For Germantown Academy, a private preK-12 school in Pennsylvania, 1100 Architect designed the Beard Center for Innovation, a 21st-century learning environment that provides space for collaborative, hands-on learning. Transforming what had been a little-used computer lab and a portion of the library, the renovation offers students and faculty a flexible learning space comprising two areas: an Innovation Lab and a Makerspace.
Moveable partitions, custom-designed by 1100 Architect, allow the Innovation Lab to be configured in multiple ways, accommodating individual study, small group collaboration, and larger events such as lectures and robotics competitions. The Makerspace complements other more traditional learning environments, providing a forum for students to test ideas through making and experimentation with technologies like 3D printing and laser-cutting. By stressing transparency, the design creates spaces that visually communicate with one another, resulting in an engaging environment that promotes cross-disciplinary learning.
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