How to Choose Materials That Impact the Quality of Learning
The start of the school year is not only an educational event – but also an architectural moment. Educational institutions around the world are redesigning the physical environment of students, teachers and educational staff, with the understanding that the learning space directly impacts the quality of teaching and learning, collaboration and also – the health and personal feeling of each person in the space.
In the last decade, there has been a growing awareness of the importance of choosing the right materials: those that maintain good acoustics, create a sense of belonging, are easy to maintain – and above all, those that respect the people who use them every day. The result – more modular, personalized, ecological and healthy solutions for educational environments.
Customized design – not just beautiful
In schools and educational institutions, it is not enough to design “beautifully”. These are spaces filled with noise, with dozens of people together, with a need for concentration and silence – and often also for group work. Therefore, acoustic solutions are an integral part of designing educational environments.
For example, in the Milken School project in Los Angeles, the architects were looking for a solution that would improve collaboration in the space and provide a sense of modernity without sacrificing acoustic comfort. The choice of Frontier solutions from our partners, the English company Autex – a system of recycled polyester acoustic panels in open designs – provided both significant acoustic attenuation and a rich design element, in accordance with the school’s color palette. The use of geometric shapes and profiles such as Tundra and Dune allows for control of the atmosphere and the sense of space. The clever color scheme adds a sense of vitality, interest and dynamism – just what is needed to encourage inspiring learning, and all this in a lightweight material, safe for use in educational institutions and easy to maintain. Autex PET panels are made from recycled polyester (mainly drink bottles) – with up to 80% recycled content, contribute to the environment, and do not emit toxic substances (no formaldehyde or VOCs). Furthermore, they are easy to clean, safe for use in educational environments – and open up almost endless design freedom thanks to a huge variety of colors, textures and shapes.
Durability, Creativity, Local Identity
School sports halls are some of the most challenging spaces to design: they are large, noisy, physically active and require solutions that will last for years – without compromising on design. The Matthew Pearce Public School project in Sydney required a significant expansion of the campus, including the design of a multi-purpose sports hall, advanced classrooms and indoor open spaces. The main requirement was to create a modern and inviting space that would also withstand the physical and acoustic loads of intensive use.
The solution provided by Durlum from Germany included a custom-made ceiling system for the sports hall, using the S7 EXTERIOR system – a dedicated metal ceiling system for outdoors that is also suitable for extremely high wind loads. Inside the sports hall, a custom perforated interior ceiling system was incorporated, combining excellent acoustic performance with very high resistance to repeated impacts – including ball throws, direct hits and inevitable impacts in this type of space.
The installed metal panels met the most stringent standards of mechanical resistance (Ball Impact Resistance), and thanks to the modular structure – six overhead ventilation ducts could be precisely integrated without compromising the design line or functional performance of the ceiling. The perforated material not only disperses noise in a controlled manner, but also creates visual dynamics – with the ceiling also incorporating Aboriginal art cut directly into the panels using an advanced perforation technique. This creates a space that is both safe, acoustically pleasant, and represents the cultural identity of the place.
The system offers very easy maintenance, resistance to moisture and water penetration (IP), a clean appearance that lasts for years – all without sacrificing precise design matching to the needs of each project.
Teachers also need a space that respects them
What about those who lead learning? In the Ort Darsky project, the design studio “Experience Designers” – specializing in the design of learning spaces – focused on the teaching staff and the critical need to create a calm, comfortable and inspiring work environment for them.
The requirement was to create a space that would combine diverse functions – a conference room, workstations, a social gathering area and a kitchenette – but one that would also convey calm, reduce cognitive load and allow teachers to recharge with positive energy during the day.
To meet these needs, a colorful but restrained space was designed, which incorporates particularly high-performance acoustic ceilings.
The Olympus acoustic ceiling from Nitovo was chosen for the central area, which provides particularly effective acoustic attenuation. Above it, the ceiling was painted a light blue, and below it were round white tiles – a combination that creates a sense of openness, airiness and calm.
The inspiration was right here: blue with white circles, like the waves of the sea and air bubbles – a tribute to Acre, on whose shores the school is located.
Nearby, a Soprano ceiling system was incorporated – acoustic, free-form wool panels with a smooth and clean appearance, which provide high acoustic attenuation. The use of this ceiling in the personal work areas allowed for the creation of a quiet and concentrated atmosphere, while maintaining a minimalist appearance that allows for design flexibility.
Beyond acoustics, the solutions chosen also meet strict safety standards (fire standards, low-VOC materials), and are suitable for prolonged institutional use, with high resistance to abrasion, humidity and frequent cleaning – critical requirements in any educational institution.
In conclusion
Schools and educational institutions have long been more than just classrooms, blackboards, and chalk. They have become dynamic educational environments – which must meet the rules of aesthetics, health, acoustics, sustainability, durability, and safety.
Acoustically optimized ceilings, recycled materials, durable solutions for challenging environments such as sports halls – are an integral part of the current educational planning system.
When the right materials meet an advanced pedagogical concept – every space becomes an opportunity for learning, inspiration, and experience.
