Page 39 - spaces4learning, Summer 2022

Moveable walls and windows from surrounding classrooms provide ease of access to the collaborative project areas.
success, regardless of post-secondary aspirations.
“The goal of Fountain Inn was to create pathways to the
future for every student,” said Fountain Inn High School Principal Maureen Tiller. “We picked pathways that would complement different experiences: machine tool, computer science and informatics, IT, arts and media. It’s all integrated as electives, so every student is taking technical courses.”
Intentional visual connectivity between spaces puts learning on display and sparks curiosity. The focus on collaboration for both learners and educators was fundamental in the building’s planning. Students have informal collaboration areas directly adjacent to the labs and classrooms, making it easy to be hands-on and collaborative.
“We would not be able to do this without collaborative spaces,” Tiller said. “The whole look of the building is more like a college. It’s very different from a traditional high school, yet it is still a fully functioning high school with activities such as sports and performing arts.”
To support students and their school community
PHOTOS FIREWATER PHOTOGRAPHY © 2021
holistically, districts, business partners and architects can build strong relationships to create spaces in which educational programs can be tailored to match job demand. As many schools like the new Fountain Inn High School seek to
inspire the next generation of professionals, designing flexible spaces that can be adapted for changing industry needs can help ensure that students who wish to pursue advanced manufacturing careers in their home communities can access applicable training and opportunities.
Steven Turckes is the Global Practice Leader of the PreK-12 Educational Facilities Group of Perkins&Will, an internation- al award-winning architectural firm specializing in the re- search-based planning and design of innovative and sustainable educational facilities. Aimee Eckmann is the PreK-12 Practice Leader in the Chicago office of Perkins&Will. As a global inno- vator in pre-K-12 programming and planning, Aimee advocates for forward-thinking solutions that engage and influence stu- dents, teachers, and communities.
ndividual and collaborative work spaces for Upon entering the building, the view into the two-story advanced manufacturing vision of the collaborative project areas. lab space is designed to spark curiosity and put learning on display.
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