Call to Action:

1. Engage diverse stakeholders with a comprehensive set of baseline data points that examine both the pedagogical and architectural performance of a building.
2. Prioritize key data analysis findings to identify areas of improvement that show impact on student learning and well-being.
3. Develop a detailed action plan to implement lessons learned when considering the design and delivery of specialized college, military, and career ready facilities for PK-12 school districts.

Abstract: Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs will continue to shape the future of the gradient spaces that exist between PK-12 and higher education institutions. Understanding the legacy of past CTE facility designs, and their impact on educational and operational outcomes, is crucial for educational communities. Join us in an interactive journey to reflect on ten years of historical data from the innovative Dr. Kirk Lewis Career and Technical High School team in Pasadena, Texas. We will explore how the 2014 designed facility has influenced student engagement, learning outcomes, and career readiness for students. We will identify key design elements that have stood the test of time and those that require rethinking. This retrospective analysis will provide valuable insights into the successes and challenges faced by the school district team creating a hands-on, experiential campus. Finally, by looking toward the horizon, we will connect past experiences with a flexible, practical guide in how to design essential CTE spaces that drive sustainable community impact.

Learning Objectives:

1. Analyze and reflect on a decade of CTE facility data points to determine data sets that show both successes and challenges for the educational community that inhabits the space.
2. Identify and differentiate key design elements that have the most impact for educational outcomes and operational costs for the school district stakeholders across the lifecycle of the facility.
3. Integrate modern pedagogical design approaches and technological advancements to facilities that create more flexible, sustainable, and inclusive learning environments.
4. Develop future-ready blueprints that leverage historical data and lessons learned to meet the needs of students and local industries within varied communities.