School architecture is the core of creating a positive attitude towards developing an overall learning outlook. The more students are provided with a feasible environment the better they would get involved in brainstorming ideas which in turn result in their holistic growth as well as of the institution.

No matter how fascinating learning looks like, but if the students don’t find comfort in the environment that they are in, it will surely hinder their cognitive ability to bring out fresh perspective and new concepts. Comfort is an integral part for students to move freely, pay attention and get things done on time within the classroom premises. So, when architects get involved in planning and design, important thing that they should look after is whether the environment is feasible or not for students to survive and get educated.

According to the research study, 16 percent of student’s learning depends on physical classroom features and design. There are three major factors that lead to a comfortable ambience which helps students in triggering their mindset while listening to lectures: Seating, lighting and acoustics manipulates the learning atmosphere and address the needs of staff and student. When they are at ease, they can relax and block out negative thoughts and focus more effectively which reduces the chance of distraction from learning.

Convenience is what everyone is looking for that serves as a prominent tool which cater to student requirements.  Architects and planners should be mindful about the air quality, temperature, lighting arrangement etc. in their design and construction. 

Let’s further discuss about the mentioned factors in detail that can have an impact on student’s comfort level to better their surroundings.

Seating: tables, desks and chairs should be designed appropriate to age. For instance, a pre-primary or primary student’s seat should not be high that his or her legs are dangling. The angle of the seat should support the curving of a student’s spine.

However, new invention in furniture has increased the amount of feasibility. For example, height-adjustable nest and tilt chairs create comfortable workspace for children where they can easily raise or lower the height of desks. Learning spaces should be of variety of seating options such as wood/laminate, plastic, or fabric because some of them are highly sensitive to different materials. Many autistic kids are sensitive to touch so some materials would develop scratch on their skin

Lighting: avoid fluorescent lights in schools and maximize the use of natural lighting wherever possible. It is said that fluorescent lighting would increase anxiety and cause headaches in some people.

The green furniture concept’s leaf lamp series can help decrease the intensity of light and perform duty by offering lighting along with exceptional sound absorbing qualities found in the materials. 

There is also an option for light filters which is a great aid for softening classroom lightening.

Acoustic: Generally, active learning environments are somewhat noisy where students would not sit in one place and would keep on moving around talking with their peers. The sound amplifiers can help students who have difficulty in hearing due to the background noise to focus, so it is important to consider acoustics in learning premises.

There are sound amplifying systems which help students who have difficulty in paying attention. These can be really expensive in the classroom but it makes a great advantage especially in large or open spaces. When amplifiers are used within the classroom, the noise can create a problem to the people present outside. In order to avoid that, acoustic window panes are preferred where the noise would remain indoors without disturbing the surroundings.

The Sensory Nook pod helps in blocking noise and provides with a calm space for students. The constant hustle bustle throughout the class hours can make them distracted and demotivated which in turn decompress their mind to acquire ideas and information. So, quieter areas are definitely required to retain concentration from the noisy disturbance.

While designing learning spaces, consider how you will want your learning place to be like. Think about what all furniture, fabrics or materials would give students variety of options to concentrate. Things like this would really make an impact on their ability to prosper and flourish within the comfort territory.