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Designing the World in a School | Donald Schmitt | TEDxYouth@UTS


let’s talk about education and spaces

let’s talk about education and spaces for education and transformation the

for education and transformation the

for education and transformation the transformational possibilities of those

transformational possibilities of those

transformational possibilities of those spaces in 1962 a Dutch architect named

spaces in 1962 a Dutch architect named

spaces in 1962 a Dutch architect named Aldo Van Eyck was working on the design

Aldo Van Eyck was working on the design

Aldo Van Eyck was working on the design of a kindergarten and orphanage and he

of a kindergarten and orphanage and he

of a kindergarten and orphanage and he thought about it as a house and I think

thought about it as a house and I think

thought about it as a house and I think he’s had a very profound thing he said

he’s had a very profound thing he said

he’s had a very profound thing he said for a house to be real it should be like

for a house to be real it should be like

for a house to be real it should be like a small city but also for a city to be

a small city but also for a city to be

a small city but also for a city to be real it should be like a large house can

real it should be like a large house can

real it should be like a large house can we think of a school where we come to

we think of a school where we come to

we think of a school where we come to learn in those kind of broad terms can

learn in those kind of broad terms can

learn in those kind of broad terms can we think of a school as the world can we

we think of a school as the world can we

we think of a school as the world can we create the world in a school and at the

create the world in a school and at the

create the world in a school and at the same time can that mean that this the

same time can that mean that this the

same time can that mean that this the world which we know is our school can we

world which we know is our school can we

world which we know is our school can we connect those two let’s let’s begin by

connect those two let’s let’s begin by

connect those two let’s let’s begin by thinking in that context of scale of the

thinking in that context of scale of the

thinking in that context of scale of the world and scale of the school and the

world and scale of the school and the

world and scale of the school and the reciprocity of the two by thinking about

reciprocity of the two by thinking about

reciprocity of the two by thinking about what characteristics do we really think

what characteristics do we really think

what characteristics do we really think of a great school environment can have

of a great school environment can have

of a great school environment can have it needs to be active engaging

it needs to be active engaging

it needs to be active engaging interactive it needs to be collaborative

interactive it needs to be collaborative

interactive it needs to be collaborative it needs to be an integrated place at

it needs to be an integrated place at

it needs to be an integrated place at the same time we’re thinking of all of

the same time we’re thinking of all of

the same time we’re thinking of all of us as students in that school learning

us as students in that school learning

us as students in that school learning and knowledge and how do we access that

and knowledge and how do we access that

and knowledge and how do we access that knowledge we access it through

knowledge we access it through

knowledge we access it through problem-based learning through

problem-based learning through

problem-based learning through team-based learning group based learning

team-based learning group based learning

team-based learning group based learning and guided inquiry we want the school to

and guided inquiry we want the school to

and guided inquiry we want the school to be student-centered that its focus is

be student-centered that its focus is

be student-centered that its focus is really between the material and the

really between the material and the

really between the material and the place around the student and how does a

place around the student and how does a

place around the student and how does a student engage with the student with the

student engage with the student with the

student engage with the student with the material

material

material they engage visually they engage

they engage visually they engage

they engage visually they engage intellectually they engage with their

intellectually they engage with their

intellectually they engage with their sight with their hearing they engage in

sight with their hearing they engage in

sight with their hearing they engage in a kind of haptic tactile way but at the

a kind of haptic tactile way but at the

a kind of haptic tactile way but at the same time the school needs to be

same time the school needs to be

same time the school needs to be flexible it needs to adapt to unknown

flexible it needs to adapt to unknown

flexible it needs to adapt to unknown and as as yet in the undefined

and as as yet in the undefined

and as as yet in the undefined opportunities and of course the world we

opportunities and of course the world we

opportunities and of course the world we live in it must be technological it must

