The courtyard was designed as a multi-use space that brings students and faculty together and offers a safe way for students to get fresh air during the day. Design started with the tiered seating in the center, similar to the design of the student center/library. This type of seating allows for multiple groups to congregate and intermingle. The neatby benches are designed the same way, with more open space in between. The inner wall features gardening space and a greenhouse that can be used during colder months to grow herbs and food right on campus, serving educational purposes related to farming and sustainability. In the center there is a full circle amphitheater inspired by the Washington Square Park fountain. It can be used for casual seating or student performances, events, and announcements. Indigineous trees and plants are used to decorate the space, as well as many local materials.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM: The Edify Symposium invites exploration of the question: what are the features of an ideal 21st century education? This year’s symposium offers design solutions for present-day wants and needs in schools through architectural and curricular redesigns of a public high school in rural Massachusetts — Monument Mountain Regional High School.
To design successful spaces for the school, we need to have a basic understanding of the curriculum and behavior happening in those classrooms and shared areas. The current US public school system is putting contemporary learners into outdated institutions that too frequently fail to get students excited about learning, ready for the future, and allow students to explore their own interests and creativity. The Edify curriculum team, is developing new teaching frameworks in the context of four key areas that should be emphasized in K-12 curriculum: ecological sustainability, technological literacy, creativity & entrepreneurship, and human & life skills.
To design successful spaces for the school, we need to have a basic understanding of the curriculum and behavior happening in those classrooms and shared areas. The current US public school system is putting contemporary learners into outdated institutions that too frequently fail to get students excited about learning, ready for the future, and allow students to explore their own interests and creativity. The Edify curriculum team, is developing new teaching frameworks in the context of four key areas that should be emphasized in K-12 curriculum: ecological sustainability, technological literacy, creativity & entrepreneurship, and human & life skills.