Page 43 - ANAHEIM 2019

SESSIONABSTRACTS continued...
• Removal of relocatable buildings allowed most campuses to recapture additional outdoor space for learning and physical activity, so precious in our urban campuses.
• Replacement of aging and underutilized shop buildings at several high schools made way for new CTE facilities, to meet the educational needs of the current programs.
• At several schools, the replacement of inadequate and aging gymnasiums with updated facilities to support health, well-being and school activities.
• At several schools, the replacement or renovation of visual and performing arts spaces, including art, music, dance and drama classrooms and performance spaces
• Incorporation of appropriate special education learning spaces integrated into the campus.
• Improvements to campus accessibility allowing access for all learners.
• And overall, an improvement to the quality of learning environments.
The panel will share lessons learned from their effort, many of which are being incorporated into the development of the second group of 11 projects. Along the way, the project teams have had the opportunity to develop exciting designs that respond to the educational vision of each school and reflect the richness of the District’s diverse communities and history.
Embracing Diversity and Promoting Community: How One School Risked Conformity for
Inclusivity
Kelly Callahan, AIA, Principal, VMDO Architects / Anne Lintner, Principal, Bluestone Elementary School, Harrisonburg City Public Schools / Terrace / AIA CEU: 1.0 LU HSW / Primary Core Competencies: Design of Educational Facilities / Secondary Core Competencies: Educational Visioning
‘Welcoming’ was the first adjective that leadership offered when brainstorming the vision for a new elementary school in the diverse small city of Harrisonburg, Virginia. And it was one that stuck. Harrisonburg is a prosperous city in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, and continues to earn its nickname ‘the friendly city’ by integrating newcomers from around the world into its growing community. As a refugee relocation area, Harrisonburg has experienced the highest school enrollment growth rate in Virginia over the past 7 years. 35% of Harrisonburg City Public Schools students
are identified as English Learners, representing over 60 different countries and speaking 57 languages in addition to English. This diversity offers both cultural opportunities for learning and exposure as well as challenges in terms of ensuring appropriate levels of support and development are championed for this unique and growing population. This presentation will highlight how school design can effectively support educational pedagogy while promoting equity and inclusivity, especially for diverse and high need demographics. Finding the right balance between learning and equity is a challenge that affects all schools and communities. Using Harrisonburg’s Bluestone Elementary School
as one example among others, attendees will be able to visualize methodologies for developing vibrant, welcoming learning environments that effectively foster belonging, social engagement, and meaningful relationships. Results from a recent custom post-occupancy evaluation module, developed in conjunction with the Center for the Built Environment’s standard K-12 post-occupancy survey, will be shared and reinforce lessons learned related to creating an inclusive, safe, and healthy learning environment for a diverse population of students.
Learning Objectives
OBJ #1 Discover educational design solutions for creating a sense of belonging, student autonomy, and inclusivity among diverse student populations.