2015 Year in Review - Roger Smith

What emerging trends will drive investment and development in 2016? The most interesting new trend in public K-12 school design will be the convergence of educational and community functions. New schools in suburban markets will be planned to accommodate not only classrooms, but also community meetings, adult education, local government functions, and multi-generational activities, such as art classes, sporting events, or gardening. The perfect example is our design for the Hampton Bays Middle School. The building has united a very diverse community by hosting multi-generational events, increased the local voters’ approval for financing school programs from 51-75%, and helped immigrant students achieve some of the highest scores in the nation. This multi-functional design trend will grow in the coming years.