Classroom Design:Layout 1 11/09/2009 14:18 Page 21
classroom design
been subsequently adopted by the environment, rich in IT, which promotes
Partnership for Schools as a template of and enables a variety of learning settings
‘how to do it’. Armed with best practice to occur simultaneously – from individual
examples from the US, Asia, Australia and personalised learning, to group based
Scandinavia, and our knowledge of a activities and a whole plaza scenario of
variety of industries, we are delivering 120 pupils – whilst providing a safe and
modern environments that will help the secure home base.
council transform the way learning This prototype is onsite and used by
currently takes place across the county. 90 year eight pupils (12-year-olds). There
is a 360-degree projection and a large
New Line Learning display area, biometric lighting techniques
The creation of a prototype, the New Line to control and vary the ambience of
Learning Plaza (NLL) in Maidstone, has individual spaces, and flexible and adaptable
acted as a test-bed for the county. NLL furniture to allow a variety of work mode
is an academy whose transformational settings orientated around sizes of user
learning vision is based upon a groups and activities being undertaken.
risk/resilience model, whereby pupils are The design prototype recaptures and
individually evaluated over a six week refocuses space to facilitate both
period through circular, emotional and personalised and collaborative learning
social competencies.
To support this vision and reinforce NLL’s
learning approach, a new spatial use model the curriculum should
was developed – an open space fit for the
21st Century. Only 50% of space is used
determine the design
for learning in traditional school design.
Compare this to commercial buildings,
of schools not the
such as an office development where the
other way round
percentage of space used in nearer to
80% efficiency, and it shows how wasteful
traditional school design has been. processes. Designed to impact both mood
We wanted to make more of the and behaviour, the prototype has already
available space. We worked with the seen dramatic success with attendance
school to explore all the different types levels up by 90% and has enabled the
of usage – the key questions were: what opportunity for post occupancy
type of learning and what type of evaluation from teachers, students and
learners? All children are different; some community members.
need silence, some prefer to work whilst The prototype is due to be replaced
listening to music. It’s impossible to with a permanent structure by 2011 and
create 120 spaces – one for each student has made it possible to achieve the optimal
– but it is possible to design and create result for the final product - a new model
the flexibility so a variety of spaces exist for teaching and learning, sustainable not
in a continuous learning space, catering only for the materials and construction
for all needs. methods employed but also for its
The ‘plaza’ concept was devised with longevity, flexibility and fitness for purpose.
the Academy to provide a higher degree
of collaboration between teachers and
www.gensler.com
pupils. This happens through a flexible
edbmagazine.co.uk 21
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