Call to Action: Mental health is now a top priority for school districts, driven by rising levels of anxiety and the need for students to return to a supportive classroom environment. The annual Healthy Building Summit has honed in on “Spaces of Connection” to explore and implement best practices from human-centered discovery into design and construction.

Abstract:

Why Host a Healthy Building Summit?
The Healthy Building Summit originated from the recognition of a significant gap in interdisciplinary collaboration concerning healthy buildings, particularly in educational environments. Tarkett’s initial question, ”Why isn’t every educational building healthy?” prompted collaboration with industry leaders to explore. The global pandemic underscored the necessity for healthier buildings by exposing widespread problems like poor indoor air quality and mental health challenges. This situation created a chance to drive positive change on a national scale with diverse stakeholders.

Spaces of Connection
In examining the multiple facets and principles of a healthy building, we have maintained a focus on the intersection between the learning environment and mental health. The event took place in September in Austin Texas where ”Spaces of Connection” emphasized the roles of the built environment in addressing student mental health, exploring aspects of engagement and behavior, and designing for empathy and vulnerability. Mental Health considerations that impact both physiological and psychological well-being were both included within the wholistic approach the this dialogue.

Facilitators and Attendees
Rex Miller, an author and futurist specializing in healthy human performance, joined Jonathan Stanley and over 40 leaders from education and workplace sectors. The 2024 summit features institutional leaders from A4LE, including the A4LE SchoolsNEXT national award winner, along with facility and construction experts, workplace strategists, neuroscientists, anthropologists, and architects. Attendees shared insights through seven super sessions, which are broken into smaller groups to tackle specific topics and create actionable solutions. This event's design emphasizes collaboration and ensures all voices are considered.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the current state of mental health within the education system.
2. Identify key strategies for effectively enhancing Spaces of Connection.
3. What had been identified as actionable and what is still vague within implementation.
4. Explore how human connection and engagement contribute to reducing anxiety and mental illness.
5. Learn how to use post-occupancy evaluations to inform and improve future space designs.