live in it must be technological it must

live in it must be technological it must be based and recognized the kind of

be based and recognized the kind of

be based and recognized the kind of opportunities of Technology and digital

opportunities of Technology and digital

opportunities of Technology and digital access so how do we think of learning it

access so how do we think of learning it

access so how do we think of learning it happens everywhere not in the classroom

happens everywhere not in the classroom

happens everywhere not in the classroom how do we design for it happening

how do we design for it happening

how do we design for it happening everywhere it’s very social

everywhere it’s very social

everywhere it’s very social it’s very connective we gain information

it’s very connective we gain information

it’s very connective we gain information and understanding and knowledge and

and understanding and knowledge and

and understanding and knowledge and experience in so many ways it’s very

experience in so many ways it’s very

experience in so many ways it’s very social it also is very private it’s

social it also is very private it’s

social it also is very private it’s together with the material it should be

together with the material it should be

together with the material it should be comfortable it should be a welcoming

comfortable it should be a welcoming

comfortable it should be a welcoming safe and comfortable environment and of

safe and comfortable environment and of

safe and comfortable environment and of course it should be challenging so if we

course it should be challenging so if we

course it should be challenging so if we think of those characteristics of sight

think of those characteristics of sight

think of those characteristics of sight and sound and touch we think of the

and sound and touch we think of the

and sound and touch we think of the material engaging the course material

material engaging the course material

material engaging the course material but also our material and those of other

but also our material and those of other

but also our material and those of other students and that interconnection and

students and that interconnection and

students and that interconnection and that interactivity in that collaborative

that interactivity in that collaborative

that interactivity in that collaborative process of engaging with all the senses

process of engaging with all the senses

process of engaging with all the senses and all the ways of engaging information

and all the ways of engaging information

and all the ways of engaging information and understanding and all the material

and understanding and all the material

and understanding and all the material available in a sort of complex way if we

available in a sort of complex way if we

available in a sort of complex way if we really then think about the school UTS

really then think about the school UTS

really then think about the school UTS and how we seek a new transformative

and how we seek a new transformative

and how we seek a new transformative environment first of all we are grounded

environment first of all we are grounded

environment first of all we are grounded in an extraordinary tradition over a

in an extraordinary tradition over a

in an extraordinary tradition over a hundred years of history of academic

hundred years of history of academic

hundred years of history of academic achievement academic excellence

achievement academic excellence

achievement academic excellence extraordinary accomplishment at the same

extraordinary accomplishment at the same

extraordinary accomplishment at the same time that there is the the condition of

time that there is the the condition of

time that there is the the condition of architectural excellence which is

architectural excellence which is

architectural excellence which is embedded in this school a school

embedded in this school a school

embedded in this school a school building that’s over 100

building that’s over 100

building that’s over 100 years old that has been the kind of

years old that has been the kind of

years old that has been the kind of heart of UTSA in a physical way for a

heart of UTSA in a physical way for a

heart of UTSA in a physical way for a long time so building on that history of

long time so building on that history of

long time so building on that history of excellence and that architectural

excellence and that architectural

excellence and that architectural history of this the architect of this

history of this the architect of this

history of this the architect of this building who designed the Royal Ontario

building who designed the Royal Ontario

building who designed the Royal Ontario Museum who designed the original Art

Museum who designed the original Art

Museum who designed the original Art Gallery of Ontario who designed

Gallery of Ontario who designed

Gallery of Ontario who designed convocation Hall this is one of the

convocation Hall this is one of the

convocation Hall this is one of the landmarks of the city so when thinking

landmarks of the city so when thinking

landmarks of the city so when thinking about the school going forward and our

about the school going forward and our

about the school going forward and our are continuing in the future to occupy a

are continuing in the future to occupy a

are continuing in the future to occupy a wing of this school the East Wing the

wing of this school the East Wing the

wing of this school the East Wing the here on street wing we’re beginning with

here on street wing we’re beginning with

