DOWA – IBI Group is an architecture firm that is specialized in K-12 educational architecture.
Being able to work with designing spaces that will shape the education of children over the next 50 years is a very exciting job. I have been able to learn and participate on the process of designing public school which is a very inclusive and community engaged process.
During early stage of the design we have frequent meetings with the school staff where we get their input of what and how they envision their new school. Not only teachers and staff are involved but also the community and the students. During a 2-hour meeting the students of Twality got to participate on a meeting where they received a blank site plan and puzzle pieces of programs where they could design their school and get to share their thoughts with other students and with the design team.
In addition, the students got to fill out a personal survey so all voices could be heard. All of the collected information was then taken into the office where we used the input of the students as part of the design.
