The Role of Architectural Metals in Building Healthier & More Engaging K-12 Environments

Educational facilities for the K-12 years—a time when students are going through physical, intellectual, and emotional changes—require thoughtful planning and design. These learning environments should provide a healthy and natural transition between the insulated world of elementary school and the formative years of high school and beyond that inspire both academic and social exploration.

Here we take a closer look at how architectural metals are being used in the design of K-12 schools to promote healthy engagement and learning to set students up for lifelong success.

K-12 schools are more than just a collection of buildings and classrooms. They offer students much more than an education.

Schools are places where friendships and community begin. They provide shelter, warmth, and food. They teach practical, as well as emotional lessons that last a lifetime.

Ideally, they also spark enthusiasm, engagement, and a thirst for knowledge. Research shows that when children and adolescents are more engaged and enthused about their own learning they are more likely to achieve at higher levels.

Meeting the Requirements of Today’s Learning Environments

Geometry and space planning for schools take up most of the concepting and design time for good reason: school buildings must first and foremost facilitate the mass movements and meetings of hundreds, and often thousands, of students and teachers that work together in these buildings every day.

The most engaging learning environments often use design and architectural elements that start at the front door—and sometimes even before that—in the outdoor spaces and courtyards that surround a school. Thoughtful architecture and design elements must then continue throughout the classrooms, hallways, cafeterias, and libraries to make school buildings as inviting, safe, and healthy as they can be.

Materials play an important role as well. The materials being used in these new designs are shattering the conventions of poured concrete, block walls, and framed windows. More and more, schools are turning to architectural metals, patterns, finishes, and patinas. When used smartly metals can add value, functionality, and beauty.

Let’s take a look at a few functional areas and the design considerations for these spaces—and how architectural metals could play a role making them healthier and more inviting.

Designing for Engagement and Learning

In their formative K-12 years, children and adolescents are like sponges absorbing all that they encounter, especially in school buildings where they are likely to spend nearly 12,000 hours over the course of 12 years of primary and secondary education.

A student’s learning environment matters greatly. And every design element counts when it comes to creating a safe, healthy, and engaging learning environment.

The right blend of architectural metals can help by creating inspiring entryways, outdoor sanctuaries, and more functional and beautiful hallways that promote community and pride at every turn.

To find out more about using using architectural metals, and perforated or patterned metals, in your next K-12 project contact us or call +1 (816) 474-8882 to speak with one of our Project Specialists.