For Immediate Release
Fort Worth, TX (August 27, 2015) – Trinity Valley School opened the 2015-16 school year with new leading-edge educational spaces thoughtfully designed based on research regarding how students learn best. Almost 40,000 square feet of space was added to the campus and an additional 33,000 square feet of existing space was remodeled; new and enhanced areas comprise 25% of the school. The $18 million project is being funded through private donations. New spaces were built for the current student body of 960 students and not to increase enrollment.
Research on brain science, the Finnish school system and the importance of strengthening community through connection directly influenced the design of the transformational educational spaces. Themes of color and light, discovery play, applied learning and collaboration run throughout the school.
Spaces Shape Behavior
Schwarz Hanson Architects, the project architect, was very intentional in their design. Teaching walls in developmentally age-specific colors were created using idea paint, which renders the walls writable. As humans, we are naturally attracted to color. Teaching from a colored wall keeps student attention focused on learning and leads the learner back to the lesson. Natural light fills rooms. Daylight allows the eyes to rest and is known to positively impact social, emotional, behavioral and academic experience. Views to outdoor spaces provide a calming effect on the brain. Angled walls boost innovation.
Playground Sparks Imagination
TVS has partnered with TCU’s Dr. Deb Rhea who has direct experience with the Finnish school system. Lower School students have multiple outdoor recesses throughout the day to positively impact creativity and focus in the classroom. Outside play builds physically and emotionally healthy children. The new playground provides unstructured play to foster teamwork, collaboration, kindness and fun. The playground is designed as a natural, park-like setting to leave the landscape to the child’s imagination.
Connecting the Hands with the Mind
Applied learning spaces for “making” provide students more opportunities to learn by doing. The Lower School Exploratorium affords a unique, hands-on science learning environment. The Upper School Computer Science and Engineering Lab supports real-life experiences and further connects the hands with the mind. Making is an effective instructional model for encouraging and cultivating STEM engagement, interest, learning, creativity and innovation in youth.
Learning Happens Everywhere
Futurist Dr. David Thornburg was foundational to the design of many of the shared social and learning spaces new at TVS. Large, open centers occupy each division of the school (Lower, Middle and Upper) and provide flexible spaces for students to assemble. Other gathering and common areas inside and out allow the classroom to be wherever the learner is located. Areas where students and teachers can connect informally create a more positive and cohesive community. These designs support the belief that in the 21st century significant academic learning occurs in the classroom as well as in many spaces beyond formal learning environments.
TVS is proud to showcase the transformational new spaces and aims to serve as a model for other educational institutions. TVS is a kindergarten through 12th grade, independent, co-ed, college preparatory, day school, located on 75 acres in southwest Fort Worth.
For further information contact:
Margaret Kramer – kramerm@trinityvalleyschool.org or 817-321-0100
Director of Advancement