Trends for the Upcoming School Year

Checking Out the 2022 Educational Design Forecast

It’s safe to say that world events over the last two years have made major shifts in educational practices like we have never before seen. Educators have had to remain flexible, bending with major shifts in not only where they teach, but how they teach while still striving to understand how their students learn best – whether that is in the classroom, or at home. 

A standing desk or a bean bag chair in a room might have been considered absurd in decades past. Today, some schools are beginning to experiment with their classroom designs and the results may surprise you. These new classroom designs have positive effects on student engagement and comfort in the classroom. Since the pandemic, we see new designs that are tapping into themes the pandemic left behind: concern for physical and mental well-being, a connection with the outdoors, the flexibility to move about freely, the imprint of technology and gravitation toward the simple and stress-free. Overall, these changes, although brought about in a stressful scenario, have left a positive impact. Let’s take a look at some educational trends that we will see carry into the upcoming school year.

Flexible, Comfortable and Calm Learning Spaces 

A Feeling of Home

There has been a merging in the world of school and home, and an interesting design challenge has been infusing large schools with a home-like feel, exploring concepts like the kitchen table (or island) and the bedroom (comfy, individual spaces). We expect to see more flexible/comfortable environments that mimic the comforts and various atmospheres that home learning environments provide. Giving students the ability to move freely can actually enhance their capacity to focus, if given the right guidance and setting. 

Reminders of Nature

Spending too much time indoors led to a new appreciation for nature and the benefits it provides. When students can’t be outside, natural minerals are an affordable way to bring the relaxing features of nature inside the classroom. Schools are finding value in sustainable elements that are healthy and low-maintenance. Natural materials also bring a simplistic beauty that is safe and easy to maintain to any space. Ceramic tile is hygienic and easy to clean, recycled metals and reclaimed wood is durable and classic, and concrete floors are a practical alternative to germ-collecting carpet. Another easy way to bring nature into the classroom is the intentional addition of plants (preferably low-maintenance), that give a pop of color, brighten the space and improve air quality. This could also be seen as a learning opportunity, teaching students how to care for various plant species. 

Grounding Colors

As we’ve stated before in previous blogs, the power of color is huge. It affects mood, attention span and the overall motivation to learn and absorb information. Calming colors take their inspiration from nature, which can reduce stress and put students – and teachers – at ease. Sky blues, earthy neutrals and fresh greens cultivate a relaxing environment, conducive to education and blocking out the chaos of the outside world. 

Holistic Approaches

What makes an environment healthy? To look at it more comprehensively, here are some considerations:

• • What is your indoor air quality like?

• • What products and furnishings are you putting in your buildings?

• • Is the building sustainable (are lead or other contaminants leaching out of it)?

• • Do you have a school nurse?

• • Is your environment welcoming (this includes furnishings, wall colors, visual clutter, and even classroom rules)?

• • Do you have a space for students to decompress or cope with sensory issues?

• • How do you accommodate your staff’s needs?

• • How do you support your students’ and staff’s social-emotional well-being?

• • How are you integrating natural, organic elements into the school day?

• • How are you encouraging student choice and movement throughout the day?

   

Getting Creative with Space

Built-In Flexibility

We see more and more in schoolrooms the concept of open floor plans. As class sizes fluctuate, classrooms have to have the capability to adjust on demand, recalibrating for increased or decreased attendance. Integrating partitions, multi-purpose communication tools and mobile furniture allow for students to move around while still making it easy for educators to reconfigure throughout the day. 

Creating Space

From a construction perspective, we see that schools are being built (or remodeled) with space being the end goal. Making ceilings taller, widening hallways and creating more central spaces for learning are becoming ever-present, so that students and teachers can navigate and interact with ease.

Low Maintenance Offerings

Easy to Clean and Simplistic

As our world becomes more and more complex, school design is pushing towards a more streamlined look, focusing on utility and durability. Less maintenance means less stress and less expense for educators and administrators. New school design trends favor simple, clean lines and durable, long-lasting materials and finishes that resist germs and are easy to maintain, holding up to heavy use and frequent disinfecting. 

Hard surfaces like concrete and ceramic are hygienic choices to replace porous materials like carpet and wood, both of which hold germs and odors. Antimicrobial finishes inhibit bacteria from growing, like mold and mildew, and are great for high-touch zones like door and window hardware and handrails. 

Making Changes for the Benefit of Future Generations

We’re at a critical moment in history where we have the ability to make real changes that can influence the way education is delivered, perceived, and valued, especially considering the times we are in. We are all here because we want to make a difference in the lives of children, and there are opportunities available to us that we need to seize, so as to continue encouraging the future generation of leaders. The endgame for these classroom design experiments is to create an environment conducive to learning – for not just one particular type of student, but for all students no matter what their learning style is. This clearly starts with something many may not have considered in the past, increasing students' comfort and/or activity level may be the key to increasing their engagement.