Committee on Architecture for Education

Hi all you Solutionaries!

While I was in Detriot, I heard about school buildings that are unused or run down. During the PechaKucha Presentations Travis Willson talked about one such school that had been transformed into a vibrant daycare space. I am wondering if there are other architects and design thinkers who have been apart of transformations of under-utilized school buildings.

What are our options in developing under-utilized public school buildings that exist in neighborhoods that desperately need creative public spaces?

I would love to hear about YOUR experiences and what YOU would do to re-imagine, re-design and rejuvenate under-utilized school buildings.

All ideas are welcome and much appreciated.
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Indira Dutt
Educator and Design Professional
Toronto ON
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The high school I attended solved several issues very nicely. It was completed in 1958 and had no air conditioning.The classroom halls were double-loaded, with clerestory operable windows at the ceiling, above the lockers. The wood doors were half glass. The exterior walls of the classroom had operable windows in a row, just above desk-height shelving. Above the windows was glass block to the ceiling. In spite of being located in the hot, humid south, the building was actually rather cool, with the cross ventilation.

The ends of the hallways were glazed floor to ceiling, and the stairs were open on both levels. Between the daylight at the ends of the hallways and the borrowed lights all along the corridor, all spaces were bright with natural light.

Designed for a student body of 1,800, there were many courses offered that were not available in smaller schools, such as architectural drafting.

The codes have made natural ventilation in schools nearly impossible, but that was certainly a good solution in the day. Built entirely of non-combustible products, the school is still functioning, albeit with air conditioning now.

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Charles Graham AIA
Architect
O'Neal, Inc.
Greenville SC
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