Designing the Regenerative School

Creating the Regenerative School profiling case studies from around the world that exemplify best practices in creating healthy, climate appropriate learning environments for early learners through high school with designs that are not only beautiful places to learn, but embrace restorative principles—enhancing the lives of the occupants, the environment, and the community they reside in.

Each project is profiled with eight pages of content including multiple photographs, plans, diagrams and approximately 1,000 words of narrative capturing the unique solutions. Case studies were evaluated on five metrics: • Net-Zero Energy/Carbon Strategies • Healthy, Regenerative Building Attributes • Utilization of Evidence Based Informed Design • Occupant Satisfaction • Post Occupancy Data

The case studies are supplemented with essays from leading subject matter experts addressing topics ranging from: • Evidence Based Design • Occupant Health • Net Zero Energy • Net Zero Carbon • Designing for Resilience in the face of Climate Change • Best Practices in Designing for Safety and Security • Biophilic Design • Pathways to Advocacy

Extensive research, communications, interviews data analysis were utilized in compiling the book with the mission to share knowledge and insights that are vital to creating healthy, regenerative ECE-12 learning environments in all manner of contexts. Outcomes for each project  are summarized with regenerative highlights, post occupancy data, certifications received, and client perspectives.

Alan Ford, FAIA, of Ford Architects is the author of the internationally released and bestselling 2007 book Designing the Sustainable School. He is a licensed architect with over 40 years of experience in the design of high performance ECE-12 schools.

Kate Mraw, LPA’s K-12 Practice Director, brings 20 years of educational design experience to her work, leading projects with learner-centered planning. Her research informed approach creates a connection at the intersection of learning and innovative, sustainable environments to improve user experience.

Betsy del Monte, FAIA, is an architect with 30 years of experience in high-performance design. She is an activist, teacher, and consultant, trying to reach and inspire as many as possible. She lives in Asheville, NC, with her husband, family and two large dogs.