OasisLMS

The earliest stages of school planning establish the foundation for environments that safeguard the health, safety, and welfare of students, educators, and the broader community. This opening session examines how clearly defined educational goals—developed through meaningful community engagement—inform design decisions that support physical safety, cognitive development, emotional wellbeing, and a sense of belonging.

Drawing on contemporary research on learning environments and examples of community-centered planning practices, this session will demonstrate how aligning vision, culture, and spatial design leads to educational facilities that are inclusive, adaptable, safe, and supportive of high-quality learning. Participants will explore approaches to building consensus among diverse stakeholder groups and examine how the planning process can signal a community’s commitment to equitable and resilient educational spaces.

1. Identify how educational goals, learning models, and student wellbeing considerations shape spatial needs and influence decisions that support the health, safety, and welfare of building occupants.
2. Evaluate how early planning and visioning processes can result in environments that promote physical safety (e.g., movement, visibility, comfort), psychological safety (e.g., belonging, identity, agency), and inclusive access for all learners.
3. Explain the importance of community and stakeholder engagement in ensuring that educational environments reflect shared values and address the diverse needs of students, faculty, staff, and families.
4. Apply methods for building consensus and facilitating decision-making that lead to educational facilities that are safe, equitable, adaptable, and aligned with long-term educational and community aspirations.

	David Jakes Founder and Educational Designer, David Jakes Designs LLC Speaker bio
	Jeanine Collins Co-Founder and Chief Impact Officer, Center for the Future of Learning Speaker bio
	Sarah Dirsa, AIA Principal, KG+D Architects Speaker bio
	Frank Genese, AIA Principal, Partner N2 Design+Architecture Speaker bio