Tadpole Learning Center

The built environment can affect teaching strategies and how well students learn. Most schools are built with few colors, concrete blocks, and brick. Where young children sit at a desk all day with the expectation to focus forward and learn without distraction, but does this design negatively affect how students learn? This thesis looks at how a school building can promote creativity and curiosity in children. The goal is to take an experiential approach to learning and encourage movement and interaction with nature throughout the day. This kindergarten through 8th-grade school has been designed using biophilic patterns, attention to daylighting, and natural materials. The brightly colored school sits in Toledo, Ohio, on the Maumee River, with each classroom overlooking the water. Students and teachers are encouraged to go outside and learn or move out of the typical classroom environment.