kfisher@edmarket.org

School design is evolving quickly, driven by a convergence of technology, flexibility, and human-centered priorities. From AI-powered learning tools and multi-use classrooms to smarter infrastructure, wellness-focused environments, and visible sustainability strategies, today’s schools are being rethought from the ground up. These five innovations highlight how districts, designers, and manufacturers are working together to create spaces that are more adaptable, connected, and responsive to how students and educators actually learn and teach.

Classrooms should be places where all students feel safe, respected, and ready to learn. But for many neurodivergent students—those with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, sensory processing disorders, and other neurological differences—traditional classroom environments can pose unnecessary challenges. Bright fluorescent lights, constant background noise, rigid seating arrangements, and visually cluttered walls can overwhelm the senses and interfere with a student’s ability to focus, regulate emotions, and fully participate in learning.

Neurodivergent students often bring unique ways of thinking, learning, and interacting with the world. They may excel in pattern recognition, creative problem-solving, or visual thinking—but they also tend to have heightened sensitivity to their physical environment. Sensory input, such as noise, lighting, textures, and movement, can significantly impact their comfort, attention, and well-being. Similarly, many benefit from clear routines, visual structure, and the freedom to move or self-regulate when needed.

Esports is transforming education, and KI is committed to helping schools create immersive, inclusive learning environments through innovative esports furniture solutions. 

Esports is not only a platform for students to pursue their passion for gaming, but it also offers valuable opportunities for skill development, teamwork, and digital literacy across all age groups.

The Whitney Brothers® has won the Platinum 2024 spaces4learning New Product Award for its Sky View Sanctuary, an inventive classroom privacy space designed with biophilic elements that simulate day and night skies. This innovative design provides a calming and engaging environment for young learners, aligning with the company’s commitment to enhancing Early Learning interiors. The Sky View Sanctuary not only meets state requirements for dedicated quiet spaces but also complements the Nature View Collection, Whitney Brothers®’s biophilia-inspired furniture line that has garnered multiple international design awards. The award is a significant accolade, marking the company’s fifth consecutive win, a distinction achieved by only a select few in the educational furniture industry.

Tech & Learning recently named ClassLink the winner of two Best of Show 2024 Awards at the ISTELive 24 for the complete ClassLink Suite and DataGuard! A panel of judges, all leaders in educational technology, evaluated hundreds of nominations to select the winning products. The selection criteria included ease of use, value, uniqueness, and demonstrable impact on improving teachers’ lives while supporting student achievement. Each honored product offers targeted solutions for schools to address contemporary learning challenges, exemplifying an unwavering commitment to the continuous support of teaching and learning.

The Education Market Association (EDmarket) is excited to recognize the achievements of the second cohort of young professionals in the education industry through the 2024 NexGen Rising Stars Award. This award highlights outstanding individuals who are 40 years old or younger and are nominated by EDmarket members. This initiative celebrates the contributions of these emerging leaders to education. The NexGen Rising Stars community serves as a year-round platform for collaboration, mentorship, and idea exchange. After a comprehensive review of all the qualified nominees, we are proud to announce the 2024 NexGen Rising Stars whose outstanding achievements, dedication, and potential have truly set them apart.

The School Specialty Innovation Center, which opened in May 2023 in Dallas, Texas, is a beautifully designed 6,885-square-foot space located in the vibrant Design District near downtown. The Innovation Center features a variety of vignettes, each showcasing different types of learning environments. One standout feature is the sensory room, a growing trend in schools. These rooms are thoughtfully designed to be safe, calming, and engaging spaces for students with sensory processing difficulties. At the School Specialty Innovation Center, the sensory room is accessed through illuminated strands that create a curtain-like entrance, immediately sparking curiosity. Inside, visitors will find unique lighting, tactile elements, comfortable seating, and interactive displays. Sensory rooms can be tailored to meet the specific needs of a school, ranging from simple and practical to more elaborate designs.

Corgan, a global architecture and design firm, has received the American Society of Interior Designers’ (ASID) “Firm of the Year” award, the organization’s highest honor. The award acknowledges Corgan’s legacy of achievement and significant contributions to advancing interior design, with recognition for excellence in design, sustainability, culture, community impact, research, and innovation.

“We are incredibly honored to receive the ‘Firm of the Year’ award,” said Lindsay Wilson, Corgan’s President and Interiors Sector Leader. “Corgan truly believes in the importance of healthy, beautiful and well-designed places and the resulting impact on the people they serve. Advancing innovative design begins with empowering the people directly involved and designers at Corgan are empowered by a culture that fosters growth, curiosity, and belonging.”