Donna Francis, AIA, ALEP, LEED AP BD+C, LE Fellow, has been recognized as a 2026 LE Fellow Honoree by the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE). Bestowed on individuals who have consistently contributed to the association in the highest manner possible,…
Stephanie Jude, Clark Nexsen’s Marketing Manager for the Community and Culture and Education markets, has spent 26 years navigating the complexities of AEC marketing. Known for her strategic mindset, commitment to continuous learning, and dedication to mentoring the next generation…
Architecture aspires to instill meaningful experiences in our lives. Consider the subtle smell of a good book you might encounter in a library, or the softened acoustics and peaceful focus you might discover in a comfortable reading nook. Facilitating these…
Clark Nexsen was awarded two American Institute of Architects (AIA) Aspire Design Awards at the 2024 AIA Aspire Conference on September 15 in Asheville, North Carolina, for the Patton Building at Blue Ridge Community College and Edneyville Elementary School. An…
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the average person spends about 90% of their lifetime inside a built environment. As a multi-disciplinary firm, we strive to design environments that positively impact on the health, safety, and welfare of all…
Clark Nexsen received the Grand Prize Award from Learning By Design Magazine in their Spring 2023 Educational Facilities Design Awards Showcase for Edneyville Elementary School. Awarded to projects that combine all the elements of a successful learning environment – innovation,…
While bullying, mental health, and other acts of violence are all too common in schools today, designers have shown that smart and subtle preventive steps can make a big difference. In the following, Clark Nexsen’s Becky Brady shares how prevention…
The business case for prioritizing occupant well-being in building design is compelling. The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) cites attracting top talent, increasing productivity, and improving environmental, social or governance (ESG) performance as key outcomes of leveraging tools like their…
According to a 2019 study by the U.S. Department of Education, students who focused on career and technical education (CTE) during high school had higher annual median earnings eight years after graduation than students who did not. That compelling statistic…
I sat down with Julie Leary, a senior architect in our Raleigh office, to talk about current trends in K-12 design and the future of adaptive, inclusive spaces for school communities. w 1. What are our clients talking or asking…
It is undisputable that spaces for collaboration, hands-on projects, and social interaction are among the most important elements for successful learning. But COVID-19 has shifted the focus from how best to teach to feasibility and safety issues surrounding teachers and…
Safety in schools continues to be a topic of everyday conversation. While there are many ways to improve school safety, these often focus on physical changes to the school environment and, as a result, are difficult to achieve unless there…
The creation of spaces for outdoor learning and experiences is gaining traction in K-12 school design. Looking beyond play time, growing recognition of the significant benefits associated with time spent outdoors is driving the integration and use of outdoor classrooms,…
In the conversation around school safety, active shooter scenarios still garner the most attention – but there is a valid argument to shift our focus to a more holistic, preventive approach by creating healthier school environments that encompass safety on…
In an age during which stories of bullying, school shootings, and mental health concerns are all too common, designers have a critical role to play in crafting K-12 schools that simultaneously promote engaged learning and student safety.
The most pressing questions facing businesses and schools today are alike and aligned: What will our next generation of jobs look like? Will today’s students have the knowledge and skills to perform those jobs tomorrow, given the traditional instructional delivery…