Students present their entry to the Jury at Council of Educational Facility Planners International (CEFPI) The School of the Future Design Competition
Earlier this year, the Council of Educational Facility Planners International (CEFPI) challenged middle school students to creatively apply their STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) skills in The School of the Future Design Competition. The result was incredible and truly inspiring. For instance:
The Seneca team demonstrated a clear understanding [of] smart growth and how a school can positively impact a community. They chose to repurpose the old Henry Ford factory site, a community icon, and economically stabilize a very challenged community. Low cost housing was provided on the campus for families with school age children, bringing the neighborhood to the school, offering employment on the campus and 24-hour use of the facilities. Harkening to the old Ford days, each class level “house” was named after a famous Ford car.
The students did a great job attacking their site’s challenges and really thinking outside of the box. Whether installing a glass wall that can stand up to ocean waves to incorporate the study of local sea life into their curriculum or utilizing “aerobic ball” seating in the classrooms to amp up the activity level in their day to day lives, the entries really had some thoughtful ideas.
