Designed to Inspire: An abundance of deliberately placed spaces to gather and share ideas can be found througout the Innovation Centre, while glass dividers provide a literal window into the work other students are engaged in.
to encompass the curriculum and extra-curricular opportunities and take advantage of community partnerships. This three-pronged approach will benefit all students now, and for generations to come.
Concept to Construction
Underpinning the design and development of the BHS Innovation Centre is a research document from a leading US design firm that specifically looked at the types of spaces needed to deliver a STEM* curriculum. (*At BHS the A has been added to STEM to create STEAM and the Leading the Way campaign also produced 9000 square feet of newly renovated space for the Arts, Music and Drama curricula at the School. See article on page 22) In 2013, a research team at Gensler published The ABCs of STEM which “connected pedagogical thinking, programmatic requirements, and conceptual building design to arrive at three overarching themes that we believe define successful high school STEM teaching and spaces.”
Gensler worked closely with local design firm, Linberg and Simmons, in the design of the Innovation Centre with Head of School, Linda Parker states of The ABCs of STEM: “When we read this paper, we knew we had the right overseas architectural partner.”
“It is vital to introduce girls to STEAM when they are very young, to spark and nurture their interest and to support them throughout their education.”
The Gensler team identified three
emerging themes around approaches to STEM education that amplify student engagement. In response to each theme, the team conceived design
tactics to address the identified needs and opportunities.
These ideas, ideal for implementation in a high school setting but broad enough to promote discussion at every level, are intended to be a starting point for future conversations about STEM spaces and pedagogy - and to inform the design and development of such facilities moving forward.
Mark Thaler was both a consultant designer and an author of the ABCs of STEM.
Speaking at the unveiling of the designs at BHS, he described an “intentionality” in the design saying: “It is not just a collection of spaces; it is a campus.
“The new learning spaces are orientated in a way that will encourage interactions between related disciplines, facilitate collaboration amongst students and teachers and accommodate a variety of learning and teaching styles. The use of glass, in place of walls, will encourage participation and curiosity in all subjects, while modular furniture will allow classrooms to be reconfigured
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