Date / Time: October 30, 2025 | 3:00 – 4:00 pm

Room: 166-167

Audience: Architects, Engineers, Educators, Facility Personnel, Contractors / Suppliers / Manufacturers, Consultants

Call to Action: Discussions on creating student-centered learning environments, promoting collaboration, and enhancing user experience can cover aspects of occupant comfort, including air quality, lighting, and egress, which are crucial for health, safety, and welfare in educational settings. Additionally, the session can explore the design and utilization of community spaces within educational environments, emphasizing the importance of fostering a sense of belonging and inclusivity among students, faculty, and staff. By prioritizing occupant comfort and community engagement, educational spaces can support holistic well-being and enhance the overall educational experience.

Abstract: Explore the shift from traditional drama classrooms to contemporary black box theaters in this engaging session on the evolution of educational spaces. Discover how educational settings have adapted to changing needs, emphasizing spaces that align with evolving pedagogical and artistic practices. Gain insights through comparative analysis of past and present environments, exploring innovative design principles and strategies for problem-solving. Imagine future educational environments that cultivate creativity, collaboration, and student-centered learning. Join us on a journey through the past, present, and future, where we delve into the dynamic relationship between environment, pedagogy, and creativity.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify key characteristics of the traditional drama classrooms and contemporary black box theaters, highlighting the shifts in educational spaces over time.
2. Analyze examples of then-and-now educational environments, exploring the ways in which design, technology, and pedagogy intersect to enhance learning experiences.
3. Examine challenges and opportunities associated with adapting existing spaces and designing new ones to support evolving educational practices and artistic endeavors.
4. Develop strategies for envisioning and creating future-proof educational environments that promote innovation, inclusivity, and adaptability in response to changing needs and aspirations.