North Ridgeville's New High School Furniture Fair
To further enhance the educational experience for its students, the North Ridgeville City School District is taking significant steps to ensure that its new high school building is equipped with the best possible furniture options. The ThenDesign Architecture design team organized a furniture fair for educators and students to solicit input on their preferences for tables, desks, and chairs.
“Providing a comfortable learning environment for students keeps them engaged,” said TDA Project Manager Claire Bank, AIA, NCARB. “They have a wide variety to sample from, so hearing their ideas about which furniture options they’re most interested in is important to us.”
The North Ridgeville High School faculty and students were actively involved, evaluating the various characteristics of each piece and discussing the pros and cons with their peers. Envisioning how modern school furniture can enhance the school experience, participants noted their preferences through a numbered QR system.
The school district is committed to selecting the best possible furniture for its new high school building.
Teachers and Students Envision Comfortable Classrooms
The furniture fair enables teachers to sample various pieces to determine what will work best in their classrooms. This helps them make more informed decisions that will benefit their students.
“We’re in the business of people,” said Assistant Principal Meghan Hignite. “Real teachers and real students will be using this furniture. Our teachers are the ones who determine how their classrooms will be laid out. Today, they’re getting a chance to sit and feel, and move things around so they can imagine what their future classrooms will be like.”
Student involvement in the design process is more than sharing their thoughts. It is about shaping the future. They understood they would graduate before the completion of the new high school, but were interested in playing a role in bettering the classroom environment for future students. Their sense of responsibility and pride in this task is palpable.
Students at the furniture fair expressed pride in their responsibility for being part of the process. “I’m in the 10th grade, so I know I won’t get to go to the new high school,” said Liam, “but a better, bigger high school will be really cool for future kids.”
Isabella, an 11th-grade student with occasional back issues, shared her perspective. “When you’re sitting in a place all day long and you’re trying to look at a bunch of equations on the board, if you’re not comfortable, it’s hard to concentrate.”
Thoughtful participation in the furniture fair provided North Ridgeville High School students with an opportunity for their voices to be heard. The observations shared with TDA’s design team will directly impact the recommendations presented to the school district.
North Ridgeville's New High School Furniture Fair Staff
Designing for the Future
“Chairs are incredibly hard to imagine if you don’t sit on them,” said ThenDesign Architecture Lead Interior Designer Rhonda Franklin. She spoke with faculty and students at the furniture fair to gain their perspective on the abundant options available.
The furniture fair sampled pieces with unique styles and functionality. “Bringing this type of furniture into the new building will provide greater opportunities for collaboration and individual work,” Rhonda said. “Some pieces can fit together or be pulled apart. This will give teachers the ability to customize their classroom arrangements, freeing them to be creative with how they use the space.”
While comfort is a primary factor in furniture selection, other details can sway opinions. Weight, color, texture, height, surface area, and adjustable components inform opinions. Easily moving furniture around is a valuable attribute that can help create a dynamic and flexible learning environment and encourage the students to thrive.
The new high school building will be a place for learning, but also a facility where students can feel comfortable and excited about their education.
Once all the data from the furniture fair is analyzed, the findings will influence the options the design team presents to the school district, to help them narrow down their final decisions.
By involving teachers and students in the design process, the North Ridgeville City School District ensures that the furniture chosen will meet the needs of all students and enhance their educational experience. Selecting the appropriate furniture for the new school building is critical to creating a safe, engaging learning space that will serve students for decades.
North Ridgeville's New High School Furniture Fair Students
Marc Cebrian
Communications
Get our newsletter with insights, events and tips.
Recent Posts:
Mentor’s CARES House: Autistic Education Comes Home
Perry High School Unveils a State-of-the-Art Welding Lab
ThenDesign Architecture Celebrated its 35th Anniversary
Capital Improvement Plans Work
Rocky River’s Transformative Renovation
Cuyahoga Falls 6-12 Campus Construction Tour
