Blueprint for Learning
A space design grant opportunity powered by Remake Learning
In 2019, Blueprint for Learning awarded 16 grants of $50,000 to help schools, organizations, early childhood centers, museums, libraries, and higher education institutions in the greater Pittsburgh region reimagine, redesign, and remake their learning spaces. Here, you can explore their evolution as a cohort and see their spaces for yourself.
July 2019 - Today
Blueprint for Learning Archives
A Blueprint Overview
The Blueprint For Learning journey started in July 2019 with Remake Learning’s two-day Space Design Summit. This public event welcomed nearly 200 members of the network to explore the anatomy of modern learning spaces and inform prospective applications.
Joined by leading architects and designers from around the country, attendees learned the facts and figures around how schools (and other places of learning) are designed and built, the principles of effective learning space design, and the connection between the school space and a school’s vision for learning.
The Space Design Summit was co-hosted by Remake Learning and Reimagine America’s Schools, an initiative of the National Design Alliance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting cities and schools through change and transformation.
Following the Space Design summit, Remake Learning received over 100 Blueprint for Learning applications. The review team worked diligently to narrow this pool to 16 finalists.
Finalists convened as the Blueprint for Learning cohort in fall 2019 and attended a series of team-based design sessions. National partners, including the National Design Alliance and Reimagine America’s Schools, led the sessions, along with local architects and space design experts. Together, they helped cohort members craft their final design plans.
In November 2019, cohort members submitted their final design plans for funding and each received $50,000 to bring their project.
In 2020, the Blueprint for Learning members broke ground on their space design projects.
Though many faced changes and challenges due to COVID-19, construction continued for many throughout the year. Others will continue their builds in 2021 and beyond.
During this time, organizations also honed an important aspect of their projects. Blueprint for Learning challenged each cohort member to explore new and innovative uses for their redesigned spaces. They will consider how their spaces might serve as a hub for professional development, continued learning, or community engagement, and develop related community-based programming.
Stories
Original stories from the Remake Learning blog chronicling the journey of Blueprint for Learning.
Before & After Photos
See before and photos from completed Blueprint for Learning spaces. More galleries to be added as projects complete their builds!
Pittsburgh, PA
Center that CARES
Center that CARES reenvisioned a portion of an old multi-purpose space as an engaging maker space with both high- and low-tech resources and global learning technology.
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Wheeling, WV
North Elementary School
North Elementary School, part of Monongalia County Schools, remade an overgrown and underutilized greenspace into a functional, accessible, and inquiry-based outdoor learning environment that enables students to learn about the world around them while gardening, exploring nature, and problem-solving.
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Publications & Multimedia
Reports, webinars, and more that helped to inspire and continue the ideation of Blueprint for Learning.
Reimagine America’s Schools
Reimagine America’s Schools works to leverage public funds invested in school construction and modernization to support new ways of learning. In response to the events of 2020, Reimagine America’s Schools spent the year studying how these disruptions might change public schools and how the design of the learning environment must evolve to support these changes.
In 2019, Reimagine America’s Schools partnered with Remake Learning in the design of a variety of learning environments that support 21st-century learning strategies, including STEM, STEAM, Maker, and other active learning initiatives.
Pittsburgh Area Architects
After Reimagine America’s Schools national Design Team completed a 3-day Design Institute, Pittsburgh area architects provided pro-bono services to help complete the 16 Blueprint for Learning projects. We gratefully acknowledge the Pittsburgh area firms who worked with the 16 grantees to realize these projects:
VEBH Architects
Buchart-Horn
LGA Partners
Studio Volcy, LLC
Joshua D. Lee, PhD & Annie Rantitila, Carnegie Mellon University
Desmone Architects
Pfaffmann + Associates
Biafore Landscape Development
Moshier Studio
IKM Architecture
Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
AM Architecture
Stefani Danes, Adjunct Faculty, Carnegie Mellon University
