Integrating Flexible Furniture into K-12 Classrooms
As technology continues to evolve and change the method of pedagogy, so must the furniture in the classroom adapt. Current technology allows classrooms to be wireless, where mobility and portability are increasingly important and 1:1 initiatives are established for every student to be equipped with a tablet or laptop device. Providing flexible furnishings in a classroom enhances the use of this technology and allows for teachers to transition students into arrangements for collaboration, instruction, and assessment in a matter of seconds – not minutes.
SGA worked closely with Horry County Schools in the design of the Early College High on the Horry-Georgetown Technical College campus in Conway, SC. The integration for technology was paramount for the facility, and the furnishings followed in this effort of promoting flexibility. Science labs traditionally require a significant square footage for a facility, but by evaluating the actual needs of today’s science lab/classroom space, SGA was able to reduce the footprint significantly with mobile/flexible furniture. The imagery below depicts how the room easily transitions into different configurations, with the gas and sinks positioned along the exterior walls for the necessary laboratory stations. The adjustable-height tables have a lab-surface top and locking casters for durability and accessibility.
Steelcase is a leader in K-12 research to create furniture that is functional and flexible for the classroom, providing our designers with valuable information to better inform our clients in selecting furnishings for their spaces. These sample classroom models from Steelcase show how the same furnishings can be rearranged into various configurations to facilitate instruction.
Steelcase’s High School Study:
http://www.steelcase.com/en/products/category/educational/seating/node/documents/node_northview_hs_case_study.pdf
Steelcase’s Node Chair Brochure:
http://www.steelcase.com/en/products/category/educational/seating/node/documents/node_brochure.pdf