here on street wing we’re beginning with that sense of history physical history

that sense of history physical history

that sense of history physical history and academic and intellectual history

and academic and intellectual history

and academic and intellectual history and how do we exploit what are those

and how do we exploit what are those

and how do we exploit what are those characteristics and perhaps with the

characteristics and perhaps with the

characteristics and perhaps with the Huron Street entrance being always an

Huron Street entrance being always an

Huron Street entrance being always an important entrance to the school but the

important entrance to the school but the

important entrance to the school but the potential for being more important the

potential for being more important the

potential for being more important the more Prime in the sense that it is the

more Prime in the sense that it is the

more Prime in the sense that it is the opportunity to create a plaza an urban

opportunity to create a plaza an urban

opportunity to create a plaza an urban space at the corner at the kind of

space at the corner at the kind of

space at the corner at the kind of crossroads in the city

crossroads in the city

crossroads in the city perhaps a speaker’s corner a space to

perhaps a speaker’s corner a space to

perhaps a speaker’s corner a space to gather before and after school a place

gather before and after school a place

gather before and after school a place to to kind of meet friends to work

to to kind of meet friends to work

to to kind of meet friends to work outdoors and have classes outdoors and

outdoors and have classes outdoors and

outdoors and have classes outdoors and good weather just like at the Emily Carr

good weather just like at the Emily Carr

good weather just like at the Emily Carr University that we’re building in

University that we’re building in

University that we’re building in Vancouver that space of interface

Vancouver that space of interface

Vancouver that space of interface between the city and the school is is a

between the city and the school is is a

between the city and the school is is a kind of key issue but there’s another

kind of key issue but there’s another

kind of key issue but there’s another new opportunity that’s part of the world

new opportunity that’s part of the world

new opportunity that’s part of the world of this new school and that is the park

of this new school and that is the park

of this new school and that is the park the park at on Huron Street has always

the park at on Huron Street has always

the park at on Huron Street has always been in the background the school has

been in the background the school has

been in the background the school has never been oriented now we have the

never been oriented now we have the

never been oriented now we have the opportunity to connect to the park that

opportunity to connect to the park that

opportunity to connect to the park that it can be a Glee a green living room

it can be a Glee a green living room

it can be a Glee a green living room again a place for all the kind of

again a place for all the kind of

again a place for all the kind of activities intellectual and otherwise

activities intellectual and otherwise

activities intellectual and otherwise that you you undertake in a park and so

that you you undertake in a park and so

that you you undertake in a park and so that Park can be embedded and pulled

that Park can be embedded and pulled

that Park can be embedded and pulled into the school in a kind of profound

into the school in a kind of profound

into the school in a kind of profound new way in a really positive way and in

new way in a really positive way and in

new way in a really positive way and in this what will be a view from one of the

this what will be a view from one of the

this what will be a view from one of the corridors on the Huron wing suddenly

corridors on the Huron wing suddenly

corridors on the Huron wing suddenly natural light and view to the park

natural light and view to the park

natural light and view to the park connected to the park and accessible at

connected to the park and accessible at

connected to the park and accessible at the lower level that the park is a

the lower level that the park is a

the lower level that the park is a says there is the CD edge at the corner

says there is the CD edge at the corner

says there is the CD edge at the corner there’ll be the green edge at the South

there’ll be the green edge at the South

there’ll be the green edge at the South sorry I can’t get it to switch that I

sorry I can’t get it to switch that I

sorry I can’t get it to switch that I think I did I but at the same time there

think I did I but at the same time there

think I did I but at the same time there is the opportunity for the park in the

is the opportunity for the park in the

is the opportunity for the park in the city and to connect to the community

city and to connect to the community

city and to connect to the community because not only does the the school

because not only does the the school

because not only does the the school exist in the city it exists in a

exist in the city it exists in a

exist in the city it exists in a community of neighbors and living Lane

community of neighbors and living Lane

community of neighbors and living Lane the laneway system that runs south on

the laneway system that runs south on

the laneway system that runs south on Washington and down south to the

Washington and down south to the

Washington and down south to the university is being recast as a living

