2023 is finally here! To celebrate, C2AE’s designers shared a few of the trends in K12 learning environments that they believe will carry into the new year and beyond.

Trend 01 | Spatial Flexibility

Well-designed learning environments transform to suit a variety of pedagogies. Dynamic educational buildings today have easy-to-move furniture, a variety of configurations, and rooms separated by simple dividers.

Trend 02 | School Security

It's important for students, teachers, and parents to have peace of mind. There's no question that security continues to be a top priority in education design. Secure entry vestibules are one example of how districts maintain security even as school facilities become more community-friendly.

Pattengill Biotechnical Magnet School Secure Entry

Trend 03 | Breakout Spaces

Group projects? No problem! Emboldening students to explore collaborative study, breakout spaces are highly flexible, informal zones that feel both academic and social.

Trend 04 | Integrated Technology

Our world is expanding with the help of technology. Chromebooks and Smartboards allow teachers to streamline lessons, students to work remotely, and classes to interact across different countries.

Trend 05 | Community Connections

Public schools are community amenities, so the entire community should benefit from having one. From walking tracks to kitchens to tennis courts, a variety of school spaces are now designed with more than K12 users in mind. Schools can also benefit from these community ties by bringing in local business partners to present career opportunities to students.

Trend 06 | Inside Out

Schools in colder climates have traditionally limited their outdoor features to playgrounds, athletic fields, and maybe a garden. All the while, we have understood that time in nature enhances learning and improves mental health. Outdoor classrooms are not a new concept, but more of these spaces are beginning to pop up in New York and Michigan, where cold weather dominates much of the school year. As long as students bundle up, outdoor learning can happen all year long.

Trend 07 | Outside In

Similarly, school designers are continuing to find new ways to bring nature into school buildings through biophilic design. Natural colors and materials, large windows, and décor are all ways to enhance the presence of nature in any space.

Trend 08 | Hands-on Learning Labs

Educators are increasingly embracing hands-on learning environments. Over the years, C2AE has designed quite a few of these spaces, from project labs to cosmetology studios to ambulance simulators. These are incredible spaces where students can learn by doing.

Design Forecast 2023: K-12 Education