1. Building as a Teaching Tool Brief - Short
The
building
could
be
an
asset
to
the
learning
experience
in
two
ways:
1. Provide
direct,
interactive
learning
opportunities
2. Support
teachers
by
indirectly
providing
the
functional
design
/
equipment
needed
At
least
four
themes
will
be
explored
through
the
new
architecture:
1. Discover and engage with the historical context.
The
building
can
enable
students
to
learn
about
the
history
of
the
region,
the
local
geology,
and
the
building
itself.
2. Reveal how buildings systems are made and function.
The
building
is
an
example
of
theory
made
functional.
By
revealing
the
inner
workings
of
the
building
-­‐-­‐
the
pressurized
piping,
the
airflow
mechanisms,
the
structural
components
that
protect
against
earthquakes
–
students
can
learn
first
hand
concepts
they
are
being
taught
in
the
classroom.
3. Demonstrate and support interaction with the natural environment.
The
building
is
a
controlled
extension
of
the
natural
environment,
tempering
the
variability
of
the
natural
world
while
also
interacting
with
it.
A
well-­‐designed
building
can
highlight
those
interactions,
illustrating
the
ways
the
building
affects
the
environment
and
how
proper
alignment
can
lead
to
synergistic
benefits.
4. Inspire and support community interaction.
The
building
can
foster
unique
and
unexpected
interaction
among
students
and
faculty
alike
through
open
spaces,
thoughtfully
placed
nooks,
and
engaging
pieces
of
architecture.
These
spaces
can
enable
lateral
communication,
inspire
spontaneous
conversations,
and
provide
places
of
rest
and
recovery.
These
are
just
a
few
descriptions
and
examples
to
illustrate
how
using
the
building
as
a
teaching
tool
is
possible.
As
we
move
forward
in
design,
we
will
use
the
following
devices
to
achieve
the
above
themes:
spatial
organization,
use
of
technology,
narrative
and
interactive
displays,
design
details
and
material
choices.
And
it
is
through
your
participation
in
our
workshops,
and
exploring
and
exchanging
ideas
through
this
workbook,
that
we
will
most
effectively
align
the
buildings
functionality
to
your
needs.
Roundhouse One, 1500 Sansome Street
San Francisco CA 94111
415.402.0888
mkthink.com
Page 1 of 6

2. Building as a Teaching Tool Brief - Long
The
building
could
be
an
asset
to
the
learning
experience
in
two
ways:
3. Provide
direct,
interactive
learning
opportunities
4. Support
teachers
by
indirectly
providing
the
functional
design
/
equipment
needed
At
least
four
themes
will
be
explored
through
the
new
architecture:
1. Discover and engage with the historical context.
The
building
can
enable
students
to
learn
about
the
history
of
the
region,
the
local
geology,
and
the
building
itself.
Examples:
History of Region
• Using
intentionally
placed
windows,
gathering
places,
and
supportive
tools
(e.g.
educational
signs)
to
showcase
historical
buildings,
landmarks,
etc.
History of Earth
• Using
a
variety
of
locally
quarried
stone
to
showcase
the
characteristics
of
different
geological
time
periods
History of Building
• Using
structural
parts
of
the
old
building
in
the
construction
of
the
new
building
to
illustrate
the
evolution
of
the
school
site
Roundhouse One, 1500 Sansome Street
San Francisco CA 94111
415.402.0888
mkthink.com
Page 2 of 6

3. 2. Reveal how buildings systems are made and function.
The
building
is
an
example
of
theory
made
functional.
By
revealing
the
inner
workings
of
the
building
-­‐-­‐
the
pressurized
piping,
the
air-­‐flow
mechanisms,
the
structural
components
that
protect
against
earthquakes
–
students
can
learn
first
hand
concepts
they
are
being
taught
in
the
classroom.
Examples:
Visualizing hidden processes
• Using
interactive
LCD
dashboards
that
reveal
how
the
building
systems
are
functioning
in
real-­‐time
compared
to
past
performance
Viewing and interacting with real systems
• Opening
up
utility
rooms
to
allow
students
to
view
pressure
meters,
the
ebb
and
flow
of
material
movement,
and
other
mechanical
processes
Seeing the raw materials
Roundhouse One, 1500 Sansome Street
San Francisco CA 94111
415.402.0888
mkthink.com
Page 3 of 6

4. • Opening
up
walls
and
ceilings
to
expose
functional
building
components
such
as
piping,
insulation,
etc.
3. Demonstrate and support interaction with the natural environment.
The
building
is
a
controlled
extension
of
the
natural
environment,
tempering
the
variability
of
the
natural
world
while
also
interacting
with
it.
A
well-­‐designed
building
can
highlight
those
interactions,
illustrating
the
ways
the
building
affects
the
environment
and
how
proper
alignment
can
lead
to
synergistic
benefits.
Examples:
Understanding weather
• Using
rooftop
weather
stations
and
dynamic
monitoring
stations
to
teach
students
about
wind
speed,
humidity,
temperature,
etc.
and
their
larger
connection
to
regional
climates
Incorporating natural systems into the building
• Using
landscaped
exterior
facades
to
bring
nature
into
the
composition
of
the
building
Roundhouse One, 1500 Sansome Street
San Francisco CA 94111
415.402.0888
mkthink.com
Page 4 of 6

5. Finding synergies between the building and the
natural environment
• Using
rainwater
collectors
to
control
water
runoff
and
feed
it
into
student
/
faculty
gardens
4. Inspire and support community interaction.
The
building
can
foster
unique
and
unexpected
interaction
among
students
and
faculty
alike
through
open
spaces,
thoughtfully
placed
nooks,
and
engaging
pieces
of
architecture.
These
spaces
can
enable
lateral
communication,
inspire
spontaneous
conversations,
and
provide
places
of
rest
and
recovery.
Examples:
Architecture that engages
• Using
interactive
architecture,
such
as
slides,
to
inspire
and
engage
students
around
educational
themes
Conversation / collaboration spaces
• Using
creative
furniture
and
open
spaces
to
bring
people
together
in
spontaneous
and
meaningful
conversations
Roundhouse One, 1500 Sansome Street
San Francisco CA 94111
415.402.0888
mkthink.com
Page 5 of 6

6.
These
are
just
a
few
descriptions
and
examples
to
illustrate
how
using
the
building
as
a
teaching
tool
is
possible.
As
we
move
forward
in
design,
we
will
use
the
following
devices
to
achieve
the
above
themes:
spatial
organization,
use
of
technology,
narrative
and
interactive
displays,
design
details
and
material
choices.
And
it
is
through
your
participation
in
our
workshops,
and
exploring
and
exchanging
ideas
through
this
workbook,
that
we
will
most
effectively
align
the
buildings
functionality
to
your
needs.
Roundhouse One, 1500 Sansome Street
San Francisco CA 94111
415.402.0888
mkthink.com
Page 6 of 6