EDspaces Sessions
EDfacility Tour Option A – New Construction
See some of the best education environments in the Kansas City area: A…See some of the best education environments in the Kansas City area: Angeline Washington Elementary School, Crestview Elementary School, and Heritage Middle School Note: This is a ticketed event. You must be pre-registered.See some of the best education environments in the Kansas City area: Angeline Washington Elementary School, Crestview Elementary School, and Heritage Middle School Note: This is a ticketed event. You must be pre-registered.See some of the best education environments in the Kansas City area: Angeline Washington Elementary School, Crestview Elementary School, and Heritage Middle School Note: This is a ticketed event. You must be pre-registered.Show MoreClick the title to see all details
EDfacility Tour Option B – Creative Curriculum
See some of the best education environments in the Kansas City area: N…See some of the best education environments in the Kansas City area: Northland Innovation Center, North Kansas City Schools Early Education, Professional Development, Technology Center. Note: This is a ticketed event. You must be pre-registered.See some of the best education environments in the Kansas City area: Northland Innovation Center, North Kansas City Schools Early Education, Professional Development, Technology Center. Note: This is a ticketed event. You must be pre-registered.See some of the best education environments in the Kansas City area: Northland Innovation Center, North Kansas City Schools Early Education, Professional Development, Technology Center. Note: This is a ticketed event. You must be pre-registered.Show MoreClick the title to see all details
By the Bootstraps, CTE Adaptability in the Ozark Hills
What if a career center could feel as aspirational as the futures it c…What if a career center could feel as aspirational as the futures it creates? Table Rock Career Center proves it can. Nestled into the Ozarks hillside, this facility was designed around one big idea — that every student deserves a bright, welcoming, …What if a career center could feel as aspirational as the futures it creates? Table Rock Career Center proves it can. Nestled into the Ozarks hillside, this facility was designed around one big idea — that every student deserves a bright, welcoming, and purposeful place to explore and learn a trade. See how thoughtful design, modest materials, and a commitment to continuous change created a space where career learning truly comes alive.What if a career center could feel as aspirational as the futures it creates? Table Rock Career Center proves it can. Nestled into the Ozarks hillside, this facility was designed around one big idea — that every student deserves a bright, welcoming, and purposeful place to explore and learn a trade. See how thoughtful design, modest materials, and a commitment to continuous change created a space where career learning truly comes alive.Show MoreClick the title to see all details
From Petrochemical to Play: How Community Shapes Immersive Pre-K Classrooms
What happens when a community’s primary industry inspires its youngest…What happens when a community’s primary industry inspires its youngest learners? Texas City ISD and Exhibit Concepts share how a petrochemical-based economy was translated into an immersive Pre-K environment that is developmentally appropriate, instr…What happens when a community’s primary industry inspires its youngest learners? Texas City ISD and Exhibit Concepts share how a petrochemical-based economy was translated into an immersive Pre-K environment that is developmentally appropriate, instructionally aligned, and rooted in students’ lived experiences. Attendees will explore the full journey from vision to implementation, and learn practical strategies for turning community identity into…What happens when a community’s primary industry inspires its youngest learners? Texas City ISD and Exhibit Concepts share how a petrochemical-based economy was translated into an immersive Pre-K environment that is developmentally appropriate, instructionally aligned, and rooted in students’ lived experiences. Attendees will explore the full journey from vision to implementation, and learn practical strategies for turning community identity into engaging, flexible learning environments that support student engagement, teacher practice, and real-world relevance.Show MoreClick the title to see all detailsShow More
Human Capacity Is Infrastructure: Designing Learning Environments That Defend Educator Sustainability
