Windows are not the enemy of focus. Studies highlight the importance of fine-tuning views and connections to nature to enhance attention spans and productivity.
On a knee-jerk level, a window seems like a built-in distraction, guaranteed to promote daydreaming and wandering minds in any classroom or workspace.
Yet, a steady stream of studies has found the opposite to be true. Instead of a distraction, the research connects transparency and views to improvements in cognitive function, productivity and attention span.
Discussions around window systems are particularly relevant on K-12 campuses, where some students have puppy-like attention spans. On top of design consideration issues, each school has its own security, transparency and pedagogical priorities, complicating the evaluation of any window strategy.
On several recent projects, LPA’s Sustainability & Applied Research team worked with designers and educators to dig deeper into the implications of different glazing choices on student outcomes. The research team explored available information to help school leaders choose windows systems that fit the needs of their students.
