollination.
Maximize joint use and shared space while scrutinizing the efficiency of dedicated space. Generally, there are three types of spaces: joint-use, shared-use and dedicated. Minimizing dedicated space allows programs to optimize uses, sharing square footage. Designers seek to find ways different programs can use—with minor modification—some of the same spaces by providing a teaching console, more storage or moveable equipment. Mixed classrooms with flexible furniture are key. In science buildings, there will always be space dedicated to a specialized function, but project leaders aim for such spaces to be the exception.
Interestingly, many labs can be multi-functional. Although teaching labs have a front of the room orientation with projection screens and white boards for instruction, they can be designed to also incorporate research lab needs. Equipment, even highly specialized, can be shared, depending on the programs. To ensure a lab/classroom is equipped for the unique pedagogies of multiple programs, it is critical to understand their needs. Finding opportunities to synthesize spaces and equipment wherever possible saves significant costs.
Integrate sustainability with integrity. Sustainability remains at the forefront of today’s buildings, even in the science and technology realm. In a hybrid building, it can be difficult to integrate sustainable elements while preserving the integrity of highly specialized spaces. In one example, there was a challenge in providing operable windows to offices, which changed the pressurization of the building. The solution was to use air lock vestibules in the adjacent corridor. Project leaders can identify ways to integrate sustainability while maintaining the specialized integrity of the spaces.
Creativity in design and planning allows design teams to find new ways to share space, incorporate sustainability and enhance the aesthetics and functionality of the space.
DESIGN STRATEGIES
In addition to operating efficiently, occupants want spaces that perform in the usability realm, with natural light, comfortable layouts and smooth integration to the surrounding landscape.
Daylighting. Daylighting is one way to enhance the space while also emphasizing sustainability. Natural daylight can decrease energy costs and makes the space more inviting. Daylight can be used to illuminate corridors, classrooms and even labs, with considerations to avoiding glare that may interfere with scientific work or reading digital readouts. Daylight is appreciated, but needs to be used strategically.
Welcoming spaces. Welcoming spaces increase occupant satisfaction and foster interaction, which is especially encouraged in a multi-program facility. To enhance a culture of collaboration, the building itself can be used as a passive tool, encouraging groups to work together and share space. A strategically placed breakout space or faculty prep area creates natural moments of engagement interaction. How spaces are located and programmed directs how individuals move through and interact with the building and others within.
Main street—inside and out. Layouts such as a “main street”—a central corridor with elevators, restrooms and breakout areas along the edge—intentionally creates a primary natural flow of movement through the space, with strategically placed locations for pauses to interact. Outdoor spaces are another design feature that has special effect in a science building. Geology students may collect rock specimens, or biology programs may include gardens. Spaces such as these are a byproduct of a process called mini-master planning.
Building-specific master planning. Each building has a role to play in the overall campus context, but the immediate area around the building, including walkways and outdoor learning environments, is especially important for seamless integration.
Building-specific master planning identifies opportunities for unique uses of space. Depending on the context around the building, these can include outdoor learning spaces, campus circulation patterns or entry plazas. Site and context of the building based on pedestrian movement, and where people enter the building are key considerations, decisively studying campus pedestrian movement so that the building becomes part of the natural circulation patterns on campus. Such planning leads to activating the space from the moment people enter and attracts them to the key areas of interest.
Buildings with multiple user groups can present programming challenges but they also provide opportunities to create collaboration where it wouldn’t naturally occur. Multiple-use buildings have more traffic flow, allowing universities to highlight some of the keystones of scientific innovation on campus, while creating inviting places for students to learn and study together, and faculty to instruct.
With so many possibilities for design, it is important to consult the users of the building to ascertain their use patterns and create spaces that encourage productive cohabitation of multiple disciplines. Gathering input and balancing competing interests and priorities, while remaining mindful of budgets and schedules, results in buildings that perform for users, programs and the campus as a whole.
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