Full STEAM Ahead

Existing facility assets can be transformed into their best and highest use by investing in innovative cross-curricular science, technology, engineering, arts, math (STEAM) programming. 

KSS Architects has established best practices for creating environments to foster an interdisciplinary approach to learning, using a hands-on, inquiry-based programs, which we have helped bring to life at New Hope-Solebury School District’s (NHSD) STEAM Lab and University Academy Charter High School’s (UACHS) STEAM suite.

Derived from these experiences, we’ve developed the below five principles for designing high-impact STEAM environments:

• Acknowledge and enhance existing space - Embrace the existing structure and steward resources strategically. Consider existing constraints as opportunities that can creatively inform the design.
  
• School engagement drives interest – Engage students and staff early to collect ideas and gather feedback, building a sense of pride and ownership. Connect throughout the process so students, staff, and stakeholders remain excited about the project.
  
• Physical connectivity and transparency spark collaboration and curiosity – By establishing physical and visual connections through the space, everyone can feel included—formally through cross-curricular projects or informally through casual observation and conversation with classmates.
  
• Responsive to diverse needs and learning styles – By providing various opportunities for collaboration, including making small group and quiet areas, students have choice and independence to make decisions around how they learn best.
  
• Plan for flexibility to accommodate rapidly evolving technologies  – It’s integral to provide infrastructure that can be adapted as programs and technology rapidly evolve.

NHSD’s 2022-2023 Comprehensive Plan determined that in order to foster their student’s growth, their curricula had to evolve to empower “all students to become passionate, confident, and innovative learners with the ability to adapt to a diverse and global society,” which led them to pursue STEAM. Our team renovated the existing, redundant nurse’s suite, outdated computer lab, and former dark room into a STEAM wing, designed to be a flexible, multimodal space that can function as a classroom, events space, creativity hub, and ground-zero for technology. Through development of this academically enriching STEAM program, students have more opportunities to engage and collaborate with each other, which is essential to holistic, positive development.

When designing the space, we kept flexibility at the forefront. This space is built to be updated as interests and curricula evolve over time. Functioning similarly to a lively main street, there are zones that can be closed off to create classrooms and quiet spaces or opened up for events, such as robotics competitions, E-sports tournaments, live podcast or video recording and cross-curricular projects. Students from elementary through high school can enroll in formal classes, join clubs, or collaborate with staff to find cutting edge programs that best suit their passions and interests.

Utilizing our experience at NHSD as a road map, KSS engaged in a robust student engagement process for UACHS’ STEAM suite. UACHS takes a “service-learning approach” — offering co-creating and implementing community enterprises so students can develop core academic skills, habits of mind, and develop a sense of self-efficacy. We engaged students for input and feedback through a voting dot exercise, open-ended prompts about their vision for their environment, and shared images of different approaches of what could be possible. We also connected the two schools to each other, bringing the UACHS team on a benchmarking tour of the NHS STEAM wing in order to interview school leaders and observe student programs to gain insight into how their newly formed STEAM program could take shape.

It was also critical that we think strategically and creatively about the opportunities and constraints of the existing space. While the space had exciting industrial character and access to daylight, it also had obstacles- most notably the two large existing shafts in the center of the space. We saw the shaft space as an opportunity to make it the main destination in the space – conceiving of it as the “Toolbox” with a “create” and “focus” side that would anchor different learning spaces, addressing how students learn in various ways. Quiet study zones with a variety of seating and gathering options anchor the south side of the toolbox and open flexible makerspace centered as the connective heart of the space with space for a robotics arena, bleacher seats, and a growing station for the agriculture program are to the north.

Chemistry labs, a fabrication workshop, physics lab, recording and video production studio, and music room are all in close proximity to the makerspace, creating a rich series of learning environments for high school students to explore and discover their passions.

Small spaces can have high impacts, especially when transformed into STEAM programming. These programs engage in project-based, real-world learning which set students up for success in a rapidly changing world.