Social Studies Classroom, William R. Harper High School, Chicago, IL

Posted on: 11/4/2008

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William R. Harper High School, located on Chicago’s South Side, is a public high school serving the West Englewood neighborhood. Founded in 1911, it is a leading participant in the small schools movement within the Chicago Public Schools.

Sagus revamped a social sciences classroom at Harper in collaboration with Legat Architects. The result? A learning environment that is more responsive to student needs and creative teaching approaches.

This project reflects Sagus' conviction that the physical conditions of our schools  significantly influence educational outcomes. The goal was to transform this classroom’s environment, to show how improving a school’s interior is an efficient, cost effective solution that improves educational results.

Liz Dozier, Principal of Harper High, said of the project: “It may seem like such a simple thing, like the tables instead of desks, but it is absolutely critical to creating an environment that’s conducive to learning. So when kids are at tables as oppose to single traditional high school chairs, they are more likely to work with one another, the teacher is more likely not to just give that direct instruction, but to figure out ways in which to engage students in partner activities or in group activities. So it might seem very small, but it’s actually very critical.”

Sagus collaborated on this classroom with Legat Architects. A  flexible, reconfigurable classroom was realized through the addition of easy-to-move, Catalyst™ tables and Discover™ chairs, plus new teacher’s tools like the mobile teaching wall with interactive whiteboard and projector and storage through custom casework [cabinetry] from LSI.

Legat Architects’ Dennis Kluge and Daniel Jiménez created floor plans to integrate all the new casework, desks, chairs and projection technology. Kluge and Jiménez then designed a palette of invigorating finishes and colors. The blues and greens create a calming environment and studies show the yellow hues aid in retention.

The feedback from Erik Olson, Harper High School Social Studies teacher, was positive. “The ability to have the set up that I have where I can allow a student to engage on their own or I can have them get together with a partner is going to help with the different needs and abilities and talents of those students.”

Tags: Technology  Education Architecture  Design  Educational Environment  Innovation 

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