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Construction is underway of a new middle and high school building designed by TruexCullins on the Zaitsevo Campus of the Moscow Economic School (MES) in Moscow, Russia. Located in the western region of Moscow, the 12,700 SQM (136,000 SF) campus facility includes space for classrooms, administration offices, a 500-seat theater, library, gymnasium and natatorium. A […]
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Architects take many approaches to making successful buildings. Some architects design based on an abstract idea, others see their work more as sculpture or art. Our goal is create environments with a sense of place that engages its users. What does this mean? We believe buildings should be of their time and place, leveraging the […]
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In Article 2 we discussed key concepts to consider when designing flexible schools. Article 3 delved into key building technologies that help spaces adapt more easily to a wide variety of uses. In this article we will look at the final piece of the puzzle: furniture and how it can support the flexible use of […]
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In the last article, we discussed issues related to building organization. In this article, we discuss what building technologies to consider when attempting to create flexible learning environments. The key concept here is that successful multipurpose space requires more than open space, it requires multipurpose support infrastructure including lighting, electrical power, acoustics and HVAC. Here […]
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In this article, we look at different organizational models for building design and their ability to adapt to changing needs. As schools evolved from the one room schoolhouse to the graded school, a prototype evolved that includes a front administration area with a gym, cafeteria and/or multipurpose space. Attached to this are classroom wings, which […]
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Over the course of the week we’ve been sharing stories, photos and sketches from the recent service trip to Nepal, when Diantha, Sparky and Andrew travelled to the village of Basa to help build a school with Edge of Seven. In today’s post, Diantha wraps up this 3-part series and writes about the final few days […]
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Continuing from Monday’s report, Diantha Korzun shares the highlights of her recent trip to Nepal, when she, Sparky Millikin, and Andrew Chardain travelled to the village of Basa to assist the Edge of Seven with the construction of a rural mountain school. Read on for the second of this 3-part blog post, which describes the […]
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TruexCullins recently led a community-wide campaign to support the Edge of Seven and the construction of primary schools in rural Nepal. We described the challenges facing Nepalese girls here, we explained Earthbag construction here, and we introduced the project at Mankhu Village Farm here. Our year-long effort came to a close in November, when Diantha […]
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Why Flexible Learning Environments? In March of 2013, I was invited to speak on the topic of Flexible Learning Environments at the CEESA (Central and Eastern European School Association) conference in Prague, Czech Republic. I learned a lot as I researched and thought about this important topic, which I will share in the next four […]
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One day in a rural Vermont community, you may just come across a shiny silver Airstream trailer delivering a message of modern design. The trailer is a project of AIA Vermont, currently titled “Archistream: A Mobile Design Gallery and Education Center”, and was one of eight recipients of a national Innovation Fund grant by the American Institute […]
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This installment of Digital Crayon features a video animation we created for the American International School of Bucharest (AISB), Romania. In 2012, TruexCullins was hired to create a new master plan for the growth of their campus to 1200 students. AISB was looking for a dynamic tool that would visually tell the story of their […]
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When beginning a facilities project, it is important for the Owner to define the various goals of the project. Is it to improve collaboration between students or teachers? Is it to provide social spaces that help build a sense of community? Does the school need additional capacity? The Educational Specifications (Ed Specs) is a document […]