university is being recast as a living

university is being recast as a living Lane and that will connect the community

Lane and that will connect the community

Lane and that will connect the community to the school and as you move north

to the school and as you move north

to the school and as you move north towards a new south entrance to the

towards a new south entrance to the

towards a new south entrance to the school one of three entrances to the

school one of three entrances to the

school one of three entrances to the school that community connection is

school that community connection is

school that community connection is possible and as you enter the school a

possible and as you enter the school a

possible and as you enter the school a sense of welcome and transparency glass

sense of welcome and transparency glass

sense of welcome and transparency glass visual connection to the park and access

visual connection to the park and access

visual connection to the park and access through to the spaces to the north will

through to the spaces to the north will

through to the spaces to the north will be part of that circumstance so

be part of that circumstance so

be part of that circumstance so connecting heritage building on that

connecting heritage building on that

connecting heritage building on that opportunity but then building the kind

opportunity but then building the kind

opportunity but then building the kind of modern future sorry if

okay what’s the what’s the possibility

okay what’s the what’s the possibility in the in the new space of the school is

in the in the new space of the school is

in the in the new space of the school is where the parking lot now is in the

where the parking lot now is in the

where the parking lot now is in the South corner of the Huron Street wing is

South corner of the Huron Street wing is

South corner of the Huron Street wing is a vertical space of community a set of

a vertical space of community a set of

a vertical space of community a set of stairs and terraces and study terraces

stairs and terraces and study terraces

stairs and terraces and study terraces that are suspended in space where you

that are suspended in space where you

that are suspended in space where you can connect from the lowest floors to

can connect from the lowest floors to

can connect from the lowest floors to the upper floors through those four

the upper floors through those four

the upper floors through those four floors filled with natural light places

floors filled with natural light places

floors filled with natural light places to gather and so part of the daily

to gather and so part of the daily

to gather and so part of the daily movement through the school meeting

movement through the school meeting

movement through the school meeting friends and colleagues teachers and and

friends and colleagues teachers and and

friends and colleagues teachers and and and the students you’re with always

and the students you’re with always

and the students you’re with always encountering them because you’re at the

encountering them because you’re at the

encountering them because you’re at the crossroads but those crossroads are

crossroads but those crossroads are

crossroads but those crossroads are simply not a stair to move you from

simply not a stair to move you from

simply not a stair to move you from level to level but a place of gathering

level to level but a place of gathering

level to level but a place of gathering a place for group study a place for

a place for group study a place for

a place for group study a place for social activity a great a place for

social activity a great a place for

social activity a great a place for learning and classes just like in this

learning and classes just like in this

learning and classes just like in this in this space that can be small and

in this space that can be small and

in this space that can be small and individual places to study separate from

individual places to study separate from

individual places to study separate from the classroom separate from the lab

the classroom separate from the lab

the classroom separate from the lab separate from the library

separate from the library

separate from the library but in a way that can be very social and

but in a way that can be very social and

but in a way that can be very social and connected in in in light and in public

connected in in in light and in public

connected in in in light and in public space that you can have those sort of

space that you can have those sort of

space that you can have those sort of connective tissues as you move from

connective tissues as you move from

connective tissues as you move from floor to floor we’re in the foreground

floor to floor we’re in the foreground

floor to floor we’re in the foreground in this image there can be the space for

in this image there can be the space for

in this image there can be the space for the individual to work but in a open

the individual to work but in a open

the individual to work but in a open common area but that there’s also on the

common area but that there’s also on the

common area but that there’s also on the kind of terraces which connect level to

kind of terraces which connect level to

kind of terraces which connect level to level places for study and gathering as

level places for study and gathering as

level places for study and gathering as groups whether socially or to do work in

groups whether socially or to do work in

groups whether socially or to do work in what is now the gymnasium in the Huron

