Reimagining High School: Envisioning RISE High

Image © Gensler

XQ: The Super School Project began two years ago as an open challenge to America’s educators and creative professionals to reimagine high school as we know it and, in doing so, to revolutionize the education of our nation’s future. That challenge was accepted by over 700 teams from across the country who submitted applications for the opportunity to form 10 new schools, catalyzed by a $10 million grant provided by Laurene Powell Jobs.

Click to read more ...

The Case for Space as Education Shifts the Frame

The U.S. workforce has undergone a significant shift in recent years. People change jobs roughly every 4.2 years, according to the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It’s predicted that 43 percent of the U.S. workforce will be freelancers by 2020.

Click to read more ...

The Wonder Years: Creating a Middle School Launching Pad

Image © Gensler.

In the 1980’s, the television series, “The Wonder Years” chronicled the trials and tribulations of adolescence through the eyes of Kevin Arnold, who narrated his own story through his now adult eyes. While perhaps fictionalized for a television audience, the show highlighted the physical, social and emotional development of middle school children aged 12-14, which, by many accounts, appear to happen faster than during any other pre-college period.

Click to read more ...

Inspiring Learning: Award-Winning Hajjar STEM Center Fosters Learning in Unexpected Places

Dwight-Englewood School Hajjar STEM Center. Image © Paúl Rivera

In my October 2014 post, “The State of STEM: Aligning Design with Pedagogy,” I reported on the lofty aspirations around the design of the new STEM building at the Dwight-Englewood School, where we sought to create a new paradigm for a STEM facility that aligned with strategies we created with the School in our research paper, “ The ABC’s of STEM.” This past September, the building was opened with huge anticipation and excitement, dedicated as the Hajjar STEM Center. In translating our research into practice, some key design elements and lessons learned emerged:

Click to read more ...

The On-Campus Experience and Alumni Giving

Image © Gensler

At Gensler, we have spent the past few years researching student life on colleges and universities across the globe. And it has been quite interesting to see the impact the digital native generation has had on design implications for the spaces we create. We have found that technology, as opposed to completed space, is the biggest driver of campus change. This makes sense, considering new campuses must cater to the needs of students who stay online 24/7.

Click to read more ...