“The best palette is a range of colors using light hues with deeper accents to provide a stimulating environment,” said Sara McLean, color expert at Dunn-Edwards, in a statement. “For example, a softened, sage green paired with a pop of orange catches the eye without being overwhelming. Creating a monotone color scheme tends to not work for children. As the lack of color doesn’t engage the senses.”

Nature-based greens create a calming and restful atmosphere, McLean said, which makes studying and learning much easier. Softened yellows can create a cheery and warm atmosphere to inspire creativity while blues reminiscent of the ocean can bring a kind of tranquil creativity. Violets and soft lavenders can also engage students creatively, according to McLean. For best results, she said, opt for blues, greens, violet and turquoise.

“Classrooms should incorporate a variety of colors to reduce the monotony and increase mental acuity. Warm colors tend to make large spaces feel more intimate, while cooler colors make smaller rooms appear large,” McLean said in a statement. “By moderating the use between warm and cool, a classroom environment can make a child feel engaged without feeling overly stimulated.”

But preferred coloration can change with age groups. For example, young children tend to be more attracted to warm, bright colors, McLean said.

“Parents and teachers can see that just by looking down the toy aisles and looking at the brighter toys for young age groups. As children age, they grow to an interest towards pastels in elementary school to brighter medium-cool colors in middle school,” McLean said in a statement. “In high school, darker colors are preferred and there is less preference for primary colors.”

McLean suggests five color palettes from Dunn-Edwards for enhanced learning:
• Sand Dune, Rainy Lake, Striking Red and Green Lane
• Practical Tan, Pine Mist, Lavender Princess and Candied Apple
• Quiet Splendor, Cottage White, Greenhouse Glass and Water Baby
• Jakarta, Hidden Hills, Rich Honey and October Haze
• Dry Creek, The Blue, Emerald Pool and Madera

With more than 85 years as a paint provider in the Southwest, with 113 company stores in California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas.
 

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The lined rows of plastic-topped desks of yesteryear are becoming outdated and replaced with more flexible, tech-friendly workspaces for students.

While some products like a chalkboard are becoming obsolete, what we are seeing instead are traditional classroom furnishings that are evolving to meet the changing needs of 21st century teaching and learning, said Cindy Weinschreider, director of marketing communications for Bretford Manufacturing Inc.

Bretford, headquartered in Franklin Park, Ill., is committed to adapting to the evolving classroom with tech-enabled, sustainable furniture design for learning spaces.

With extensive research on the topic of 21st century learning, Weinschreider provided five key learning concepts that are driving the transformation of classroom furniture:

Learning is Social: Simply put, we learn when we share and engage with others.
Learning is Mobile: Learning is an active pursuit, whether its with our bodies, the devices we are using or the way the furniture is set up in a room.
Learning Integrates Technology: This requires a careful understanding of the power and mobility of smart devices and how to best integrate them with the pedagogy and curriculum.
Learning Needs Context: We learn from where we are, who we are with and from those with whom we interact.
Learning is Multi-Modal: People learn in different ways and respond to many different styles.

Agility, connectivity and versatility are key to furnishing a 21st century classroom. Tables are used as opposed to desks to allow for collaboration, Weinschreider said, and now include power outlets for smart devices, which have become an integral tool for the modern classroom. It is not just classrooms that have to consider the use of furniture, but it is also important to think about the items in your house too. If you are considering purchasing new items, it may be best to look into something like to transport your items safely and easily to your house.

These products are flexible and reconfigurable depending on the needs of the classroom, Weinschreider said. Tables can be daisy chained together and put into different formations to fit the subject and the number of students in the room.

Tables, desks, , interactive whiteboards and other furniture are now equipped with wheels in order to provide mobility and easier storage, Weinschreider said.

Many new products are also in a wide range of standards and custom colors with a variety of fabrics to attune to a modern look and feel, added Weinschreider.

A certified carbon-neutral company, Bretford is one of many furniture companies that is increasing its focus on sustainability.

Many companies have taken extra measures to make sure their products are certified so they are safe for the environment and especially for the children who are in the room, Weinschreider said.

