NK Architects’ Post

It all begins with a long range plan and vision, but the most valuable ingrediant for success is leadership and commitment to considering student needs first as a guiding principle throughout the process. #studentsfirst #educationalexperience #longrangeplan #schooldesign #dlrgroup

South Oak Cliff High School was the setting for a highly publicized student walkout in 2016 due to the conditions of the school. Built in the 1950s, the Dallas high school had fallen into disrepair. KAI was brought on by Dallas ISD in response to community reactions and began partnering with community leaders and project stakeholders throughout the duration of the comprehensive project to ensure everyone’s voices were heard. Nearly all the existing facilities were renovated along with 60,000 square feet in building additions as well as two renovated learning courtyards that were previously inaccessible. The school now allows for 360-degree learning that can meet the needs of all learning styles. Since the grand opening, a new equitable learning environment with modern amenities has fostered an incredible community impact on the students, faculty, alumni, and surrounding neighborhood. The South Oak Cliff area has long been known for its passionate residents and their support for the school. In fact, the grand opening celebration in January 2020 included over 1,500 members of the community, officials, and alumni in gold and white SOC attire along with the band and choir in a march from the temporary school to the brand-new facility. This burst of positive momentum led to the SOC football team winning back-to-back Texas 5A-DII state championships in 2021 and 2022, the first Dallas ISD school to win a state title since 1950. The renovation has also led to more parental involvement and higher academic performance across the board. As we celebrate #BlackHistoryMonth, KAI is extremely pleased to see the positive change this multi-award-winning project has had on the community and believes it will continue for years to come. Read more about this impactful project at the link below. https://lnkd.in/gcTAHG_r #TransformingCommunities #CommunityImpact #AEC #Design #Engineering #CommunityInvestment #Construction #K12Design

The value and cultural representation of historic education facilities bring a sense of nostalgia to many communities and campuses across the nation. When considering the options to preserve a historic building, it’s imperative to renovate the space so the owner can use it to the best of its ability. Here are three major factors to consider when renovating a historic education facility. Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools, Kansas City Public Schools, Independence School District, Raytown Quality Schools; School District, North Kansas City Schools #Education #JEDunnKC #InspiredPlaces #JEDunn

✏️ Exploring the Benefits of Modular Classrooms for Dynamic Student Populations ✏️ In regions like British Columbia, where student populations can fluctuate significantly, traditional school infrastructure often struggles to keep pace. Britco modular classrooms present a flexible and efficient solution to this challenge. Here's how: 🔸Scalable Buildings: Our classrooms can be quickly assembled, expanded, or reduced, adapting seamlessly to changing student numbers, ensuring every child has access to education close to home. 🔸Quick Deployment: Modular solutions shorten setup times by 30–50% compared to traditional construction, allowing for rapid response to immediate needs, whether it's a surge in enrollment or emergency renovations. 🔸Customizable & Affordable: Tailored to meet specific aesthetic or functional needs, modular classrooms can match existing school architecture or pioneer new, innovative designs that are both cost-effective and conducive to learning environments. Modular construction is not just a temporary fix but a sustainable approach to educational infrastructure that effortlessly accommodates growth and change. ➡️ Interested in learning how Britco can transform your educational space? Checkout our blog post for more information on this topic, and connect with us today! https://bit.ly/4cX8Loq #BuiltModular #ModularClassrooms #EducationalInnovation #SustainableSchools

#NeurodiversityCelebrationWeek continues! Knowing that 20% of students, faculty and staff are neurodivergent - a shift is needed toward a more inclusive culture in all campus settings. From classrooms and labs, sports and fitness spaces, to libraries, student common areas and cafeterias – designing spaces that address all physical and mental needs is critical. Access to natural light and the inclusion of biophilic elements were central to the renovation of St. Charles Community College's Life Science Building. The transformation gave them the teaching environment they needed to foster student success. Learn more about our higher education design portfolio: https://loom.ly/G0Qxnd4 #NeurodiversityCelebrationWeek #NeurodiversityAwareness #NeurodiversityWeek #NeurodiversityMatters #ClassroomDesign #InclusiveEnvironments #SensorySupport #Neurodiverse #LearningDifferences #FGMA #WeBuildCommunity

I am currently working on a research project at JTP, focused on St Stephens Primary School, where we are co-designing outdoor learning environments with the primary school community. We have been attempting to re-design the charrette process to make it more accessible and engaging for young minds, specifically targeting the cognitive abilities of 9-11-year-olds. This involves developing methods to bridge their creative ideas with the practical aspects of arranging these designs into spatially relative plans. By tailoring our approach, we aim to facilitate a deeper understanding and construct a knowledge framework from the students, allowing them to contribute meaningfully to their own learning spaces. This project not only highlights the potential of participatory design in educational settings but also demonstrates the value of involving young learners in the planning and design process. We hope that this will result in a comprehensive design report that identifies a knowledge frame work on the impact of engaging with younger people and additionally sets out a precedent for the practice going forward when it comes to designing primary educational environments. #Researchprojedt #JTP #Education #CoDesign #OutdoorLearning #PrimaryEducation #ParticipatoryDesign #CommunityEngagement #charrette

Community colleges play a vital role in promoting educational equity and opportunity, but they face challenges like declining enrollment and low transfer rates. Architects like HMC’s Eric Skiba are exploring innovative design solutions to create inclusive, supportive environments for student success. Check out Erik's article on Spaces4Learning, "Revolutionizing Community College Success" where he explores how architects can help address these pressing challenges. #hmcarchitects #designforgood https://lnkd.in/gafR4iQj

Did you know over half of all U.S. public schools are in need of renovations, the cost of which is estimated at nearly $200 billion? But how can jurisdictions make the case for investing in school modernization, and what guidance is there for designers and school districts to effectively spend the forecasted billions of modernization dollars to achieve their core mission of educating children for life in the 21st century? I’m so pleased to announce there’s new research available to help! I teamed with some amazing colleagues at Perkins Eastman and Drexel University to conduct the “Addressing a Multi-Billion Dollar Challenge” study, sponsored by The American Institute of Architects (AIA) College of Fellows #LatrobePrize and J+J Flooring. We found that modernized schools outperformed non-modernized schools in a statistically significant manner across multiple factors. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/ejJ_Fw-2. #K12schools #K12design #SchoolModernization #Research #DesignResearch #AppliedResearch #EvidenceBasedDesign #DesignGuidelines #IndoorEnvironmentalQuality #IEQ #EducationalAdequacy #CommunityConnectivity

Safe, inclusive school climate is a key feature of high school redesign. This graphic shows evidence-based practices that can help create a positive school culture and climate. 📍 Bronxdale High School in NYC fosters a positive school climate with advisories, social and emotional learning, and restorative practices. The school outperforms city averages in graduation rates and postsecondary enrollment. Learn more in Feature 2 of this report: https://lnkd.in/ginAzY2B #HighSchoolRedesign #SchoolClimate

The progress that has been made over the course of the last few years has been nothing short of incredible and it's thanks to this partnership between O-A-K and Godfrey-Lee. Check out some of these really neat spaces that students get to be in every day. #construction #education #constructionindustry #renovation #highschool #learning