Better Schools = Smarter Kids: Architecture Can Improve Education in Hawaii

Abstract

Hawaii's school children consistently perform poorly when compared to children across the United States. The facilities in which they spend a majority of their time may have a huge impact on their ability to learn. Many public elementary schools in Hawaiÿi are not sustainable, are architecturally uninspiring and are a mismatch for current teaching methodologies. This research will show that the careful combination of cultural sensitivity, attention to education modalities in use today, and high performance building standards can create a school that will be comfortable, informational, energy efficient, as well as one that has the potential to boost student performance throughout the state. Case studies as well as creative solutions in the form of renovation to existing buildings and a new modular classroom design will be presented.