what is now the gymnasium in the Huron

what is now the gymnasium in the Huron Street wing cannot be converted to the

Street wing cannot be converted to the

Street wing cannot be converted to the library within that in space a library

library within that in space a library

library within that in space a library which has suspended in it pods for study

which has suspended in it pods for study

which has suspended in it pods for study spot pods for gathering a nut and in

spot pods for gathering a nut and in

spot pods for gathering a nut and in that way connect the main floor of the

that way connect the main floor of the

that way connect the main floor of the school with the second floor of the

school with the second floor of the

school with the second floor of the school so that you enter at two levels

school so that you enter at two levels

school so that you enter at two levels and that library becomes a sort of

and that library becomes a sort of

and that library becomes a sort of connective space it’s no longer a

connective space it’s no longer a

connective space it’s no longer a destination it’s a place that you move

destination it’s a place that you move

destination it’s a place that you move through and make connection can we think

through and make connection can we think

through and make connection can we think of the walls in the

of the walls in the

of the walls in the building the existing walls in the

building the existing walls in the

building the existing walls in the corridor the new walls in the kind of

corridor the new walls in the kind of

corridor the new walls in the kind of modern spaces as surfaces surfaces for

modern spaces as surfaces surfaces for

modern spaces as surfaces surfaces for new media surfaces for projection for

new media surfaces for projection for

new media surfaces for projection for activity for for for video for

activity for for for video for

activity for for for video for engagement but also for things like

engagement but also for things like

engagement but also for things like living biofilters because the school

living biofilters because the school

living biofilters because the school needs truly a sustainable design

needs truly a sustainable design

needs truly a sustainable design dimension it needs to be low energy

dimension it needs to be low energy

dimension it needs to be low energy needs to be as net carb close to net

needs to be as net carb close to net

needs to be as net carb close to net energy zero and that carbon zero is we

energy zero and that carbon zero is we

energy zero and that carbon zero is we can make it but if we can incorporate

can make it but if we can incorporate

can make it but if we can incorporate living biofilters instead of replacing

living biofilters instead of replacing

living biofilters instead of replacing the filters to keep the air clean in the

the filters to keep the air clean in the

the filters to keep the air clean in the interior like you do in the furnace in

interior like you do in the furnace in

interior like you do in the furnace in your house a living bio filter becomes

your house a living bio filter becomes

your house a living bio filter becomes an active filtration system that’s

an active filtration system that’s

an active filtration system that’s proven science in terms of how it makes

proven science in terms of how it makes

proven science in terms of how it makes better indoor air quality and the air

better indoor air quality and the air

better indoor air quality and the air quality with a living bio filter cleans

quality with a living bio filter cleans

quality with a living bio filter cleans 85% of the particulate and matters in in

85% of the particulate and matters in in

85% of the particulate and matters in in air and is it kind of vastly higher air

air and is it kind of vastly higher air

air and is it kind of vastly higher air quality than you can get in a

quality than you can get in a

quality than you can get in a conventional mechanical environment so

conventional mechanical environment so

conventional mechanical environment so we can use walls in that way can we

we can use walls in that way can we

we can use walls in that way can we position places for food to cook

position places for food to cook

position places for food to cook together to eat together to kind of meet

together to eat together to kind of meet

together to eat together to kind of meet at lunch or in the morning or or at the

at lunch or in the morning or or at the

at lunch or in the morning or or at the end of school or in kind of breaks

end of school or in kind of breaks

end of school or in kind of breaks around places which are social and

around places which are social and

around places which are social and connected that really engage all the

connected that really engage all the

connected that really engage all the communities that make the school come

communities that make the school come

communities that make the school come together around food and can we make

together around food and can we make

together around food and can we make classrooms more than simply four walls

classrooms more than simply four walls

classrooms more than simply four walls with windows and a door but something

with windows and a door but something

with windows and a door but something that is flexible that has furniture that

that is flexible that has furniture that

that is flexible that has furniture that can move that allows different

can move that allows different

can move that allows different configurations and setups that allows

