With changing educational trends comes a change in educational campus planning. Not all schools can afford a complete renovation or new building. However, those that can reflect the changes in planning in four key ways.
Features
When considering the current trends, it helps to consider the features professors, teachers and the administration have requested for the design. The environment and features of the building impact the learning of students in different ways. Some schools may want features tailored to new pedagogical ideas. Schools may want the addition of a greenhouse or gutters that run under the concrete in the front of the building.
Cost
Cost is definitely a factor in educational campus planning. The type of building and the amount of technology incorporated can all affect the cost and timetable of completion. Sustainable and energy-efficient features can be more expensive upfront but save money in the long run.
Constraints
The size of the available land can constrain the type of building that can be done. Many schools have been working on being a more inclusive community which affects how they are designed. The amount of space available remains the largest constraint to campuses as there is rarely enough for everything they want to do. Building up is not always an option especially for elementary campuses.
Community
How involved the community is in the design can affect how the campus looks and operates. Educational campuses have to work within their communities to grow, expand and renovate. The community may not want an increase in local traffic or more students living amongst them.
Educational architectural design has changed in recent decades to account for the increasing presence of technology used within the classroom. With changing educational techniques, the design of the space needed in classrooms has changed. As the trends continue to evolve, the planning of these educational campuses should as well.
