The Biophilic School: A Toolkit of Biophilic Interventions for Existing Schools to Enhance Student and Faculty Health and Performance
©Toshinari Soga (studio BAUHAUS)
August-May 2022 | Master’s Thesis | Advised by: Professor Vivian Loftness
Abstract:
School designs have a direct impact on both student and faculty outcomes, but the current lack of funding for school facilities may hinder their health and performance. Existing school facilities must then identify retrofit design strategies that can best optimize health and performance outcomes. Biophilic design is a growing field of design that offers significant opportunity to improve existing school environments with benefits for both students and faculty. Through case study research, this thesis proposes a toolkit of 42 biophilic retrofits for existing schools in a set of stakeholder cards that illustrate precedent, known impacts and relevance to high performance schools. A stakeholder card sorting study was conducted to establish perceived viability and impact. In a school survey, 74 K-12 school community members identified 8 strategies with the highest impact and affordability - Sunlight, Educational Content, Circadian Daylight, Fragrant Flowers & Herbs, Outdoor Eating Spaces, Clear Glass Windows in the Classroom, Washed Windows in the Classroom, and Plants in the Classroom - as compared to 36 other biophilic retrofit design strategies. A toolkit of biophilic interventions for schools is critically needed to improve student and faculty conditions.
