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Date/Time: November 6, 2026 | 8:00 – 8:30 am
Room: Experience Center
Abstract: As trauma-informed practice has become more prevalent across human service fields to address the needs of individuals, design and architecture have similar opportunities. Grounded in SAMHSA’s guidance for a trauma-informed approach and the Trauma-informed Design Society’s framework for trauma-informed design in affordable housing, the Trauma-informed Design Evaluation Tool for K-12 Schools (TiDEvalK12) (Hart, D., et.al., 2022) provides guidance on how physical environments can be designed to mitigate stress on students and staff in learning settings by addressing considerations related to safety, connections to nature, wayfinding, accessibility and inclusion, visibility, lighting, acoustics, movement and play, comfort/aesthetics, choice/flexibility, and community/culture. While useful at any point in the lifecycle of a building, capital investments in school construction and renovation projects offer opportunities for district administrators, architects, and designers to make decisions that create a learning environment sensitive to the needs of the high number of individuals who will use the facilities who have experienced multiple ACE or maybe dealing with mental health issues. This session will present the audience with findings of the TiDEvalK12 from three elementary school buildings, used as a component of their POE in fall 2025. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss the criteria and compare findings between the three projects across the different categories. Opportunities for future practice and research will be discussed.
Learning Objectives:
Assessment of the School Facility
The ability to objectively evaluate a learning environment post occupancy and utilize that data to improve future projects.
Implements a plan for educational commissioning that provides guidance on how to use and maximize the learning
environment to meet the foundational vision established in the planning phase.
Dustin directs the Research and Experience Design (RED) department at NAC Architecture. He earned his Ph.D. in 2020 from Wayne State University, Detroit MI. His professional experience prior to NAC was teaching in PK-12 and Higher Education. In his current role he leads post-occupancy evaluation, evidence-based design, and related research initiatives in Pk-12, higher education, and healthcare environments. He recently was named Secretary of the A4LE Ohio Chapter.
Kevin is an Education Thought Leader for NAC Architecture. He has based his design and planning approach on an inclusive process that promotes diversity and advocates for outstanding learning experiences for all students.
Angela has always been a “Champion for Children”. She has 25+ years in education. As a native Seattleite, Angela founded two elementary schools, Dearborn Park International School (SPS) and Sartori STEM Elementary (RSD). In her community, she provides support to the United Negro College Fund, Seattle Chapter through consultation and is a constant support of innovative education. She currently works in Seattle Public Schools as a Replacement Administrator supporting the SE Seattle Region.
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Seattle Convention Center
705 Pike Street
Seattle, WA 98101
November 4-7, 2026
Email: donna@a4le.org
+1 480.391.0840