How Storage Solutions Support Design Trends in K-12 Schools
Key Highlights
- Flexible classroom layouts and storage solutions support multiple learning styles and activities.
- Enhanced safety features include clear sight lines, secure lockers, and low-profile storage to improve security and accessibility.
- Sustainable design elements like natural light, good air quality, and recycled materials promote student and staff well-being.
- Technology integration in school design accommodates STEM and CTE programs with secure, adaptable storage solutions.
- Collaborative planning with school communities ensures that design solutions meet specific educational and safety needs.
To accommodate new teaching methods and learning styles, the design of K-12 schools is changing rapidly. With a focus on collaboration, schools are finding new, creative ways to increase adaptability so instructors can meet the individual needs of all students.
Simply put, there is no one-size-fits-all solution for for learning spaces. Designing for flexibility, sustainability, safety, and technological advancements is crucial for schools looking to connect with the communities they serve. Let’s explore some of the recent trends in K-12 school design as well as available solutions that can accommodate these needs.
Flexible & Adaptable Learning Spaces
Once a rigid space with rows of identical desks set up for rote lessons, classrooms are now dynamic spaces that encourage multiple styles of learning. Small design changes can make a big impact for both students and staff. By utilizing portable solutions like Spacesaver’s Flexible Shelving units, classrooms can quickly adapt to the day’s needs. Versatile storage solutions and other easy-to-move furniture allow classrooms to become multi-use spaces that support a variety of learning styles and activities. In many communities, the local school serves as a community hub that can be used for community education classes, sports, or and Flexible Shelving allows spaces like libraries or common rooms to adapt quickly to serve its users.
Enhanced Safety & Security
The safety of students and teachers is a top priority when designing schools. As such, consideration must be given to enhancing visibility and determining how people will access the building. Low-profile storage solutions like Spacesaver’s Day Use Lockers and Flexible Shelving units give teachers, librarians, and other staff members clear sight lines. Additionally, to support the work of resource officers in K-12 schools, secure gun lockers make temporary handgun storage safe and convenient for law enforcement to ensure the safety of those inside the building.
Sustainable and Holistic Designs
Across K-12 schools a greater focus is being placed on sustainability and student wellness when designing their facilities. Modernized spaces help create welcoming environments that meet learning, social, and emotional needs. Daylight and views of nature can improve mood, mental performance, brain activity, and mental health as well decrease depression. Good air quality can increase student and staff wellness and lead to better performance. Integrating Spacesaver’s customizable solutions is one way to promote natural light in school buildings as they can be efficiently configured to fit in available spaces without blocking windows or skylights.
Because school leaders are thinking about health and well-being in a holistic way, sourcing sustainably manufactured products like Spacesaver’s storage solutions made with recycled steel is also attractive to schools looking to be greener.
Technology Integration
When designing K-12 facilities, integrating technology is a must. Modern learning environments are critical to building tomorrow’s skilled labor workforce.
Present-day classrooms with an eye on the future should be designed to accommodate a variety of tools and technologies that can facilitate Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programs. With STEM and CTE facilities on the rise – many high schools are adding or upgrading labs for robotics, coding, biotech, advanced manufacturing, etc. Secure storage cabinets like Spacesaver’s 920 Series: Preservation Cabinet keep valuable materials secure and accessible so staff can keep accurate tabs on inventory. With a reconfigurable interior and modular frame, the 920 Series: Preservation Cabinet is a lasting investment, offering flexibility with adjustable shelves and trays to accommodate today’s needs and future requirements.
Collaborate on Designs
While flexibility, sustainability, safety, and technology are top of mind when designing K-12 schools, collaboration is crucial to ensure each school’s individual needs are met.
Engaging school administration, teachers, and students in the design process is a best practice for architects and designers. By collaborating with users to understand their needs and goals, designers can better specify storage solutions that enable the long-term goals of K-12 school districts.