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As Gafcon FF&E project manager, Tricia oversees all FF&E services in the renovation and expansion of three colleges and six continuing education campuses in the San Diego Community College District, a $1.5 billion construction program. Gafcon is the program manager for San Diego Community College District’s Propositions S and N construction bond program. For more information, visit www.Gafcon.com.

What comes to mind when you hear “furniture, fixtures and equipment”? An architect’s role in the creation of a new building is easy to visualize and understand, but what image does the phrase “furniture, fixtures and equipment” inspire?

Imagine taking a new building and flipping it upside down. Everything that’s not attached to the building and falls out is furniture, fixtures and equipment, or FF&E. FF&E can be one of the most important, yet most often dismissed, parts of a construction project. If not properly managed, it can cost clients thousands of dollars in change orders and increase the risk of overspending and delayed occupancy.

Today, school districts struggle to create best-value learning environments for students while complying with construction and design deadlines, and working within strict budgets. There are many decisions associated with school construction, including the building’s design and purpose, environmental and health issues, project cost, and unforeseen issues that can arise during construction. By the time most projects arrive at the FF&E stage, school officials have already invested so much time in the building’s design that they may not realize how important the outfitting of the interior is in creating the best learning environments.

Incorporating FF&E responsibilities into the program management function allows school districts to pull multiple disciplines into one source, delivering synergy and the best possible solutions. The FF&E project manager reviews the project at a macro level and works with the district’s procurement offices to forecast future procurement of items and leverage collective buying power. Implementing proactive front-end strategies such as vendor pre-qualification and standards development can preserve budgets and conserve valuable time. The program manager’s experience and knowledge of public contract codes and cooperative agreements helps the school districts save time and effort in selecting and procuring products that support the overall design vision.

When FF&E falls outside of the program management function, the construction team will often discover towards the end of the project that the equipment does not fit the building’s infrastructure, because the design and construction teams didn’t communicate and collaborate effectively. Project managers smooth out the FF&E process by serving as a liaison between school officials and all project teams, helping communicate each partner’s needs. In addition, as the functionality of Building Information Modeling advances, the FF&E process will enhance the ability to design in digital space before installing furniture and fixtures in real space. This will help detect unforeseen problems with infrastructure coordination.

Technical jargon that doesn’t translate across sectors can also deter a project from fulfilling the district’s vision. Including FF&E service as part of the program management helps ensure communication is clear and consistent through all construction and design phases, eliminating pricey change orders.

The on-site project manager can assist in the delivery and installation process once the FF&E products are selected. Not executing this process properly can result in lost or unaccounted items, which increases costs in reorders and repairs. The FF&E project manager serves as the main point of contact and coordinates vendor schedules with the construction team to supervise installation, track punch list items, and schedule specialized electrical or infrastructure-related installations. The FF&E project manager can provide immediate, on-site support for this process, which saves time and money by preventing lost or stolen items, missed deliveries and relieves the districts from assigning staff to manage these final steps.

It’s the responsibility of FF&E providers to help clients meet their need for functional, comfortable, cost-effective and durable products that fit the intended design of the building, and are aesthetically pleasing. For most education clients, including school districts, the most important factor when it comes to FF&E objectives is cost efficiency, followed by longevity, functionality, warranty, maintenance and design aesthetics.

However, there are also multiple user-level parties that have their own set of interests and ideas. Faculty may want a cutting-edge classroom or learning environment fitted with the latest technology and materials. On the other hand, the facilities department responsible for the maintenance and care of the buildings will want materials that are cost-effective, easy to maintain, and provide a substantial return on investment in terms of life cycle costs. Unfortunately, durability and great design often do not go hand in hand. When integrated into the program management, an FF&E project manager can help the project team effectively leverage their expertise to meet expectations by identifying and evaluating products that will provide a timeless look and low maintenance requirements suitable to all parties.

With proper collaboration and a well-qualified team, education clients can create state-of-the-art facilities that maximize budgets to provide optimal teaching and learning environments, supporting the best interests of faculty, staff and students.

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