 | 1.5 LU |
| 1.5 LU |
Date/Time: November 5, 2026 | 9:00 – 10:30 am
Room: TAHOMA 5
Abstract: Adolescence is a neurologically distinct period marked by rapid emotional, social, and cognitive transformation. Creating environments to support this transformation is unlike any other design problem. Each year, hundreds of adolescent students participate in the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) SchoolsNEXT Design Competition, imagining what the future of learning environments could be. While these conceptual designs are valued for students’ innovation and critical thinking, they are often overlooked as reflections of their needs, experiences, and identities. Students often prioritize qualities that are underrepresented in traditional planning conversations—spaces for belonging, autonomy, emotional regulation, identity, and social connection. Yet, architects and educators rarely study these student ideas as a source of insight for school planning and design. Starting with a brief analysis of past SchoolsNEXT presentations and concepts, this session examines how adolescents have been designing for themselves through the A4LE SchoolsNEXT program and provides insights for architects and educators to bridge the gap between how students envision the future of learning environments and what research in the cognitive development of adolescents shows us they need. Presenters will engage attendees in a collaborative workshop, featuring video of multiple educator and student voices, to advance environments that help adolescent learners thrive.
*Facilitators welcome the participation of SchoolsNEXT students in the conversation.
Learning Objectives:
Community Engagement
Connecting the educational plan to the vision of the community and the District.
Kari-elin has practiced architecture for over 25 years, with an emphasis on creating spaces for learning, teaching, and play. She is a Principal with Cuningham and serves as the Executive Director of the Grow Studio, where design for education at all levels is a primary focus. Kari-elin fuels her passion for meaningful design through her work with A4LE over the years and has recently been elected as the Southwest Region representative to the Global Board.
Heidi leads complex planning projects grounded in equity, belonging, and community impact. With more than two decades of experience, Heidi is known for guiding clients through transformative design processes that balance vision, function, and deep care for the people who will use the space. She excels at creating immersive engagement experiences—building trust and generating authentic insights that ensure spaces reflect the culture and aspirations of those they serve.
Kelly is an architect with more than 11 years of experience designing and managing projects with a focus on K-12 education and public safety. She is familiar with the design process from programming, through construction administration and maintains communication with sub-consultants and clients throughout.
Allison is a project manager with a passion for educational design. With over a decade of experience in the AEC industry, her career has focused primarily on designing and managing K-12 projects. As an Accredited Learning Environment Planner (ALEP), Allison is an industry expert able to support districts in educational visioning, community engagement, and planning of learning environments at all scales and phases.
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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