To accommodate this vision and reinforce NLL's learning approach; a new spatial use model was developed by Gensler. The ‘Plaza' concept was devised with the academy to provide a higher degree of collaboration between teachers and pupils. This is achieved through an IT rich, flexible environment that promotes and enables a variety of static and fluid learning settings to occur simultaneously within the physical fabric. Individual personalised learning to group based activities and a whole plaza scenario of 120 pupils is achieved. This provides a safe and secure home base.
KI have provided flexible and adaptable furniture to allow a variety of work mode settings orientated around sizes of user groups and activities being undertaken. Furniture solutions that maximize flexibility for teachers and students are at the heart of a successful modern educational environment and help students achieve their full potential.
Anibal Cruz, Gensler said:
"KI readily took our ideas on board and put them into practice, adapting their standard products to conform with our furniture requirements to create the environment we envisaged. KI seemed very interested in the whole concept where the furniture was required to resemble a workspace rather than a classroom, at the same time as being flexible. The plaza needs to be reconfigured and transformed to accommodate different aspects of learning while students remain in the same physical space. KI assisted in enabling the technology and environment to come together as one."
Head Teacher at New Line Learning Academy, Guy Hewett, said:
"Furniture can be more than just furniture. The choice we have made not only lends itself to flexible and innovative learning, it also gives a strong visual message that the students are entering a different and special environment when they enter our plazas."
KI installed Torsion on the Go flexible seating, Perry seating with blue & white pinstripe fabric, Hurry Up! flexible tables to enable reconfigurable seating options such as team working, and 150 lockers in four different shades of blue and white.
Anibal Cruz continues:
"The lockers are very interesting as this is the first point of entry for the students. Once they have taken off their shoes and put away their personal belongings the plaza environment seems to relax students and their behaviour is noticeably calmer."
Collaborative learning environments are an essential tool for moving from a "factory" to an "active learning" education model. Active learning emphasizes instilling knowledge, rather than just delivering information. Instead of sitting in organized rows while someone lectures to them, students cluster in collaborative groups to foster teamwork as they work on projects and share ideas.
Effective furniture for these environments is student-centric, enabling easy and open communication between students and teachers. Flexible and fluid environments should support a variety of interactive and engaging activities from teaming, projects, presentations and discussions, to individual research and reflection.
