Aaron Neal
University of Tennessee KnoxvilleAaron Neal is an Assistant Professor in the School of Interior Architecture at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Prior to joining the faculty, he taught at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Aaron holds a Bachelor of Architecture and Bachelor of Interior Architecture from Auburn University and a Master of Arts in Adaptive Reuse as a Presidential Fellow from the Rhode Island School of Design. His research explores establishing common ground in underserved communities and understanding the direct relationship between the built environment and health and well-being. Aaron advocates for underserved communities through the identification of remnants of inequality, which he defines as physical or ideological artifacts which still have a significant impact on a present-day community.
Trauma-Informed Design within Education
Students do not enter classrooms neutrally. They have been shaped by life experiences. In a community-engaged learning studio between a Knox County sc
…Students do not enter classrooms neutrally. They have been shaped by life experiences. In a community-engaged learning studio between a Knox County school and University of Tennessee’s Interior Architecture studio, undergraduate students spent fiftee
…Students do not enter classrooms neutrally. They have been shaped by life experiences. In a community-engaged learning studio between a Knox County school and University of Tennessee’s Interior Architecture studio, undergraduate students spent fifteen weeks reimagining two neurodiverse classrooms. Grounded in trauma-informed design, students recorded behavioral observations, conducted research, and developed design principles using color, materia
…Students do not enter classrooms neutrally. They have been shaped by life experiences. In a community-engaged learning studio between a Knox County school and University of Tennessee’s Interior Architecture studio, undergraduate students spent fifteen weeks reimagining two neurodiverse classrooms. Grounded in trauma-informed design, students recorded behavioral observations, conducted research, and developed design principles using color, materiality, choice, and more. Design proposals and large-scale prototypes demonstrate how design education can meaningfully address rising behavioral needs.
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