October 28-30, 2026 |
Kansas City, MO

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Veena Reddy

Veena Reddy

Senior Project Architect/PrincipalSchmidt Associates

Veena Reddy, AIA, LEED AP, WELL AP, SEA, brings more than two decades of experience and a deep passion for creating spaces that truly support and uplift students. She is a deep listener who works collaboratively, and actively engages students and stakeholders to ensure their voices are reflected in the design.  She strives to positively impact students’ daily experiences—translating their ideas, needs, and aspirations into environments that foster confidence, belonging, and success. Her ability to connect with users and turn those insights into thoughtful, human-centered design solutions makes her a powerful advocate for student engagement in the design process.

Wed Oct 28•8:00 AM – 9:00 AM

Listening to the Learners: How Student Engagement Transforms School Design

What happens when the true end users of a school — its students — help shape their learning environment? This session explores a highly interactive en…What happens when the true end users of a school — its students — help shape their learning environment? This session explores a highly interactive engagement process that transforms traditional programming into meaningful, ongoing collaboration. Thr…What happens when the true end users of a school — its students — help shape their learning environment? This session explores a highly interactive engagement process that transforms traditional programming into meaningful, ongoing collaboration. Through a case study of Grace James Academy, an all-girls middle/high school in Jefferson County Public Schools, Kentucky, participants will see how students worked alongside educators and designers to d…What happens when the true end users of a school — its students — help shape their learning environment? This session explores a highly interactive engagement process that transforms traditional programming into meaningful, ongoing collaboration. Through a case study of Grace James Academy, an all-girls middle/high school in Jefferson County Public Schools, Kentucky, participants will see how students worked alongside educators and designers to define priorities for collaboration, rigor, and adaptability — directly informing the evolving design.Show MoreClick the title to see all detailsShow More

EDsession (60 minutes in classrooms)Session TypeTRACK 3: From Vision to Reality — Planning, funding, delivery, operations, and safetySession Track
Veena Reddy
Asia Coffee
LaTonya Frazier-Goatley
Brent Braun
Veena Reddy
Veena ReddySenior Project Architect/Principal, Schmidt Associates
Asia Coffee
Asia CoffeeSenior Interior Designer, Schmidt Associates
LaTonya Frazier-Goatley
LaTonya Frazier-GoatleyPrincipal, Dr. Grace James Academy of Excellence, Jefferson County Public Schools
Brent Braun
Brent BraunAssistant Principal, Dr. Grace James Academy of Excellence, Jefferson County Public Schools
Veena Reddy
Veena ReddySenior Project Architect/Principal, Schmidt Associates
Asia Coffee
Asia CoffeeSenior Interior Designer, Schmidt Associates
LaTonya Frazier-Goatley
LaTonya Frazier-GoatleyPrincipal, Dr. Grace James Academy of Excellence, Jefferson County Public Schools
Brent Braun
Brent BraunAssistant Principal, Dr. Grace James Academy of Excellence, Jefferson County Public Schools
Tags:Group E
Allow Registration:No
Capacity Unlimited:No
Indicate how the topic is applicable to Health, Safety, Welfare (HSW) Design credits.:This session qualifies for Health, Safety, and Welfare (HSW) as it explores how engaging students in the design process directly informs decisions that impact the quality, functionality, and performance of educational environments. Participants will examine how user-informed design strategies influence key HSW factors such as indoor environmental quality, spatial effectiveness, safety, and overall wellbeing. Through the Grace James Academy case study, attendees will gain insight into how incorporating student voice leads to more responsive, inclusive spaces that support learning, foster a sense of ownership, and promote respectful use and long-term stewardship of facilities. The session provides actionable approaches for integrating end-user input into design processes to create healthier, safer, and more effective learning environments.
Learner Engagement:This session is designed as an interactive dialogue rather than a traditional lecture, grounded in adult learning principles that prioritize participation, reflection, and real-world application. Attendees will engage directly with students from Grace James Academy, creating a unique opportunity to hear firsthand how the design process connected to their academic experiences in STEM and beyond. We will incorporate live polling and word cloud exercises to surface audience perspectives—such as initial reservations about student engagement—and revisit those responses throughout the session. A facilitated Q&A will allow attendees to directly ask students how this process impacted learning, ownership, and school culture. By combining peer learning, reflection, and direct interaction with end users, participants will leave with a deeper understanding of both the process and its outcomes.
Learning Objective 1:Identify strategies for engaging students early and consistently throughout the school design process, including best practices for working with young stakeholders to better understand user needs and priorities that influence learning, wellbeing, and educational outcomes.