News
IF THESE WALLS COULD TEACH
May 13, 2010
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| A statewide $2.5B public school construction program is a perfect impetus for a forum on building schools. Yesterday, Cannon Design rose to the challenge with a panel on creating school buildings that help students learn. We snapped panelists Trung Le of Cannon Design, Microsoft?s Stacey Rainey, and Mass Insight?s Michael Contompasis. Joining them on the dais were the Boston Public Library?s Amy Ryan and Be Playful/Design+Studio?s Christian Long. The book Stacey is holding, The Third Teacher by Cannon Design, Bruce Mau, and V/S International talks about school buildings as another instructor and offers 79 ideas for designing environments where art and pedagogy intersect. |
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| Weston School Boards? Ed Heller asked how much latitude towns will have when the state development program maps out details like how big each classroom has to be? A tough question but later Trung stressed other features that can make students feel safe and welcome: ?You can change your whole culture by eliminating double-loaded corridors.? Kids hate them because they're loud; it's a place where they get taunted with no place to socialize. Trung also stressed that ergonomic chairs cut the physical distraction of discomfort so kids can concentrate. Reached for comment on how he enjoyed using the chairs, a fourth-grader replied, "Zzzzz....." |
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| Cannon Design International's Mark Mendell with Maynard Public School Superintendant Mark Masterson, listened to Stacey talk about Philadelphia?s Microsoft-supported School of the Future. The first floor is a streetscape, a place for everyone, with moveable couches and tables to promote collaborative encounters. It opens onto a food court that has circular tables to encourage conversation. Another area with countertop seating lets kids and teachers look out onto the main corridor while they plug in computers to do research or homework. Natural lighting permeates hallways and the upstairs classrooms have sliding walls so large groups can congregate for project-based learning. Designs must be daring and child focused, but to work, Michael Contompasis says, educators, public officials, and parents need to develop a supportive culture. |
