KCBA Architects’ Post

Auckland School Visits - The Power Of Engagement Through Creativity Would you like to see your students engage, be intrigued and entertained, inspired and motivated? All while being educated about art, imagination, creativity and the environment. I can bring this valuable experience to your Auckland school through the medium of recycled object art. I have previously been living and presenting to schools in the South Island. I’m pleased to say I'm back home and ready to bring this valuable experience to teachers, students and parents in the mighty Tamaki Makaurau. My talks cover my creative journey, my creative process and the endless possibilities with art, imagination and creativity. I cover failure as part of a my own process and how it leads to success, the value of challenging your own perceptions and the positive outcomes of trial and error. I offer varying creative presentation options:   Short, sharp and impactful “show and tell'' presentations with 4-6 pieces. This includes question time. 1/2 - 1 hour per group. Best suited to ages 5-12 and up to 30 students at a time. Groups can be rotated throughout the day. Full exhibitions of 15 pieces with scheduled presentation talk and extensive question time. These can be held over a weekend or weekdays/evenings. All ages will gain something from this, including teachers and parents. Off the cuff creative story time, this is based on a single art piece. Students ask me questions about it and the answers I give form the creative adlib story. This is best received by ages 5-12 in groups of less than 30 at a time. Fabrication of creatively unique trophies and awards for any subject. Junk art classes where the students create with me using recycled materials. Usually focusing on cardboard/paper and plastics such as containers and bottle tops etc. Best suited to ages 5-13 and groups of 30 or less. This is guaranteed to leave a positive lasting impression on teachers and students alike. Just send me a message or contact me through the contacts page at octalien.com.

In a new Getting Smart Blog, Dan Coleman, Ph.D., dives into the concept of school buildings as “third teachers,” a notion introduced by Loris Malaguzzi in the 1970s. Traditionally, we recognize that the physical environment profoundly influences learning. However, Coleman challenges us to rethink not just the presence but the pedagogical role of these environments. Are our schools merely lecturers, imparting static knowledge, or can they be dynamic facilitators of inquiry and interaction? Coleman envisions a transformative approach where school buildings act more like interactive playgrounds or immersive museum exhibits, fostering a deeper engagement with learning. He illustrates how different designs can elicit varied educational responses, from passive absorption to active problem-solving and collaboration. By drawing parallels with innovative spaces like MIT's Building 20, Coleman advocates for educational environments that encourage exploration, creativity, and critical thinking. His vision compels us to consider how we can design school buildings that continuously inspire and challenge students, making learning a more participative and enriching experience. Learn how we can create school buildings that truly teach: https://lnkd.in/gUsdqm5z #GettingSmart #GettingSmartBlog #SchoolDesign #LearningEnvironments #InteractiveLearning #ActiveLearning

5 Ways Higher Education Furniture is Changing. Institutions are continually seeking ways to enhance learning experiences for their students. One aspect that often goes unnoticed in this evolution is the pivotal role that higher education furniture plays in this equation on campus. #highered #highereducation #higheredfurniture #highereducationfurniture #futureofhighereducation #highereducationfurnituretrends https://ow.ly/f20Y50PUIkF

As innovators, we love to look at ways that existing systems can be improved through thoughtful design and our education team is a perfect example of this. When they do studies of the education spaces that they're redesigning, they first think about how we can make this space better for students, teachers and staff alike. In this recent article on our website, we take a look at how getting the bigger picture leads to transformative design that boosts efficiency, collaboration and student success. 🏫 💡 Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gkxuj4wf

Hybrid learning and teaching are here to stay, but Gensler’s 2023 Education Engagement Index survey shows that there is room for improvement to make these experiences more effective. Check out this blog for a deep dive into some key findings courtesy of my colleagues Erin Cubbison, Kristen Tobing Stromsvold, and Allison Bonser. https://ow.ly/wVZY30sCkMN

“The giant lecture hall that serves students for one class three times a week is not efficient. They want to see the schedules for these spaces full. There is campus-wide scheduling to make sure the spaces and equipment are being utilized more fully. Is there single-purpose furniture or is there the kind of furniture that is more collaborative so that there can be different kinds of learning in a space?” Christine Lyons, an IKM Associate and Project Manager, was highlighted in a recent article titled "Trends in Architecture" in Breaking Ground Magazine. As a subject matter expert in higher education planning and design, she discusses the dynamic challenges of the evolving landscape that colleges and universities face. Her insights spanned topics such as fluctuating enrollment rates, right-sized space utilization, and strategies for optimizing 'the giant lecture hall'. Visit the link below to read the full “Trends in Architecture” feature article. https://lnkd.in/eQV7cx_n Learn more about IKM Architecture’s Higher Education project experience here: https://lnkd.in/gYT5bZuw #highereducation #colleges #universities #rightsizing #trendforecast #enrollmentrates #innovativesolutions #highereducationdesign #designsolutions #studentexperience

🎓 Recently completed a fascinating course on the Universal Principles of Design by Jill Butler and Will Lidwell! 🌐💡 Excited to share some key takeaways and explore how these principles can revolutionize education. 📚 Let's delve into the intersection of design and learning—how can we apply these universal principles to create engaging and effective educational experiences?

Check out our new case studies, Student-Centered Solutions Through Distributed Leadership! Learn more about the #TransformationalLeadership of our featured principals and how they integrated summer learning into the school year. #PrincipalPrideChi #PrincipalAppreciationMonth #HotOffThePress

In today’s diverse and inclusive educational environments, colleges and universities have a responsibility to promote a sense of belonging and accessibility on their campuses. Signage plays a role in this inclusivity. In this Latest Insights article we discuss the importance of designing inclusive university signage that reflects these values. 🧭Read it at https://lnkd.in/gY6FfAQA

Despite what you are hearing in the news, England has a remarkable estate of post-war schools buildings. However, they are in poor condition, some have RAAC, and all of them leak energy like a sieve. What are we to do with them? I will be addressing this question at the Education Estates conference, Wednesday 18th October in Manchester. In this talk, I will illustrate with drawings what lies beneath the skin of the most prevalent school building system from the 1950s. With the results of a study into what life is like for student and teachers in a typical example, architectural commentary, and carbon calculations, I will put forward a case for how we can remake these buildings, fit to be schools for the future. https://lnkd.in/eGHTTRyX