configurations and setups that allows

configurations and setups that allows power and and service to convert labs

power and and service to convert labs

power and and service to convert labs into classrooms into into performance

into classrooms into into performance

into classrooms into into performance spaces and connect to the outdoors and

spaces and connect to the outdoors and

spaces and connect to the outdoors and open to the outdoors can we think of the

open to the outdoors can we think of the

open to the outdoors can we think of the classrooms really as sort of academic

classrooms really as sort of academic

classrooms really as sort of academic communities where there are clusters of

communities where there are clusters of

communities where there are clusters of space for small for small seminars and

space for small for small seminars and

space for small for small seminars and discussion

discussion

discussion for teachers to have their offices woven

for teachers to have their offices woven

for teachers to have their offices woven through the space spaces – for groups to

through the space spaces – for groups to

through the space spaces – for groups to move out into the corridor to work on a

move out into the corridor to work on a

move out into the corridor to work on a project and re-engage with the community

project and re-engage with the community

project and re-engage with the community in in the school sorry and do so in a

in in the school sorry and do so in a

in in the school sorry and do so in a way where there’s a kind of flexibility

way where there’s a kind of flexibility

way where there’s a kind of flexibility of use that each room doesn’t have a

of use that each room doesn’t have a

of use that each room doesn’t have a defined name but there is a kind of

defined name but there is a kind of

defined name but there is a kind of flexibility of interpretation of how you

flexibility of interpretation of how you

flexibility of interpretation of how you can use different spaces in the school

can use different spaces in the school

can use different spaces in the school of course we will have two extraordinary

of course we will have two extraordinary

of course we will have two extraordinary gymnasiums which are actually going to

gymnasiums which are actually going to

gymnasiums which are actually going to be tucked under the park and will be

be tucked under the park and will be

be tucked under the park and will be naturally lit from above but that sense

naturally lit from above but that sense

naturally lit from above but that sense of academic life like the life of music

of academic life like the life of music

of academic life like the life of music in the school the life of art in the

in the school the life of art in the

in the school the life of art in the school the art of physical athletics in

school the art of physical athletics in

school the art of physical athletics in the school and a great new 700 seat

the school and a great new 700 seat

the school and a great new 700 seat auditorium that supports music drama

auditorium that supports music drama

auditorium that supports music drama film video lectures that can be shared

film video lectures that can be shared

film video lectures that can be shared with the community can be shared with

with the community can be shared with

with the community can be shared with the university but really is

the university but really is

the university but really is fundamentally a place that’s that’s

fundamentally a place that’s that’s

fundamentally a place that’s that’s designed to be used and support the

designed to be used and support the

designed to be used and support the community of all the students in the

community of all the students in the

community of all the students in the school so if we can combine all this

school so if we can combine all this

school so if we can combine all this outreach to the city the space for green

outreach to the city the space for green

outreach to the city the space for green lungs in that outdoor room the space for

lungs in that outdoor room the space for

lungs in that outdoor room the space for connection to community welcoming the

connection to community welcoming the

connection to community welcoming the community the flexibility of how you

community the flexibility of how you

community the flexibility of how you move through the school the places for

move through the school the places for

move through the school the places for connection and in social activity that

connection and in social activity that

connection and in social activity that are embedded in the DNA in the building

are embedded in the DNA in the building

are embedded in the DNA in the building this all the kind of spaces for four

this all the kind of spaces for four

this all the kind of spaces for four that are equipped with flexibility to

that are equipped with flexibility to

that are equipped with flexibility to support labs and music and gymnasium and

support labs and music and gymnasium and

support labs and music and gymnasium and theaters can we really think of the

theaters can we really think of the

theaters can we really think of the school and can we make the school

school and can we make the school

school and can we make the school reflect the world and the world be more

reflect the world and the world be more

reflect the world and the world be more like UTS thank you very much

like UTS thank you very much

like UTS thank you very much you

you

you [Applause]

”

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