Thesis Topic - Initial Statement

I am interested in studying how the changing needs of the public school system will impact the facilities schools inhabit.

The project will investigate a differentiated, specialized, and decentralized educational system.

I have been and will continue to investigate current trends in the educational world and projections into the future of how it is likely to and needs to evolve.

Much of my current understanding of this project is rooted in a programmatic/ systemic study. I am interested in mixed program educational facilities, investigating mutually beneficial relationships in society that can strengthen and reinforce one another through feedback loops.

Questions that could be addressed:

• What are the cultural and spatial ramifications of smaller more specialized educational facilities? Is there a potential for segregation and fragmentation of society?
• What can be done to increase the ability of ALL students to learn in a way that ENABLES them to live self-actualized lives? Can architecture answer this in any way?
• What potential programmatic relationships exist, or can be created, that would or could strengthen the educational system and thus society as a whole?

Potential case studies:

• The settlement house model of mixed program: education, work, and social services.
• The Harlem Children’s zone.
• The Nsoroma Institute.
• North High School.