School Design

School Design Synopsis

Educators often overlook the positive impact of changing the environment of the school itself when considering how to improve the quality of education.

First published in 1994, School Design shows how to create more effective schools through a design process that involves teachers, students, parents, administrators, and architects. It reveals how to create school environments that develop the whole child, instil enthusiasm for learning, and encourage positive social relationships.

Readers discover how to integrate design research, design participation, and design development to optimize school settings. Using a number of case studies, detailed practical methods show how to:

• Link behavioural objectives to spatial needs
• Achieve spatial efficacy without compromising education
• Match children's developmental needs to facility requirements
• Promote greater variety in physical facilities to accommodate various teaching and learning styles
• Gain more valuable feedback from teachers, parents, students, and local citizens on building performance.

In response to tight school budgets, Henry Sanoff discusses how relatively minor design modifications can have a major positive effect on school performance. This path-breaking volume will provide architects, teachers, and school administrators with a wide array of insights into creating spaces that promote better learning.