The Fall 2020 Edition of LEARNING BY DESIGN Is Available!
October 12, 2020 - The Fall 2020 Awards of Excellence edition of LEARNING BY DESIGN magazine has been published featuring a host of recently completed education facilities from across the United States. Featured learning spaces range from early childhood and elementary school environments, middle schools, high schools, specialized education, and institutions of higher education.
In total fifty-six projects where juried on the basis of being innovative; the incorporation of sustainable construction and operational features; having appropriate use and application of interior design elements; featuring floorplans and physical space design that enhance Next Generation Learning pedagogies; using good planning and functional design strategies; and meeting the needs of the communities they serve.
Twelve well-designed spaces were bestowed top awards. Four of the best projects were awarded Grand Prize Awards, four where designated with Citation of Excellence Awards, and four Honorable Mention Awards.
A distinguished panel of four peer reviewed, scored and debated the merits of all the submissions. The jury selected five Grand Prize projects that each exhibited standout elements that make a learning environment successful—transparency, connectivity, safety, sustainability, great interiors, purposeful design, and sophistication.
The Five Grand Prize Awards where bestowed on the following firms and projects:
- Grimm + Parker Architects (Calverton, MD) for the Anne E. Moncure Elementary School (Stafford, VA);
- IBI Group (Seattle, WA) for Mary Lyon Elementary School (Tacoma, WA));
- ATSR (Golden Valley, MN) for 'The Loft' at Minnetonka High School (Minnetonka, MN);
- A4E (Architecture for Education) (Pasadena, CA) for Rio Del Sol STEAM School (Oxnard, CA).
Anne E. Moncure Elementary School - "The internal and external design of the school provide a comprehensive and exciting set of opportunities for students and teachers. The focus on community connection, sustainability, and learner-centered design are effective and well-thought out. The focus on the district's learning standards is clear." “The collaboration zones are well designed with visual and physical connectivity to adjacent learning spaces as well as the outdoors."
Mary Lyon Elementary School - "The design and approach are innovative and progressive, with flexible gathering spaces and classrooms. The interiors are elegantly but welcomingly detailed, and the sustainable efforts are comprehensive and effective." “The 3-story learning commons is truly a gem with lots of natural light and airy feel while providing this type of space at every level. The plans seem to really flow well for circulation."
The Loft' at Minnetonka High School - "This project is fantastic! Seeing the real big picture needs and reacting to them is the crucial role of the architect." "Wonderful transformation. The resulting spaces are very high energy, future focused environments for learning to take place." "This is a small project that has potential for huge impact on future development in what appears to be a very traditional comprehensive high school."
Rio Del Sol STEAM School - The design process of this school was authentic and meaningful and resulted in a school deeply in tune with its community, fulfilling needs from inception to construction.” "This building actively celebrates diversity in culture, and learning. It is a kinesthetic learner's dream school!" "This school is the epitome of what a real "community school" should be - recognizing it's unique and emerging contexts and reacting to them meaningfully as a team."
Fall 2020: Four CITATION OF EXCELLENCE Award winners
- Alice West Fleet Elementary School (Arlington, VA) - VMDO Architects (Charlottesville, VA)
- Amos Hall Additions and Renovation (Middletown, DE) - Zimmerman Studio LLC (Philadelphia, PA)
- Emory Student Center (Atlanta, GA) - Duda|Paine Architects (Durham, NC)
- Positive Tomorrows New School for Homeless Children (Oklahoma City, OK) - MA+ Architecture Oklahoma City , OK)
Fall 2020: Four HONORABLE MENTION Award winners
- Bishop Noll Institute (Hammond, IN) - Wightman (Benton Harbor, MI)
- Boys Republic, Max L. Scott Culinary Arts Center (Chino Hills, CA) - A4E (Architecture for Education)(Pasadena, CA)
- Rochester Institute of Technology (Rochester, NY) – SWBR (Rochester, NY)
- Sherlock Elementary School (Cicero, IL) - FGM Architects (Oak Brook, IL)
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TO REVIEW ALL 56 FALL 2020 PROJECTS VISIT: WWW.LEARNINGBYDESIGNMAGAZINE.COM
