The best place to find out about future-focused design and purchasing trends that are shaping today’s cutting-edge learning environments is EDspaces, October 23-25 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. EDspaces is the education industry’s only conference and expo focused the convergence of technology, space and pedagogy, and its impact on student outcomes.
EDspaces brings together professionals who design, equip and manage innovative learning environments and the manufacturers, service providers and dealers who offer the essential solutions. Two important audiences for EDspaces are personnel from school districts and colleges who are stakeholders in the building or renovating of educational facilities and the architects and designers working on those projects. EDspaces has been ranked one of the 50 fastest growing events by Trade Show Executive Magazine for the last three years with more than 160 exhibiting companies in over 600 exhibit spaces.
Once again, the American Institute of Architects Committee on Architecture for Education (AIA CAE) is co-locating its Fall Conference with EDspaces and serving as a valued Knowledge Partner. Other partners include the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), the Association of Technology Leaders in Independent Schools (ATLIS), the Independent Office Products and Furniture Distributors Association (IOPFDA), the U.S. Green Building Council’s Center for Green Schools, and, new this year, AVIXA, the Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association and DHI – Door Security + Safety Foundation.
Where technology, space, and pedagogy converge
The pre-conference Educational Distribution Symposium & Reception, sponsored by School Planning & Management and College Planning & Management, will be held on Tuesday, October 22. This education program is ideal to inspire top management and sales professionals to reach new levels of service to the educational products marketplace and to work in partnership with their vendors.
On Wednesday morning, Tony Wagner will share his thoughts on “Creating Innovators for the Future of Learning” at the Opening Plenary, sponsored by Grantells. During the conference, attendees can choose from 54 education sessions certified by AIA, GBCI and IDCEC for continuing education credit.
EDspaces has earned a reputation for “walking the talk” when it comes to educational environments with education sessions taking place in classrooms designed by leading vendor and architectural firms. These six, unique learning environments provide an immersive experience allowing participants to experience firsthand cutting-edge educational spaces.
New for 2019 are designed cafeteria spaces as well. Every school and college campus have a designated food service area. At EDspaces over 2,000 participants will be served lunch in the exhibit hall during the event and will have Cafe seating areas designed and furnished to reflect the possibilities available when planning for a new cafeteria or dining hall.
Sustainability of facilities and wellness of students and faculty are the focus of the new education experience and lounge on the exhibit floor. The Sustainability and Wellness Learning Zone will house a series of 30-minute professional development sessions to highlight these important aspects of educational design. It will also have a gallery of ideas from Knowledge Partner USGBC and sponsor Interface to highlight concepts and examples of wellness and sustainability.
Attendees can take part in experiential learning and see and experience recently built learning environments in the area through EDfacility Tours. A wide range of K-12 and higher ed tours were planned by the local, volunteer team of architects and school officials in and around Milwaukee. New for 2019 is a pre-conference STEM Innovation Tour with an education component and tour of three Makerspace and FabLabs. At each school participants will learn from administrators and architects who worked on the project as they discuss the planning, design, build and upkeep process as well as the impact the project has on the students the schools serve.