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Destinations

Education – 2

February 11, 2026

Creating educational spaces is about far more than aesthetics and fashion. A well-designed school or campus should be functional and practical but also rooted in the philosophy of the institution it serves. Architecture is never just a backdrop.

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They should be easily manageable via the establishment of a rules-based order but should also offer students – especially senior students – an appropriate level of independence and autonomy.

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Specialist teaching spaces – particularly those relating to science, technology and the arts – should be “industry adjacent” in feel and function, affording learners the opportunity to transition into apprenticeships and work.

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We like to see the building’s structure and services expressed and exposed in educational buildings as these elements are, in themselves, educational.

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In shared and open-plan spaces we pay a great deal of attention to acoustics, which is probably the most common element to be overlooked and later remediated – although not in buildings we design!

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