As architects and designers learn more about the impact of the built environment on occupant wellbeing, aspects of biophilic design are ever more thoughtfully and intentionally integrated into learning spaces. In addition to bringing natural elements and references inside schools, however, many schools are exploring true indoor/outdoor instruction spaces that increase student engagement and learning opportunities.

Architect and education design expert Elizabeth Stoel, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, director at New York-based architecture and urban design firm Cooper Robertson, sees indoor/outdoor learning spaces as one of the most significant educational design trends to emerge from the post-pandemic era. For Stoel, the growing interest in indoor/outdoor spaces reflects an evolving awareness of how children learn and thrive. However, it’s also a reflection of the urgent youth mental health crisis of increased anxiety and loneliness, fueled by both the pandemic and technology, and a related crisis in youth physical health.

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