Two back-to-back devastating hurricanes = opportunity and vision. A master planning process, by DLR Group architects,  encompassing the assessment of approximately 2.7 million SF of educational space in 32 facilities focused on teaching + learning across USVI: St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas was launched. An aspirational vision for future- facing education, an equitable approach to new builds, modernizations, and a return-on-investment approach to maximize FEMA dollars funded through the Bipartisan Budget Act’s guidelines for “industry standards” was crafted through a robust engagement process. COVID-19 shuttered schools again – opening was virtual at best. Returning to the old normal was declared not an option by the islands’ educational leadership. A new vision had been generated through the master planning process centered on the science behind healthy learning spaces served to build the evidence for supporting every learner’s growth. Students at the Wheatly 9th Grade Center would come back to a changed, resilient, and intentionally designed / purpose-built solution that will serve as a catalyst to advance the islands’ collective, future-forward vision; one aimed at advancing the entire learning experience for all students – mind, body, and spirit. Join this conversation and hear how a multi-disciplinary team came together to develop, implement a holistic response to the VIDE’s vision for active, agile/engaging learning experiences and the places that will facilitate them across a continuum of learning – pre-K to high school. Learn why active pedagogical strategies within purpose-built learning environments were key-priorities for the U.S. Virgin Islands rebuild, and reimagined places. Then, hear the results from a team of researchers who measured the vision’s results with a robust, quasi-experimental research design in both pre- and post-conditions. Insights and research data will be shared in a panel discussion, along with a questions and answer format.

Learning Objectives:

1. Hear how one group’s vision embraced the science behind healthy learning spaces and how this connection to research served to build the evidence for supporting every learner’s growth – mind, body and spirit.
2. Model and critique how certain environmental stimuli have profound influences on human health and learning. As humans, we have highly complex systems in which physical, mental, and psychological interaction functions constantly predominate, and are influenced by qualities of space, teaching methods, and pedagogical practice in which they exist.
3. Utilize in small group settings some key planning principles that move schools toward a more resilient, responsive, learner-centered environment design.
4. Be among the first to hear the preliminary results of the findings measuring these ideals.