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Chrstian Salkeled
2nd year architecture students
Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, 2016
This classroom and school remodel revolves around the idea of the importance of the outdoors in education. Many countries, such as Norway and Finland, (both consistently ranked above the united states in education) recognize this as a necessity of education, with younger grades in some schools spending a majority of their school time outside. Although you can’t immediately change school/learning culture throughout the whole US, small changes can begin to take place that have lasting positive effects for students. By replacing the portables with classrooms that emphasize the importance of outside through large amounts of natural light and private outdoor learning spaces that are used as entrances to the classrooms, a much healthier environment for learning can begin to take place. Another aspect that will hopefully increase healthy learning habits is the addition of a smaller learning space, separated by the protected outdoor space. This volume is intended for younger grades to act as a more comfortable space for independent activities, like reading or drawing, with a lowered roof to make it scaled specifically for younger children. For older grades this could act as a room for labs or other similar activities. The slat system on the south facade diffuses sunlight entering the space, maintaining very usable light that allows thermal gain in the colder winter months. The entrance to either learning space consists of three large glazed doors that can be opened to allow circulation.
2nd year architecture students
Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, 2016
This classroom and school remodel revolves around the idea of the importance of the outdoors in education. Many countries, such as Norway and Finland, (both consistently ranked above the united states in education) recognize this as a necessity of education, with younger grades in some schools spending a majority of their school time outside. Although you can’t immediately change school/learning culture throughout the whole US, small changes can begin to take place that have lasting positive effects for students. By replacing the portables with classrooms that emphasize the importance of outside through large amounts of natural light and private outdoor learning spaces that are used as entrances to the classrooms, a much healthier environment for learning can begin to take place. Another aspect that will hopefully increase healthy learning habits is the addition of a smaller learning space, separated by the protected outdoor space. This volume is intended for younger grades to act as a more comfortable space for independent activities, like reading or drawing, with a lowered roof to make it scaled specifically for younger children. For older grades this could act as a room for labs or other similar activities. The slat system on the south facade diffuses sunlight entering the space, maintaining very usable light that allows thermal gain in the colder winter months. The entrance to either learning space consists of three large glazed doors that can be opened to allow circulation.