Designing schools fit for the future

Designing schools is about more than making them aesthetically pleasing. Vanessa Brady, of The Society of British and International Design, looks at the importance of different design stages and how finance managers should prioritise school design as a prime factor in their budgeting.

The introduction of Private Finance Initiatives (PFI) into the public sector infrastructure was at a peak during the mid-1980s and it changed the landscape of many former government funded areas of public services from hospitals, transport and, of course, schools. The scheme, whereby the private sector provided the capital funding as well as led the building development of many primary and secondary schools of the time, may have produced ‘educationally fit for purpose buildings (for its time) but innovation was not on the agenda’ (Harrison and Hutton, 2013).

One core reason for this is that these two partners, both government and investor, have very different roles. The government has a duty of care to provide a service for the people it governs and it must do so to a standard that elevates the country as a leader in the field at the highest levels as well as endure the challenge of keeping Britain on an equal footing with competitors from countries in Europe and beyond. Private investors, however, are in business to make money. They have no other agenda.

One is focused on service the other on profit. Function wasn’t always strongly represented, nor was the final delivery. Nonetheless a decade on, we can review the success and failure of the opportunities lost and provided so as to consider a more comprehensive thought process and expand on positive results gained. This article will consider some of the necessary requisites in designing schools for the future.

Design dynamics
It is a fact that if you’re happy in your environment you will excel. It all seems reasonably simple to me as a designer. Isolate the function and performance; look at the age group of the users; address safety; choose colours that relax; inspire and calm according to the use of the space; and insulate the building to ensure the lowest energy consumption, adding maximum light input with lots of glass to ensure maximum daylight use while considering the functions carried out within the building.

The products specified should be suitable for heavy duty contract use, easy to clean, easy to maintain when damaged and timeless in design. I always choose a supplier and supply agreement for continued re-order covering loss, damage and wear. The general decor should last for ten years with minimal maintenance and not be regarded as dated after a tear or two. It’s not just the environment in which students study when attending an education establishment for a number of years, it’s also the methods in which education is transferred to pupils that needs consideration in design. The classroom has changed aesthetically, as have the tools and equipment used to learn, and space planning should account for that.

A quote from the Scottish government in its insistence on a curriculum review in 2004 and the need for transformation in schools is illustrative. It says: “The buildings, the physical environment and facilities must themselves also be drivers of change. They need to be more than just passive or responsive to be used and adapted. They need to inspire and challenge both learners and teachers to think in new and imaginative ways about the surroundings within which learning takes place, indeed about the very ‘how’ it takes place. Buildings can and should be real catalysts for creativity.” – Scottish government 2009 (Harrison and Hutton).

Design communication
Good design will always engage effective communication with the end users especially in a design based purpose-built training environment. For instance, in the case of designing for disability, which is often a compliant matter for all public buildings, these considerations should be addressed to meet the needs of the end user. Listening to the opinions of those with a disability who are more aware and therefore able to impart information that can be used to the advantage of the buildings construction seems to be a basic consideration but it rarely happens, if at all. This is purely because the supply chain plan of works ‘footprint’ is not clear or shared with the stakeholders.

Even a more seemingly trivial subject like storage needs to be carefully addressed to meet requirements of subject-specific equipment. It is necessary that dialogue should exist between those who will use the space, those that formally used the space and those building the space before work commences to ensure a 360° delivery. Often, this is the missing link and bad design is unreasonably blamed when in fact it’s often bad communication.

My personal rule when designing anything for public use is to always consult with the staff, the delivery drivers, the operators and the consumer/public and I have never once felt that it was an unnecessary step. If the space is new and not a refurbishment I go to another location with similar demographic and built environment stresses. On completion, I have always felt that it was an essential part of the overall design as without doing so would have eliminated numerous aspects that I factored in which had made the building more safe, beautiful and functional for everyday use for the people that live, work and move around within it.

Design economics
Finance and budgeting is often the number one reason why many design essentials are thrown out of the window before being properly considered as they are often thought of as expensive. In an ideal world, money would never be an obstacle and utopian schools would be built where all stakeholders, including investors, were happy. Fortunately, design has caught up with reality and good design, and especially designers, are as cost efficient as they are innovative.

When considered carefully, simple ideas can make big changes in the well-being of users, as well as financially. The famous example of Bill Clinton introducing a simple, almost free of charge change top of tall buildings roof colour is illustrative. Instead of leaving the tar roofs black, he advocated the painting of them white. The result was that the buildings didn’t get so hot from over 30° sunshine, and therefore they used less energy running air conditioning. This saved money and helped the environment. At the same token, seemingly more expensive design ideas in the outset often prove cost effective in the long run if they are properly assessed by the experts as to whether they are fit for purpose. This saves the investment in time and money to have to re-specify an unfit product.

Design Ergonomics
Thinking about the ergonomics of a space is an essential part of the planning process that has at times in the past been regarded an afterthought in public places such as schools.

Looking at elements from the pitch of a chair back to the curve and grip of door handles can make significant changes to the overall design of a space. For instance, a simple ball shaped door knob needs to be gripped and twisted to open the door. These two actions are often unsuitable for some users – therefore it is paramount to be cautious where certain products are specified.

The social uses of spaces are always a key in educational environments. A careful balance of breakout space for social hangouts and small pockets of space for a one-to-one conversation should be distinguished as well as a variety of some transparent but soundproof booths for private conversation. Good design will provide a variety of group meeting places where dialogue is shared both socially and formally with area-environments designed for both. Similarly, rest and thinking space close to a library is obvious but that’s not always the case, private space is critical to a developing mind.

I haven’t even touched on canteens, lifts, theatres and sound-proofing, halls, first-aid, cloakrooms, offices and bathroom spaces - so if you think design is just about a classroom and tables and chairs take another look. One thing is for sure, we must firstly educate investors to understand their part and that they will get the return on their investment by consulting the experts, the educators, the students and the product suppliers and acting in the form of an old fashioned bank; lending money for a profit.

When new developments come to the table with that role, understanding the outcome can be phenomenal. Unfortunately, some destinations are so delighted to have received the backing and developers are so keen not to encourage interference that might lead to delays and impact on fees that the very basic starting point is thrown out before works even begin.

Conclusion
Good design starts with a consultation, and then a designer can create an environment that designs out the problems, factors in solutions, meets expectations, complies with building regulations and finally adds aesthetics. I’m so keen to push the fact that decorators make things look pretty but a designer is involved and creates solutions for the entire journey; something that has got lost in the development of the interior design profession.

The Society of British and International Design (SBID) is the professional accrediting organisation for the interior design industry in the UK supporting the interests of interior designers and manufacturers by guiding and measuring the profession’s trading standards through practice, competence and education.

Further Information
www.sbid.org