Meghan Vaughan
Meghan is passionate about crafting human-centered environments, believing that design is successful when it merges functionality with the individuality of its users. Her love for the built environment came from accompanying her contractor father to job sites. Her time at Humber provided her with invaluable knowledge of environmental psychology and universal design. Harnessing this knowledge, Meghan’s thesis project focuses on the design of inclusive learning environments.
Project Overview
The current design of public elementary schools in Ontario fails to implement the Inclusive Education Model, which became law in Canada in 2010. Consequently, children with diverse learning abilities continue to be segregated in learning environments, perpetuating discrimination. The objective of Meghan's project is for all children, no matter their abilities, to share the same learning environments to learn together and from one another. Offering every child an equitable opportunity for quality education. The concepts of flexibility and choice serve as the cornerstone for fostering inclusive learning environments.
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Concept Diagram
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Education Model Diagram
Concept/Design Process
The design concept for this reimagined elementary school for Inclusive Education revolves around flexibility, choice, and safety. Flexibility is required to create learning spaces that are adaptable to diverse learning needs and activities, facilitating the transition between collaborative and individual learning modes. As well as supporting the four main modes of learning; visual, auditory, reading & writing and kinesthetic.
Choice is key for empowering students to personalize their learning experiences, fostering autonomy and engagement. Safety is of the greatest importance, with design elements prioritizing physical safety through lockdown and fire safety features, clear circulation paths, as well as emotional safety through calming sensory environments, with elevated consideration of sound absorption. These concepts aim to create an atmosphere where every child can access an equitable, quality education.
Site Plan/Floor Plan(s)
The design concepts were key for informing the spatial layout of the space. Flexibility is embodied through multipurpose spaces that can easily adapt to various activities. For instance, classrooms feature movable furniture and a range of seating allowing for seamless transitions between different learning modes. As well as through the creation of a learning commons, serving as a library, breakout space, socialization hub and rest space.
Choice is embedded in the design through designated zones catering to different learning modes, such as quiet reading corners, active learning zones, and flex rooms for collaboration, empowering students to select environments that best suit their needs. Safety measures are integrated throughout, with wide, well-lit corridors, utilizing a colour coding system for wayfinding to promote easy navigation and accessibility. Additionally, a great deal of interior windows (equipped with black curtains for light control and security during lockdowns) to advance visibility and passive supervision.
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Floor Plan
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Typical Purposed Classroom Isometric
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3120 Lakeshore Blvd Site Plan
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Overall Building South Section
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Learning Commons West Elevation
Sections/Elevations
This section highlights the adjacency of the classrooms, accompanied by a visual representation of the colour-coded grade system, facilitating intuitive wayfinding throughout the school. It also provides insight into the teacher's workstation, strategically positioned for passive oversight of the learning commons, promoting collaborative engagement visible to students. The elevation showcases key vertical design elements within the learning commons, including the inviting reading corner, dynamic playground-inspired active zone, and the biophilic elements found in the tree feature doubling as book storage.
3D Views
These 3D views provide detailed insights into both the learning commons and typical classroom areas. These renderings showcase the interplay of vertical and horizontal design elements within these pivotal spaces, offering a comprehensive understanding of their layout and functionality. From the inviting reading nooks to the interactive activity zones, every aspect is meticulously designed to foster engagement and facilitate diverse learning needs.
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Learning Commons 3D View
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Classroom 3D View 1
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Classroom 3D View 2
Poster
Reimagined Public Elementary School for Inclusive Education.