Every new tool, system, or space carries a cognitive cost. When that “…Every new tool, system, or space carries a cognitive cost. When that “Innovation Tax” exceeds educator capacity, the result isn’t resistance — it’s system failure. This session reframes human capacity as critical infrastructure and shows how physical…Every new tool, system, or space carries a cognitive cost. When that “Innovation Tax” exceeds educator capacity, the result isn’t resistance — it’s system failure. This session reframes human capacity as critical infrastructure and shows how physical design and digital workflows can either drain or defend it. Participants will learn to identify friction, reduce cognitive overload, and design environments that protect teacher capacity and improve …Every new tool, system, or space carries a cognitive cost. When that “Innovation Tax” exceeds educator capacity, the result isn’t resistance — it’s system failure. This session reframes human capacity as critical infrastructure and shows how physical design and digital workflows can either drain or defend it. Participants will learn to identify friction, reduce cognitive overload, and design environments that protect teacher capacity and improve long-term retention.Show MoreClick the title to see all detailsShow More
Listening to the Learners: How Student Engagement Transforms School Design
What happens when the true end users of a school — its students — help…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
Operating in the Grey: Campus Safety, De-escalation, and Technology
Campus safety shouldn’t be a one-size-fits-all approach. This session …Campus safety shouldn’t be a one-size-fits-all approach. This session explores a “grey” approach — promoting wellbeing, supporting neurodiversity, and integrating physical safety so people feel secure, supported, and able to perform at their best. Us…Campus safety shouldn’t be a one-size-fits-all approach. This session explores a “grey” approach — promoting wellbeing, supporting neurodiversity, and integrating physical safety so people feel secure, supported, and able to perform at their best. Using real-life examples spanning K-12, higher education, and healthcare, attendees will learn layered strategies — passive design, intuitive planning, and scalable systems — that support inclusivity, e…Campus safety shouldn’t be a one-size-fits-all approach. This session explores a “grey” approach — promoting wellbeing, supporting neurodiversity, and integrating physical safety so people feel secure, supported, and able to perform at their best. Using real-life examples spanning K-12, higher education, and healthcare, attendees will learn layered strategies — passive design, intuitive planning, and scalable systems — that support inclusivity, engagement, and outcomes, while addressing evolving threats in order to transform safety into a proactive asset.Show MoreClick the title to see all detailsShow More
KEYNOTE SESSION: Designing the World as a Learning Machine
Learning does not only happen in classrooms. It evolves from the envir…Learning does not only happen in classrooms. It evolves from the environments we design. Drawing on Marshall McLuhan’s insight that we shape our tools and they shape us, this keynote explores how learning environments function as living systems that …Learning does not only happen in classrooms. It evolves from the environments we design. Drawing on Marshall McLuhan’s insight that we shape our tools and they shape us, this keynote explores how learning environments function as living systems that continuously teach through space, structure, culture, and experience. As education continues to develop, our opportunity is not simply to create better rooms or products, but to shape learning ecosyst…Learning does not only happen in classrooms. It evolves from the environments we design. Drawing on Marshall McLuhan’s insight that we shape our tools and they shape us, this keynote explores how learning environments function as living systems that continuously teach through space, structure, culture, and experience. As education continues to develop, our opportunity is not simply to create better rooms or products, but to shape learning ecosystems that support adaptability, well being, and long term resilience. We will explore how schools and campuses can become dynamic learning infrastructures and how life-centered design choices can help people and learning thrive.Show MoreClick the title to see all detailsShow More
Transforming Elementary Classroom Spaces into Early Childhood Places
Today, over 1.75 million 3- and 4-year-old children are enrolled in st…Today, over 1.75 million 3- and 4-year-old children are enrolled in state-funded pre-kindergarten programs. Most of these programs are in elementary school buildings using classrooms built for older children of different physical sizes and developme…Today, over 1.75 million 3- and 4-year-old children are enrolled in state-funded pre-kindergarten programs. Most of these programs are in elementary school buildings using classrooms built for older children of different physical sizes and developmental needs. Some children — barely potty trained and only 36 months old — are entering a world designed for significantly older students. Join us to discuss and design early childood PLACES that meet…Today, over 1.75 million 3- and 4-year-old children are enrolled in state-funded pre-kindergarten programs. Most of these programs are in elementary school buildings using classrooms built for older children of different physical sizes and developmental needs. Some children — barely potty trained and only 36 months old — are entering a world designed for significantly older students. Join us to discuss and design early childood PLACES that meet the needs of our youngest learners.Show MoreClick the title to see all detailsShow More
