Educational
If you haven't visited an educational institution lately, you might be surprised by some of the changes. Today, learning is more interactive, and more likely to take place outside the traditional classroom structure. Students work in small groups to solve problems or visit state-of-the-art labs for hands-on experience. Faculty development takes place continually. There is growing recognition that, given the right environment, learning can take place anytime, anywhere.
These trends call for dramatic changes in the design of educational facilities. Insite Architects is at the forefront of learning centered change. We have completed projects for many educational institutions and schools. Our designs focus on practical issues while reflecting the changing philosophy toward learning.
Any project involving an educational facility is a chance for Insite Architects to cultivate and enhance the learning experience for our client's communities. As with other architectural projects, the design of educational facilities is the end result of a collaborative communications process, designed to reach our clients' objectives and reflect the desires and needs of the communities they serve.
Insite's approach to the design of educational facilities focuses on the functionality of the spaces to be created, the development of an appropriate learning environment and the attainment of a socially responsible design. The latter involves energy efficiency, minimised maintenance, resource conservation, cost control, safety and security.
Functionality is achieved by proper space planning, led by our staff with considerable child care, primarary, secondary and tertiary experience. In addition to an appropriate layout for classrooms, laboratories, assembly areas, offices and shops, other functions are considered within the design process. These include student arrival, health, pedestrian circulation, teacher amenities and exhibit areas for student work.
Development of an appropriate learning environment involves communications with teachers' representatives so that relevant educational concepts can be implemented, such as team teaching, small group interaction areas and outdoor learning. The use of colourful, playful spaces is encouraged consistent with the overall design theme.
Socially responsible design considerations include enegy conserving materials and construction, durable low-maintenance materials and finishes and use of non-polluting indoor materials and furnishings, state-of-the-art ventilation systems and specialised telecommunication and security systems.
Insite Architects recognises that educational facilities serve multi-functional roles in the community, including emergency shelters. For that reason, we design buildings to withstand the stresses of severe weather, including fire and storm design standards where appropriate.
The setting of the facility is just as important to the educational system as the interior building design. The campus plan should exude a smooth flow and consistent design theme to encourage a calm and serene environment. Our land planning and landscape architecture professionals are experts in fulfilling such needs.
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