Monique Taylor
Senior Interior Designer I Sustainability CoordinatorLegat ArchitectsMonique is a Senior Interior Designer and Sustainability Coordinator at Legat Architects. She advocates for regenerative interiors that are ecologically responsible by choosing environmentally safe materials with a strong aesthetic resonance and appeal. Focusing on design that incorporates nature into our daily interior spaces, her designs work responds to our instinctive need to connect with the environment.
Thinking Inside the Box – Transforming Existing Spaces for New Uses
Space for much-needed educational programming can appear in unexpected places, often in the over-looked buildings all around us. Affordably priced, th…Space for much-needed educational programming can appear in unexpected places, often in the over-looked buildings all around us. Affordably priced, this real estate presents opportunities for creatively thinking inside the box while reducing total ca…Space for much-needed educational programming can appear in unexpected places, often in the over-looked buildings all around us. Affordably priced, this real estate presents opportunities for creatively thinking inside the box while reducing total carbon consumption. Comparing four case studies: an abandoned drugstore retrofitted to become a much-needed urban day care facility, a mega call center transformed into an innovative public preschool, …Space for much-needed educational programming can appear in unexpected places, often in the over-looked buildings all around us. Affordably priced, this real estate presents opportunities for creatively thinking inside the box while reducing total carbon consumption. Comparing four case studies: an abandoned drugstore retrofitted to become a much-needed urban day care facility, a mega call center transformed into an innovative public preschool, a hardware store reincarnated as a career training center, and a nondescript department store turned church reshaped into an award-winning preschool—demonstrates the potential for not only supportive, safe spaces but also delightful environments for education in these ordinary existing structures. Successful transformations depend on a number of techniques to complete a makeover from cheerless utilitarianism or banal commercialism to joyful space for even the youngest users. Improvements can also be quantifiable in tons of carbon, allowing designers to assess the efficacy of building reuse. Together, these projects make a strong case for using existing building stock to “think inside the box.”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, yet no such learner exists. This session demonstrates how play-based, biophilic,…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
