Preorders are available for “Creating the Regenerative School,” a new book co-authored by LPA Director of K-12 Kate Mraw, which examines strategies for creating schools that restore and revitalize their settings, giving more than they take.
The book, authored by Mraw; Alan Ford, FAIA, principal with Ford Architects; and Betsy del Monte, FAIA, principal consultant with Cameron MacAllister, concentrates on approaches to educational facility design that shift the focus toward cultivating resilient, creative and empathetic educational environments. More than 40 case studies are included of schools that go beyond the traditional sustainable design strategy of “doing less harm” to target designs that actively benefit students, communities and ecosystems.
When schools actively connect with nature, the mental and physical wellness of the community will flourish, the authors write.
“Schools can be part of an ecosystem that integrates the needs of the community with the integrity of nature, creating resources that elevate the entire community,” Mraw says.
The book includes a collection of essays covering different elements of regenerative design, including evidence-based design, human health, net zero energy design, safety and security, and equity in design.
“Schools can be part of an ecosystem that integrates the needs of the community with the integrity of nature, creating resources that elevate the entire community,” — Kate Mraw, LPA Director of K-12
Two LPA projects are spotlighted in the book: TIDE Academy, a groundbreaking Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) public high school in Menlo Park, Calif., which earned the American Institute of Architects’ 2023 Architecture Award; and the Environmental Nature Center Preschool in Newport Beach, Calif. recipient of an AIA national COTE Top Ten award. Both projects incorporated the perspectives of educators and students into the designs and take a sustainable approach, illustrating how holistic strategies can inspire a new generation of learners and educators.
Mraw was named LPA’s Director of K-12 practice in 2022, and a national leader in promoting research-driven school design and the push to develop net zero energy campuses. Her influence can be found in a wide range of innovative, efficient campuses, including the e3 Civic High School in downtown San Diego, the first high school in the country co-located in a public library; and the historic preservation and renovation of Lanier High School in San Antonio, Texas, which recently earned a national Award of Excellence from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Committee on Architecture for Education (CAE).
“Creating the Regenerative School” will be released September 1, 2024. Click here to preorder.
