Environments that build the future : creating sustainable and stimulating learning spaces at East Washington Academy

Abstract

It's frequently said that children are our future, and yet we place them in some of the most uninspiring and educational-hindering environments called schools. How can society expect young children to stay motivated and focused when there is no stimulation and motivation to stay focused offered by the surrounding physical environment? School design is becoming an important field in architecture and interior design, as more and more studies are emerging which show the benefits of stimulating learning environments. This thesis is a case study of East Washington Academy, a K-5 grade school in Muncie, Indiana in regards to ways to make the building more sustainable and the environment more stimulating for the students. The elements and design changes are divided into three categories or stages, the first being smaller, less invasive changes, to the third category being large scale changes.