Series
Farrah®, Footings™, Grin®, Jewel™, Jiminy™, Lavoro®, Reno®, Staccato®, Strassa®, Swift™, Universal™ Tables, WaveWorks®, Whimsy™
Room Type
Community, Enclosed & Private Office, Open Workspaces, Social & Collaboration, Student Center
Industry
The construction and furnishing of the new elementary school focused on efficiency and addressing the current needs of its students.
When considering how to advance their schools into 21st Century Learning, the Topeka School District began the task of creating combined schools that housed multiple grade levels. For Jardine Elementary School, this progressive development meant that they would build a new school, combining students from three neighborhood elementary locations. The entire campus includes elementary and middle school students.
Principal Angela Soper wanted to empower the students and teach them self-management by allowing them to focus and learn in the manner that best suited their individual needs. She also wanted to create plenty of opportunities for collaboration.
To bring this vision to life, Jardine Elementary chose Kimball International’s National brand. Selected for its ability to outfit a wide variety of spaces and deliver a consistent style throughout the facility, National solutions are found in traditional and non-traditional spaces including the principal and staff offices, administrative meeting spaces, nurse’s station, private meeting areas, and training rooms. Products from the National portfolio are also in each classroom, STEAM and art rooms, cafeteria, discovery areas, and two libraries. In addition, products were utilized in hallway learning and breakout pods where students go for one-on-one attention from staff.
The school is particularly proud of its discovery areas and flexible seating arrangements in the classrooms and alcove spaces. Students are encouraged to arrange and rearrange furniture to make it comfortable for the task they are working on and are reminded to move furniture back at the end of their session.
This self-management allows them to customize their learning experience, embrace change, and focus on learning, all while teaching them to be responsible and respectful. The staff is proud to work in a new facility filled with furniture solutions that support non-traditional learning. This evolution has sparked their creativity and they find themselves teaching the students with a newfound passion.
