As students prepare to return to school, some educational spaces have spent the summer rethinking the classroom or preparing to welcome students back in new and engaging ways. The classroom, and even more broadly, the traditional school, has evolved over the centuries, as art, collaboration, flexibility, and creativity have made their way into the learning environment. Below, we are sharing three schools that have done just that—use design as a vehicle to include a new way of learning.
Hermitage Museum Visual Arts School
In creative learning environments like Norfolk, VA’s Hermitage Museum Visual Arts School, modern classrooms must be able to adapt to the needs of today’s learners through flexible design. Following a renovation that would preserve the historical charm the former horse and cow stable built in 1910, the space was adapted for modern use aligning with the school’s dynamic learning environment. Hanbury architects used a NanaWall wood-framed folding glass wall, introducing natural light and a strong indoor-outdoor connection. With a 21-foot-wide opening and nearly 10-foot-tall sapeli mahogany panels, the wall system builds on the structure's original design while encouraging creativity and wellbeing in an adaptive classroom environment.
New York, Public School 174
In the Rego Park neighborhood of Queens, New York, Public School 174, William Sidney Mount, is a school that places a strong emphasis on technology, STEM, and arts integration. As part of the NYC Department of Education’s “Public Art for Public Schools,” the school now boasts a vibrant mural that dazzles with a kaleidoscope of greens, reds, and blues, creating a mesmerizing geometric abstraction. “Capable,” the title of the stunning masterpiece created by artist Jason Rohlf and crafted by Artaic, is Rohlf’s vision of an “energetic street sign” that comes to life, seamlessly blending with the dynamic flow of students, staff, and visitors, making every entrance and exit an inspiring experience.
Designed with the lobby ramp's accessibility in mind, the artwork becomes an energetic street sign, guiding the movement of students, staff, and visitors into the school. Integrating the ramp into the artwork was fundamental. Accessibility was a core consideration in the school’s design, with the lobby ramp intentionally integrated into the architecture from the very beginning. This thoughtful approach enabled Rohlf’s artwork to seamlessly integrate the ramp as part of the building’s fabric, rather than treating it as an afterthought, as is often the case with accessible additions.
The Smithfield Elementary School
The Smithfield Elementary School in North Richland Hills, TX, highlights social and emotional well-being, while creating a place that embodies an inclusive learning environment. The dynamic spaces of discovery, sensory engagement, and delight are reflective of the district’s imperatives of Community, Collaboration, Transformation, Sustainability, and Safety. The two-story Learning Commons, affectionately dubbed the ‘heart of the school,’ features ample natural lighting that encompasses the learning stair, maker space ‘cabin’ and reading hive (shown above - designed using 3form’s Varia resin material), scaled for a neuro-diverse population and inclusive of all abilities. Local biophilia, natural materials, textures, and colors are uniquely considered throughout the new 98,000 square foot, designed by HKS Architects.
