Educational architecture, school architecture or school building design is a discipline which practices architect and others for the design of educational institutions, such as

school A school is an educational institution designed to provide learning spaces and learning environments for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is sometimes compuls ...

s and

universities A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, t ...

, as well as other choices in the educational design of learning experiences. The design of building can significantly influence the learning experience of students. Additionally, because schools are important sources of traffic, employment and community activities, school buildings often act as anchor institutions in neighborhoods or communities. The decline of a school can have significant impact on local communities. Educational buildings are often purpose built: designed with architectural choices unique to schools, such as classrooms and centralized restrooms, and other purpose built features. When the schools are closed, its often hard to repurpose the buildings. For example, in 2013, Chicago closed 50 school buildings, and even in 2023, the government was struggling to identify new tenants and how to utilize the buildings. Various countries have gone through significant changes in philosophies associated with educational institutions, influenced by trends in investment by governments as well as larger changes in educational philosophy.

Scope

Royal College of Science (Imperial College London)

Though primarily dealing with the physical building where education is given, for example a school. Educational An educational architect can therefore also be someone without an official architect's title. Both the methodical as the physical structure of the education influence the learning outcomes. Examples of educational architecture as redesign of the physical place are * learning places instead of classrooms, * applying standards for the

indoor environment Building science is the science and technology-driven collection of knowledge in order to provide better indoor environmental quality (IEQ), energy-efficient built environments, and occupant comfort and satisfaction. ''Building physics, architec ...

. Examples of educational architecture as redesign of the education process are * designing courses, * the development of an

virtual learning environment A virtual learning environment (VLE) in educational technology is a web-based platform for the digital aspects of courses of study, usually within educational institutions. They present resources, activities, and interactions within a course stru ...

Significant movements

Open classroom design

Also

* Joseph Fuller,

G. Topham Forrest George Topham Forrest, F.R.I.B.A. FGS FRSE (1872 – 1945) was a Scottish architect who became chief architect for the London County Council and was responsible for the design of many public housing estates, and also co-designed two bridges ove ...

Sadie Morgan Sadie Anna Morgan (born 28 February 1969) is an English designer. In 1995 she founded dRMM, the RIBA Stirling Prize winning architecture practice, with Alex de Rijke and Philip Marsh. Morgan is the chair of the Independent Design Panel for Hig ...

; architects specialised in educational architecture. *

Glenda Lappan Glenda T. Lappan (born 1939) is a professor emerita of mathematics at Michigan State University. She is known for her work in mathematics education and in particular for developing the widely used Connected Mathematics curriculum for middle schoo ...

Robert Glaser Robert Glaser (January 18, 1921 – February 4, 2012) was an American educational psychologist, who has made significant contributions to theories of learning and instruction. The key areas of his research focused on the nature of aptitudes and ind ...

; educational designers. *

Harvard Graduate Center The Harvard Graduate Center, also known as "the Gropius Complex" (including Harkness Commons), is a group of buildings on Harvard University's Cambridge, MA campus designed by The Architects Collaborative in 1948 and completed in 1950. As the first ...

; innovator of educational architecture * The Children's Village at the Canuanã School; winner of the award "Best Building of Educational Architecture of the World" (2018)

References

{{reflist Educational environment