Learning spaces and environments

Built pedagogy: Architectural embodiments of educational philosophies.

Too few schools have used Covid relief funds to improve air quality properly.

Open-plan classrooms proliferated when “team teaching” became fashionable in the 1970s, but parents, students and teachers have long complained of noisy environments unsuitable for learning.

An architecture and design firm in New York installed indoor air sensors during the pandemic. Then the wildfires hit.

Research shows that different types of lights can hurt or help your well-being. Here’s how to devise an optimal lighting strategy for your space.

In an auditorium or lecture halls, there should be room for both unusual and everyday teaching. But whether it is a final test, a concert or a presentation, the light in the room must be able to be adapted so that the experience is optimal.

Learning spaces and technology infrastructure have become increasingly important to the student experience. Higher education leaders have an obligatio

From furniture to digital displays and cameras, here’s what to consider when creating or redesigning classrooms on your campus.

Making sure technology is properly addressed in any classroom renovation is no longer optional.

This case study shows how the transformation of just one traditional classroom can help jumpstart campus-wide conversations about active learning.

Hybrid workers feel most connected to company culture; however, managers are struggling with the hybrid model.

Traditional teaching modes are engaged with teachers delivering knowledge to students with minimum feedback. Teaching is conducted in lecture theaters and classrooms, which are sometimes designed with minimum flexibility for university education. However, the rapid development of information and communication technologies has altered the teaching pedagogy from traditionally teacher-centered to more collaborative learning between teachers and students. Learning spaces should be designed to be interactive and collaborative with suitable physical movement and social engagement among teachers and students. This paper aims to examine the relationships between modern technology and pedagogical shift, and to identify and discuss the essential design principles for effective active learning through built pedagogy. A recent renovation project of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University in converting conventional classrooms and lecture theaters to active learning spaces was adopted as a case study to illustrate and validate the design principles and their actual implementation. Feedback and responses from 410 end-user students on the impact of the renovated classrooms and lecture theaters on teaching and learning effectiveness were gleaned through empirical survey questionnaires dispatched face-to-face to students after attending classes in the renovated classrooms and lecture theaters. The results of factor analysis indicated that the 15 variables of key design criteria for active learning spaces were consolidated under six underlying clustered factor groups: (1) Versatility of learning space; (2) interior design of learning environment; (3) modern information technology / audio and video (IT/AV) technologies; (4) interior lighting; (5) comfortable furniture and acoustic design; and (6) interior temperature. The survey findings can serve as good references and useful insights for architects in designing new learning spaces and facilities that assist active and collaborative learning for university students in future.

Office space is leasing at a discount, making this a good time for employers to give workers individual offices, complete with desks and doors that close.

The pandemic changed nearly everything about work. Why are we still stuck with performative long hours?

The increase in the use of noise-cancelling devices at work is a plus for productivity but can discourage collaboration.

A visual timeline of the past and future of the office spanning architecture, furniture, floor plans, computers, the dreaded cubicle and flexible work.

How can architects use natural light in school designs? Read this article to learn the most important aspects of designing with daylight and why natural light in architecture is good for children’s overall health, wellbeing and not least their academic performance.

Employees may never have a desk that feels like ‘theirs’ again, but the trade-off might mean an agile office that works for everyone.

Many tech solutions help faculty members bridge the gap between the in-person and remote learning experiences. It’s on institutions to help faculty members get the most out of what they have.

To keep the Rajkumari Ratnavati Girl's school cool in the heat of the Thar desert, New York architect Diana Kellogg incorporated a range of traditional and natural cooling methods.