Investing in Education, Building Better Schools - November 9-11, 2011
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Exploring the Possibilities for Innovative 21st Century Learning Environments
Earn 20 HSW/SD Continuing Education Learning Units
Come to London and join the Committee on Architecture for Education and the British Council for School Environments (BCSE) in an exciting conference that will discuss current educational facility design, and the future of our schools on both sides of the Atlantic. The conference will include tours of award winning academic environments by world renowned architects.
As we move into the current decade, we are faced with the reality of shrinking budgets and limited funding. Gone are the opportunities to replace dilapidated school buildings with shiny new designs. However, this new paradigm does not mean we cannot continue to create and build elegant and thoughtful learning environments. If we are truly talented and creative designers, planners and builders, we can leverage limited budgets to continue to improve the facilities in which learning occurs, be it a K-12 school, preschool, corporate, community or higher educational building.
Exponentially expanding use of technology, public awareness of the need for change in how our children are educated, and mainstream implementation of sustainable design strategies mean design teams must remain aware of the impacts these changes will make on learning environments. Despite budgetary challenges, the need to replace or rebuild thousands of schools in both the United States and United Kingdom will not disappear. This November in London, we will partner with the British Council for School Environments (BCSE) to explore examples of award winning schools that were a result of the recently abandoned multi-billion pound United Kingdom’s Building Schools for the Future (BSF) program, and how reductions in funding are challenging design teams in both the United States and United Kingdom to fight for design solutions that convey the value society has for our children and communities.
Conference Schedule:
Day 1: Wednesday, 9 November 2011 - Central London:
7:00 am: Continental breakfast.
7:20 to Noon: Tour The Bridge Academy (BDP) and St. Mary Magdalene Academy (FCB Studios).
Noon to 1:30 pm: Lunch on your own.
1:30 to 5:00 pm: Accompany BCSE delegates on one of four educational facility tour routes.
5:00 to 7:00 pm: Dinner on your own at a local restaurant.
7:00 to 8:30 pm: Evening reception featuring a presentation by Andrew Christie, the United Kingdom’s first Director of Children's Services for a Triborough local authority and Paul Morrell OBE, Chief Construction Adviser, Dept for Business Innovation and Skills.
Day 2: Thursday, 10 November 2011 - West London Free School:
9:00 to 5:00 pm: Full day conference schedule with keynote presentations, panel discussions and interactive workshops, including a panel discussion featuring Ron Bogle, president of the American Architectural Foundation, Steven Bingler, founder of Concordia, David Greenberg, founder of the Denver School of Science and Technology and Alan Dunlop, an award winning Scottish architect and Visiting Chair in Architecture at Kansas State University.
Dr. Peter Jamieson, Policy Advisor to the Provost at the University of Melbourne, will present an overview of his work in the development of learning spaces through creating a broader understanding of an entire campus as a learning environment; creating formal and informal places where students can learn in non-traditional ways.
Day 3: Friday, 11 November 2011 - West Country:
7:00 am: Continental breakfast.
7:30 am: Board buses and leave for the Bryanston School (Hopkins Architects) in Dorset (about 2.5 hours travel time).
10:00 to 11:30 am: Coffee and tour of new Sanger Centre for Science and Mathematics at Bryanston School. The school is a leading independent boarding school that also has a spectacular Norman Shaw building at its heart and a particular educational ethos encouraging independent study.
12:30 to 2:30 pm: Lunch at Rook Lane Chapel in Frome, a historic church that was renovated into a unique community performance center with architects offices upstairs. After a short tour, learn about sustainable practices in the United Kingdom in a symposium featuring: Craig White, architect and renewable material entrepreneur, founding director of White Design and ModCell with more than 25 years experience in sustainable and low carbon architectural practice; Professor William Scott, professor at the University of Bath, director and current Chair of the community interest company South West Learning for Sustainability Coalition; Jonathan Hines, director of Architype, pioneering the introduction of Passivhaus standards in the UK, including two new primary schools; Mark Brierly, director at NVB Architects (and our host); and Dr. Mike Entwisle, director at Buro Happold, is an expert in passive building design and how the engagement of users can reduce energy costs.
2:40 pm: Depart for London and tour the award winning Norman Foster and Partners Langley Academy en route.
Day 3: Guests: Guests may attend the Friday event in a limited number at a rate of $160. If you wish to bring a guest download this form and submit with payment information to the AIA.