Programming to Link Sustainable Priorities to STEM and Makerspaces

Bonnie Sanborn (DLR Group)
Shona O'Dea (DLR Group)

The proposed topic for this interactive workshop and presentation is Linking Sustainable Priorities to Programming of STEM and Makerspaces. Bonnie Sanborn (EDAC) and Shona O'Dea (LEED, WELL) will share tools, expertise, and research-driven insights from project experience. Attendees will learn how eco-charrettes can create an effective conversation about sustainability with key stakeholders, and how to tailor STEM and Makerspaces to meet the vision and goals of key stakeholders through furniture and equipment.

Research has shown that the K-12 years are formative for sustainable attitudes, and that students absorb information about sustainability not only from lessons and family life, but also from role models such as teachers, and from the learning environment itself. Both studies and practice have also shown that sustainability priorities will vary by stakeholder group, and that each project must be responsive to real-world constraints: budget, site, new build vs. renovation, and culture - to name a few. During planning and programming of learning spaces, stakeholder groups are often asked about their goals for sustainability, as well as their vision for teaching and learning. But there is a disconnect between the design of a building, created in order to achieve sustainability goals, and the learning spaces as potential sites for reinforcing and enhancing students'understanding of sustainability. In order to produce a holistic design program for schools that will ensure buildings meet performance goals and that sustainability becomes part of a student’s everyday learning experience, we propose to use STEM and Maker spaces to surface these goals. Integrated design teams, evidence-based design, inclusive planning and visioning processes, and sustainability-focused eco-charrettes are tools to achieve this goal. We would like attendees to consider the history of how sustainability is included in the learning environment, as well as a future in which tools such as these can prevent a "one size fits all" mentality to sustainability in schools.

This topic meets several of the EDRA50 key topic areas, including Participatory and Evidence-Based Strategies for Sustainable Design and Sustainable Lifestyles and Behavior. We represent an interdisciplinary team, blending social science research and design programming skills with high-performance building engineering and sustainable design. Both speakers have presented widely in their areas of expertise, and can bring real project examples of how integrated design can be a tool to deliver elevated results.