Building education facilities for the future

Every day, millions of students go to school to learn, but unfortunately many children are affected by poor indoor air quality and high noise levels. According to the Acoustical Society of America, U.S. classrooms typically have a speech intelligibility rating of about 75%. That means every fourth word is missed. This does not only affect the student’s possibility to learn, but also for the teachers as they must speak louder. It is also found that 50% of teachers suffer from irreparable damage to their voices, which is due to them speaking too loudly to be heard. Research shows that investments in good acoustics and indoor air quality throughout schools can have a life-changing impact.

Co-creating the solutions

We already know that optimal acoustics, air quality, natural lighting and aesthetics work together to impact how students understand teachers, stay focused and perform. To create these optimal conditions for learning requires product solutions that address all the unique needs of education spaces – from modest yet effective renovations to new builds. We must lead the discussion to help provide both students and educators with healthy, resilient places to grow and work. On September 30, during BuildingEnergy NYC, leading experts will discuss how New York’s schools can be built back better. Join us for an inspirational discussion and meet leading pioneers in the field:

• Annie Bevan, Executive Director, mindful MATERIALS
• Rodolfo Perez, Senior Director, The International WELL Building Institute
• John Shea, Chief Executive Officer, New York City Department of Education
• Erika Eitland, Director, Human Experience Lab, Perkins&Will
• John Medio, President - Americas, Rockfon

About the Event: Rebuilding New York’s Schools through Partnerships