Date/Time: October 31, 2025 | 8:30 – 9:30 am

Room: 151-152

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

Call to Action:
Creating equitable learning environments requires turning inspiration into action. Here are three immediate steps to push the boundaries of educational design and open new horizons for students and communities:

1. Transform the design process by prioritizing deep engagement with students, families, and educators using interactive workshops, walking tours, or storytelling sessions to uncover lived experiences and shape environments that truly serve their needs.
2. Address disparities by integrating amenities that may be scarce, such as safe play areas, shaded outdoor spaces, and access to fresh food. Implement design solutions that counteract negative environmental impacts—reducing noise pollution, improving air quality, and increasing green space to enhance well-being and learning.
3. Expand the role of educational spaces by creating environments that inspire curiosity and build community such as outdoor learning spaces, flexible gathering areas, and multipurpose hubs. These can serve as catalysts for collaboration and discovery, strengthening the relationship between schools and the neighborhoods they serve.

Abstract: This session explores how the transformation of Maudrie Walton Elementary reimagines learning environments to promote equity, healing, and empowerment in a historically underserved African-American community. Addressing systemic challenges—including environmental justice concerns, disenfranchisement, and resource disparities—this project demonstrates how inclusive engagement and intentional design can create new horizons for learning environments. By centering community voices and prioritizing holistic well-being, this case study provides a roadmap for designing educational spaces that foster resilience, belonging, and opportunity.

Learning Objectives:

1. Examine how learning environments can serve as catalysts for healing and empowerment in historically underserved communities.
2. Discuss strategies for integrating diverse community perspectives into the design process while balancing varying needs.
3. Understand how sustainable and equitable design practices address environmental justice in educational settings.
4. Explore how intentional design fosters meaningful connections between students, families, and the broader community.