Research/Report
Lindsay Baker
This report traces how school buildings have evolved from 1900 to today, focusing on how environmental design features like ventilation, lighting, and acoustics have shaped student health and learning.
National
Spaces4Learning - March 11, 2025
Architects, designers, and educators alike understand that the needs of our students are constantly changing. The skills and topics taught today are vastly different from those taught even a decade ago. Potential careers in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) have expanded drastically, with educational pathways in fields like robotics, business, esports, as well…
Research/Report
Kari Leif, Vivian Loftness
This study explores school learning environments' impact on student and faculty outcomes, emphasizing the harmful effects of underfunded public school facilities. It promotes affordable biophilic retrofit strategies, providing a toolkit of 42 retrofits for K-12 schools.
Guide/Tool
ASHRAE
This guide outlines strategies for designing zero energy K–12 schools, balancing efficiency and on-site renewable generation. It covers climate-specific targets, energy reduction techniques, and implementation strategies, including optimized lighting, HVAC, and envelope design.
Research/Report
Arthur D. Caffey
This dissertation explores how facility conditions in rural high-poverty schools affect teacher satisfaction and highlights the importance of infrastructure in supporting educator well-being.
Research/Report
Sarel Lavy, Jerri L. Nixon
This article focuses on magnet schools and examines the effects of construction, building age, and building condition on magnet applications, enrollment, attendance, and student achievement measures.
Article
Terry Byers and Peter C. Lippman
This article critically examines the widely accepted notion that trendy, technology-rich "innovative learning environments" (ILEs) automatically improve student learning.
Research/Report
Peter Barrett, Yufan Zhang, Fay Davies, and Lucinda Barrett
This report describing the findings from HEAD Project (UK) shows that well-designed primary school classrooms can boost learning by as much as 16%. It highlights the impact of key environmental design factors and offers practical, low-cost tips for improving classroom environments to support academic progress.
Research/Report
Peter C. Lippman and Elizabeth A. Matthews
This book showcases how an evidence-based design approach can be utilized in the planning of learning environments.
Research/Report
Lisa Heschong, Roger L. Wright, Stacia Okura
This study presents evidence that classroom daylight exposure significantly improves student academic performance, supporting the case for integrating natural light into school design.