The opportunity to incorporate student breakout spaces off of circulation paths and near classrooms should be pursued where possible. Breakout spaces shall be located in alcoves, informal and relaxed in nature so as to offer a small number of students the option to work individually, or collaborate in teams.
The breakout areas shall be differentiated from the corridor and shall be distinguished from conventional classrooms. Provide comfortable fixed study areas, adjacent student printer niche, with enhanced ceiling lighting, and wall/floor finish treatments. With these varied elements, a unique, flexible and creative environment can be achieved.
Under no circumstances shall these spaces interfere with circulation and egress path.
Planning Rationale
Age Considerations
Students learn and interact differently depending on their age/grade level. Different considerations shall be made for elementary, middle, and high school levels.
- Elementary Schools - Requires flexible fixed seating with fun and whimsical wall finishes as students in this group span broader physical and emotional development levels. Sitting or standing laptop stations shall also be considered in the design of these spaces. Power and data outlets shall be integrated into the seating area so that students can easily power-up their portable devices.
- High Schools - Flexible, fixed seating spaces shall be provided. In addition, additional banquette seating may also be considered. These seating areas will facilitate an environment for greater focus and concentration throughout the day. Power and data outlets shall be provided in this area.
Finishes
Due to the very public location of these spaces, all furniture, fabrics, flooring, and wall treatments must be high performing and durable.
- Furniture - all items must be built-in as path of egress cannot be impeded with movable furniture. Students should not be able to reorganize furniture to obstruct egress paths or barricade doors.
- Flooring - Solid vinyl tile shall include lively colors which are coordinated with corridor color scheme and CPS standard 3 color random pattern
- Lighting/Ceiling treatment - Ceiling treatment shall help in defining these spaces. Lighting shall be flexible to accommodate various activities and be task oriented (depending on specific use in various age/grade levels).
- Walls - Paint colors shall promote creativity and collaboration and therefore shall be more vivid that the colors used in classrooms. Additionally, acoustic considerations must be made so as to not disturb adjacent learning spaces. Acoustical wall (and ceiling) treatments are to be considered as part of the design solution.
Accessibility
The designer shall make every effort to integrate accessible areas for wheelchair seating as well as provide convenient transfer areas similar to fixed seating. The ultimate goal is to provide a barrier free environment where the student with accessibility needs is made to feel integrated in the collective group.