WORKSHOP: Play is Serious Work: Neuro-informed Design for Learning
Educational environments are often designed for an “average” learner, …Educational environments are often designed for an “average” learner, yet no such learner exists. This session demonstrates how play-based, biophilic, and neurodiverse-informed design strategies can improve behavior, focus, emotional safety, and well…Educational environments are often designed for an “average” learner, yet no such learner exists. This session demonstrates how play-based, biophilic, and neurodiverse-informed design strategies can improve behavior, focus, emotional safety, and well-being. Presenters including the Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations, Architect, and Interior Designer, share how the Bright Futures Preschool transformed an underutiliz…Educational environments are often designed for an “average” learner, yet no such learner exists. This session demonstrates how play-based, biophilic, and neurodiverse-informed design strategies can improve behavior, focus, emotional safety, and well-being. Presenters including the Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations, Architect, and Interior Designer, share how the Bright Futures Preschool transformed an underutilized building into a flexible, high-performing learning environment. Attendees will explore strategies such as sensory-conscious materials, zoning, daylighting, acoustics, and play-based layouts, and leave with practical frameworks for aligning educational vision with inclusive design execution across early learning, K-12, positioning neurodiversity as a driver of better outcomes for students, staff, and communities.Show MoreClick the title to see all detailsShow More
Building Momentum: Leveraging Phase 1 Success to Ignite a Multi-Phase Campus Evolution
Master plans are often viewed as static documents, but their true powe…Master plans are often viewed as static documents, but their true power lies in their ability to adapt and build momentum through phased execution. In this session, Eric Lombardi (Head of School, Fort Worth Country Day) joins Jamie Sartory and Rebecc…Master plans are often viewed as static documents, but their true power lies in their ability to adapt and build momentum through phased execution. In this session, Eric Lombardi (Head of School, Fort Worth Country Day) joins Jamie Sartory and Rebecca Sibley (Lake|Flato Architects) to deconstruct the journey of a campus in mid-transformation. Discover how the success of the new Lower School — a project rooted in biophilic design and campus identi…Master plans are often viewed as static documents, but their true power lies in their ability to adapt and build momentum through phased execution. In this session, Eric Lombardi (Head of School, Fort Worth Country Day) joins Jamie Sartory and Rebecca Sibley (Lake|Flato Architects) to deconstruct the journey of a campus in mid-transformation. Discover how the success of the new Lower School — a project rooted in biophilic design and campus identity — created the institutional "buy-in" necessary to launch Phase 2: The Upper School.Show MoreClick the title to see all detailsShow More
Reimagining CTE Through Adaptive Reuse and Applied Learning
Olathe Public Schools transformed an underused facility into a future‑…Olathe Public Schools transformed an underused facility into a future‑ready CTE Innovation Campus through partnerships with business and industry. This session explores the visioning, adaptive reuse, and phased implementation that created a hands‑on,…Olathe Public Schools transformed an underused facility into a future‑ready CTE Innovation Campus through partnerships with business and industry. This session explores the visioning, adaptive reuse, and phased implementation that created a hands‑on, technology‑enabled hub supporting pathways from advanced manufacturing and healthcare to animal science and esports. Presenters will show how flexible design, applied learning, and authentic workforc…Olathe Public Schools transformed an underused facility into a future‑ready CTE Innovation Campus through partnerships with business and industry. This session explores the visioning, adaptive reuse, and phased implementation that created a hands‑on, technology‑enabled hub supporting pathways from advanced manufacturing and healthcare to animal science and esports. Presenters will show how flexible design, applied learning, and authentic workforce partnerships can boost engagement and elevate a district’s career and technical education programs.Show MoreClick the title to see all detailsShow More
