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District details K-5 elementary design, selects K12 for furniture procurement and planning
Summary
Administrators described new K-5 learning spaces, plans for two STREAM labs, commons, rooftop garden and a vendor partnership with K12 to manage furniture, fixtures and equipment for the elementary center.
District administrators on Wednesday presented design and procurement plans for the new K-5 elementary center, detailing STREAM labs, commons areas, dual libraries and an outdoor classroom, and announced a partnership with a vendor called K12 to manage furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) procurement and project management.
Why it matters: the furnishings and spatial design will shape daily learning spaces for elementary students and include specialized lab equipment and technology that the district said will be part of unified-arts rotations.
Administrators described two STREAM (science, technology, reading/regular arts, engineering and math) labs: one for primary learners (K-2) focused on basic prototyping and introductory coding and a second for grades 3-5 that will include higher-tech tools such as 3D printers, a vinyl cutter and a laser engraver. Other planned spaces include commons to support small-group instruction, two libraries (a primary-collection library and an upper-elementary library with three classrooms and an additional STREAM space) and a rooftop garden and outdoor classroom.
The district said it attended the EdSpaces conference, evaluated furniture vendors, and selected an open-source, vendor-agnostic firm called K12 to guide selection, pricing and project management. The vendor will audit existing furniture across elementary schools, provide 3-D renderings, offer product pilots for teachers, and manage purchasing and post-installation inventories. Administrators said the vendor will begin audit work the weekend after the meeting, hold virtual staff meetings on Jan. 29 and convene principals on Feb. 3, with follow-up departmental meetings to begin Feb. 4.
The presenters credited Draw Collective as the district design partner and named interior designer Kayla Benton. They also listed several community partners who will support programming and design input, including the Children's Museum, Pittsburgh Botanic Garden and Industrial Arts Workshop.
Administrators emphasized a collaborative procurement approach: "They will specifically work on the furniture with us. They will be in total coordination with both us, the district and Draws design team as well," one presenter said. The district said K12 will also provide professional development for teachers on using flexible learning spaces.
Next steps include a full audit of current furniture, pilot installations for teacher feedback, and continued coordination between the district, Draw Collective and K12 through design and installation.
