FEATURE FOCUS: MENTAL HEALTH & WELLBEING
The A to ZEN of education space design
what do decision makers in the sector need to consider when creating their facilities?
• Space planning
Firstly, before the creation of any education space, it’s important to gather the thoughts and opinions of students and use this insight as the foundation to your design. If you don’t know what you students want and need in order to thrive, how can you create a learning environment which is tailored to their needs and provide a space that they will value and excel in?
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n our fourth look this month at mental health and wellbeing we are delighted to hear from Stacey Charlesworth, design director at interior design, build and delivery business, ADT Workplace, who explores eight key considerations for education design and how each plays its part in supporting students’ wellbeing. Despite it being an exciting time, starting a new school, college, or university can be a daunting prospect for students. Academic pressures, financial stress, social adjustments, and in the case of university, the transition to independent living, often takes its toll on students’ mental health and wellbeing. By designing spaces that are inspiring, supportive, and conducive to a healthy lifestyle, leaders in the education sector can create environments that contribute positively to students’ wellbeing, while promoting success, satisfaction, and holistic development. But with every element of design having the potential to influence health and wellbeing,
As well as traditional classroom and lecture theatre facilities, consider what else may be needed to support your students throughout their day. Well-equipped breakout and social spaces can provide the opportunity for students to relax, recharge and socialise with peers, while quiet zones and individual study pods can offer the opportunity for focused work, which may not always be possible for students at home. Equally, areas for collaboration will help facilitate group work and inspire creativity.
By offering a range of agile settings, education providers can allow students autonomy in how and where they work, ultimately aiding productivity and learning, and supporting wellbeing. We are also increasingly seeing the trend for the inclusion of wellness rooms within education facilities, which are often set away from busier areas and are designed to be a place where students can go in between study sessions for quiet reflection, relaxation and to refocus away from the pressures of a busy classroom or lecture theatre. These rooms need to be thoughtfully designed to create a comfortable and calming
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atmosphere. Sensory features are often incorporated in these spaces through the use of textured materials, non-glare surfaces and whiteboards, which give students an outlet for drawing and writing; this benefits those with neurological differences, ensuring the facility is a safe and inclusive space for everyone.
• Comfort
We spend so much time and effort ensuring our homes are comfortable, so with students spending a considerable amount of their waking hours each day at their place of education, why would we not place comfort high on the agenda when designing these spaces? Providing a comfortable learning environment will not only help to improve the happiness and wellbeing of students, but also have a significant impact on the overall success of their studies, through increased performance and productivity, and reduced absenteeism.
Agile settings like those already mentioned are designed with complete comfort and flexibility in mind, by giving students the freedom to learn in a way they choose to suit their needs. Whether this is individual studying at a traditional desk, at a stand-up desk, in a comfortable open-plan booth, in a sound proofed quiet pod, or within collaborative, creative areas, it’s all about choice. The selection of ergonomic furniture also plays a key role in delivering comfort and supporting wellbeing, no matter what the setting. For example, chairs featuring an adjustable seat, arms and back rests, and a swivel, will reduce discomfort and improve posture. Equally, desks which can be modified to accommodate both sitting and standing
September 2023
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