E&LP is proud to be participating in the Community Design Collaborative’s Design Aid: Outdoor Learning Spaces Competition. Sponsored by the William Penn Foundation, the goal of the competition is to generate “innovative and creative solutions for outdoor learning in a time of global crisis – and beyond – to bring students back to school as soon as safely possible and to expand opportunities for outdoor learning in the future. We are excited by the goals and possibilities of this initiative as it affords us, as designers, to explore new opportunities for education, play, and social spaces that stand to have a real impact on local children, parents, teachers, and communities.
School buildings have a limited amount of square footage to address the proper social distancing necessary for all students to return to school, but the typically underused schoolyard can be used to expand learning environments to the outdoors. Throughout history, open-air classrooms have been used to prevent the spread of disease, and outdoor learning has been shown to have physical, emotional, and social benefits for kids.”[1]
On Monday, September 14, the Design AID: Outdoor Learning Spaces Design Guide will be published as a “digital resource to support Philadelphia schools and schools across the U.S. and the globe in their efforts to safely go back to school. The School District of Philadelphia will use the design guide to implement 5-6 pilot learning spaces at Philadelphia Schools this fall.”[2] We are thankful for the opportunity to apply our mission in support of education and resiliency in Philadelphia: To create solutions that inspire through the innovation of the natural and built environment.
E&LP’s Design Solution Description
To accommodate the constraints of different sizes and shapes of school yards, our design features a menu of items allowing for the classroom to be reconfigured to fit each school’s needs. Each classroom can have an assortment of biome specific planters, desks, animals, rain barrels, and painted features that can be selected by classroom and arranged to fit inside the schoolyard.
Our design approach is based on the biomes of the world, designating each classroom as one biome. The classroom features and decorations would explore the animals, plants, and climate of the biome to act as an exciting and immersive learning experience.
The desks would create six feet of separation between students while integrating nature and green space to the classroom. Solar panel fabric would line the tent’s roof to keep the classroom powered and shaded. Asphalt murals would act as an activity area while promoting social distancing. Rain barrels painted to reflect specific biomes can be incorporated as a means of watering planters.
Additional Community Design Collaborative and Competition Information
Design Aid: Outdoor Learning Spaces Competition Brief
Community Design Collaborative: Transforming Schoolyards – For James Dobson Elementary School and East Passyunk Community Center, E&LP has provided services and pro bono work.
[1] https://cdesignc.org/outdoor-learning
E&LP Renderings for Design Aid: Outdoor Learning Spaces
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