Cooper Carry’s Office and K-12 Education Studios Launch SlideShare

From Cooper Carry:

The internationally recognized design firm Cooper Carry’s office and K-12 education studios have joined forces to launch a SlideShare, “From Classrooms to Boardrooms,” that examines the connection and parallels between designing modern schools and corporate offices. Studies have shown the experiences students have in school will have a profound impact on their adult lives. To cultivate children’s learning process, today’s designers create classrooms and schools that enhance human interaction, foster creativity, inspire students, nurture relationships and build the necessary non-cognitive skills.

“As we strive to prepare students for the future with jobs that in many cases are yet to exist, school administrators are looking to harness learning strategies that focus on active based collaborative spaces,” said Bob Just, principal of Cooper Carry’s K-12 education studio. “Whether a student is bound for the corporate world, small business or vocational work, education is more than learning the ABC’s, it’s also about learning how to work and innovate together.”

Technology has brought great change across all industries, but oftentimes at the expense of human jobs. To prepare future generations for a technology-fueled workforce, it is more important than ever to teach school children non-cognitive skills that include how to gather information, work in teams, problem solve and think critically. Experts associate this with “21st Century Learning,” which focuses on interactive learning. And, the need for 21st Century Learning extends beyond the classroom and into office environments.

“It’s interesting to notice that innovative corporate leaders are asking our designers to provide spaces that encourage their employees to work together in a collaborative manner, much the way our school administrators are asking us to employ 21st Century Learning design strategies that encourage student interaction,” Just said. “To further this point, research shows students retain information at a higher rate when they are engaging each other as opposed to simply being lectured in a traditional classroom. It’s not surprising how we work together and how we learn are connected.”

The Atlanta-based design firm has employed these design strategies in projects such as corporate headquarters for Intergraph in Huntsville, Alabama, eVestment in Atlanta and the yet-to-open State Farm regional hub, also in Atlanta. Recent schools include the 11-story North Atlanta High School and Bunche Middle School in Atlanta and Bailey’s Upper Elementary School in Falls Church, Virginia.

“Corporate leaders understand that design is critical in supporting business objectives, staying competitive and driving innovation,” said Kim Rousseau, principal of Cooper Carry’s interior design studio. “Our designers from the education and office studios regularly work together, sharing ideas and methods to create 21st century spaces that transcend the building’s use and focus on the shared human experience.”

Cooper Carry’s designers have noticed learning and innovation happens in spaces that include the following features: natural light; collaborative, open concepts; stimulating colors; flexibility; transparency and fun, creative space.

“Spaces that incorporate these design features provide greater opportunities for students and employees to work together, learn and produce high-quality work,” said Just. “Both public and private entities recognize that design matters, and they are continuing to allocate funds and invest in the modernization of space to better cultivate 21st century learning.”

Further information is available through the Cooper Carry website.