S COOL DESIGN. Learning spaces that encourage a new way of thinking.

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1 S COOL DESIGN Learning spaces that encourage a new way of thinking.

2 more professional than a typical high school...one that evokes a sense of professionalism.

3 At the THINC College & Career Academy in Georgia, a unique design inspires and supports a new kind of learning Most high schools are designed with a cookie-cutter approach that can be reproduced easily, architectural intern Ashley Smith believes. But that s not the case with the new THINC College & Career Academy in LaGrange, Georgia. In a clear example of form following The school s innovative design has a function, the school s unique design clear purpose behind it. Students will be reflects the distinctiveness of its working in teams to complete handson, authentic projects related to one of curriculum and this design is intended to support and inspire a whole new kind five career paths: mechatronics, energy of learning. and engineering, marketing, business, and health care. In response, designers We wanted to give the space a fun vibe wanted a space that seemed more that would be stimulating for teens, professional than a typical high school, said Smith, who works at Smith Design Smith said one that evokes a sense of Group in LaGrange. professionalism from students while also inspiring creativity. Housed in a building on the campus of West Georgia Technical College, THINC resides in an in-between area THINC looks nothing like a traditional between high school and the real world, high school. Instead, it has the look she noted. and feel of a Google office space, with brightly colored carpet tiles, glass The academy, which serves students walls, and stylish furniture that can be from the three high schools in Georgia s moved around easily to create flexible Troup County, is among more than three workspaces. dozen college and career academies in the state that aim to prepare students for 21st-century careers. Students attend this public charter school for half the school day, while they attend their traditional high school for the other half. When students walk into the building, they are greeted by a giant robotic apparatus donated by Kia Motors, one of the school s many corporate sponsors. High-tech tools like this aren t just available for students to use in the school s mechatronics and engineering labs; they re also embedded in the design of its common spaces. Vibrant colors are everywhere. The hallways are adorned with abstract works of art created by students from local high schools. There are 18 different colors of carpet alone, thanks to $100,000 in carpet tiles donated by local carpet manufacturer Interface, another corporate sponsor.

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5 The whole space breathes this atmosphere of creativity and excitement. The whole space breathes this atmosphere of creativity and excitement, Smith said. She added: Atmosphere plays a big part in architecture but that s often lost in the institutional prototype for education. Designers have taken great care to make the school s learning spaces a reflection of the workplaces they emulate. For example, the health care classroom includes a waiting area, a triage area, and beds separated by hanging curtains for patient care. We wanted it to look and feel like a true hospital emergency room, said Director Chris Williams, who serves as the school s principal. The school s furniture also plays a critical role in its design. Designers wanted tables and chairs that could be moved around easily and arranged in flexible groupings to support student collaboration. They approached a local company, Loy s Office Supplies, which recommended the EDU 2.0 line of furniture from Bretford. A key differentiator was the availability of power supplies in all of Bretford s furniture, said Chad Williams, vice president of Loy s. THINC students are allowed to use their own laptops, tablets, and smart phones in support of their learning. Throughout its classrooms and common areas, the school contains communal docking stations and tables with video monitors, where students can plug in their devices and share their screens as they work together on projects. There are also many soft, comfortable chairs with built-in power outlets where students can work independently or in small groups. When I was in school, 80 percent of my creative thought came outside the classroom, in discussions with other students about what we d just learned, Smith explained. Those outside-ofclass relaxation spaces provide an environment where the ideas are still churning. The school s innovative design and technology-enabled furniture will facilitate a new kind of learning experience, in which students will be working in teams to design and build parts for forestry machines, market a college radio station, or even launch their own start-up company. With the design of these learning spaces, we re creating a different perception of what we re asking kids to do, said Robby Burch, director of customer care for Interface and a board member for the academy. It s not school as they know it. Dennis Pierce has been writing about education and technology for nearly 20 years.

6 About Bretford Bretford is a manufacturer of furniture for both learning and work environments. Founded in 1948 and headquartered in Franklin Park, IL, Bretford holds close to seven decades of expertise dedicated to the design and manufacture of sustainable furniture solutions that are made in the U.S. Each furniture design is built for quality and mobility so rooms, people and information can move and still stay connected. The company offers smart furniture designs that support evolving technology, enabling institutions, organizations and corporations to increase productivity and efficiency. Superior workmanship and environmentally-compliant manufacturing and operation practices ensure dependable Bretford products, many of which are GREENGUARD Gold Indoor Air Quality Certified. The company is committed to using less energy, creating less waste, and reducing its carbon footprint. Bretford is a CarbonNeutral certified company and its EDU 2.0 line is among the first in the contract furniture industry to achieve CarbonNeutral product certification. About Loy s Office Supplies Taking care of West Central Georgia and East Alabama customers for more than 50 years, Loy s focuses on the simple premise, Service is our Specialty. Loy s mission is to offer the most efficient distribution of office supplies and furniture products while providing the best pricing and superior customer service. Loy s goes beyond traditional methods of processing, filling, and delivering orders, which promotes efficiency in its customers operations and results in accountability, cost-containment, and budget control. Loy s offers no minimum order requirements, several methods of ordering, and a hassle-free return policy. To learn more, go to loysos.com. Bretford and the B design are trademarks or registered marks of Bretford Manufacturing, Inc. Patents pending. All rights reserved Bretford Manufacturing, Inc. All rights reserved. All other referenced product names and logos are trademarks of their respective owners. L15THINC1