Page 26 - spaces4learning, November/December 2019

spaces4learning Q&A
ELEVATING THE DISCUSSION ON TRANSFORMING EDUCATION
Jim McGarry, EDmarket president and CEO, reflects on this year’s EDspaces conference and gives us a glimpse into the future of educational facilities design and management.
EXPERT TEAMS OF DESIGNERS, ARCHITECTS AND administrators managing and renovating educational facilities gathered at EDspaces 2019 in Milwaukee last month, elevating the discussion on transforming education. Attendees understand that today’s students are multitasking, tech-enriched collaborators with a variety of learning styles. They also understand the value of education for their own teams, as they took advantage of con- ference educational offerings that included plenary and education sessions, interactive classroom designs and tours of new K–12 and higher education facilities
Spaces4Learning: How did 2019 compare to past years? What are growth trends compared to five years ago? Jim McGarry: EDspaces has been named one of the fastest growing tradeshows in the United States for the last three years running in several different categories. Attendance this year is about 10 percent higher compared to last year. More education institutions are bringing their teams to EDspaces so they can explore their facilities’ challenges and discover approaches to the pedagogical and technological needs as they design and create spaces to better serve future student populations.
S4L: What were some of your highlights and takeaways from this year’s convention?
McGarry: Every year there are new ideas at EDspaces that enhance attendee experience and expand the scope of learning and fun. Milwaukee was no exception.
One of the most anticipated programs was the designed class- rooms program, where each year A&D firms, dealers and man- ufacturers compete to design and outfit each of the classrooms where professional development happens. Attendees get the op- portunity to visualize and experience new classroom design theo- ry as well as some of the most innovative products and technology available. This year, we held an open house for attendees to more thoroughly explore the classrooms and chat with the designers
AIA - CAE Reception
Photo credit: EDmarket.org.
and manufacturers about how concepts and furnishings might work in their projects.
Since the classroom program has been well received, we expand- ed the program to feature cafeteria seating and furniture on the exhibit floor. Since every school and college campus has a designat- ed food service area, we thought the EDspaces 2,000+ participants would appreciate being served lunch in designed seating areas. This gave teams a hands-on opportunity to consider a variety of possi- bilities available when planning for a new cafeteria or dining hall.
S4L: EDspaces has seen some tremendous changes over the last few years, evolving from a distributor kind of show
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