A goal of any school is to provide the best education for its students. Schools find ways to build functional spaces, but also look into ways to increase student engagement through design. Today schools are more than just buildings. They are viewed as a community. Good design can facilitate a sense of belonging. By having a good design in place, teachers will want to work there and students will enjoy learning there as well.

Whether renovating an existing school or designing a school from scratch, architects look at certain materials that will help improve student and teacher life. They may look at terrazzo for instance as a way to create a narrative on the floor, one with colorful graphics or a school logo. They can look into ways to improve air quality, natural light, or the acoustics of a building. Bring these materials together and schools become a second home for people.

Good Design in Schools

Good Design and Academic Performances

Researchers conducted studies on the effect of design on student performances. They found that well-designed schools improve learning by 25%. The same can be said about poorly-designed schools. They have negative effects on academic performances.

If the data is true, then everyone should be onboard with selecting materials with long-term value that betters student thinking and involvement in the classroom. Maybe the biggest issue would be the billions of dollars needed to renovate schools across the nation. But if a redesign coupled with new technologies can improve the way students learn, then would it not be an investment too good to pass up?

Spencer Elementary School Terrazzo Flooring

Good Design and Terrazzo

As specialists in terrazzo, we can support that one material can change the landscape of school design. The key features of terrazzo are its durability, flexible design, cleanliness, and sustainability. Because terrazzo is easy to clean and durable, it keeps maintenance costs low. Terrazzo is known for being the perfect floor for high traffic areas so the floor can persist through new generations of students. The material also contains zero VOCs, improving the overall indoor air quality for schools, and is made up of recycled content, which helps preserves resources and can be a budget-friendly option.

All schools are designed differently. But each space should be specialized for the type of student. College environments may focus on designing collective spaces that will leave a lasting memory. Or elementary schools can add a dab of color or playful images to expand young student’s minds. Schools will continue to evolve through the years with an emphasis on how schools can give students the best learning environment possible.