Schools for the future

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Architecture significantly impacts life and activities within the built environment, particularly in public buildings like schools that must cater to diverse user needs. This relationship between architecture and its users—students, teachers, parents, and the community—is explored through architectural psychology and emerging factors like information technology. The vision for future schools emphasizes creating inviting spaces that can adapt to evolving user requirements. Assessment criteria for schools arise from a dual approach: first, a common language for designers and educators, illustrated by patterns in school design that prioritize learner-centered environments. These environments should be safe, comfortable, accessible, flexible, and equitable while also being cost-effective. The second approach utilizes facet theory for systematic assessment of school buildings, structuring various influences and subjective indicators such as learning performance and social behavior. By examining 23 innovative schools across eleven countries on five continents, a comprehensive system is developed to evaluate school quality, applying criteria related to functional, aesthetic, social-physical, ecological, organizational, and economic aspects across the entire school complex, including the exterior, building, entrance, classrooms, specialty rooms, and corridors.