Ruhnau Clarke Architects has been selected to move to the final Develop phase of XQ: The Super School Project, an open call to rethink and redesign the American high school.
The firm’s design team worked with current and former school administrators, education industry experts, community partners, and students to develop their REVERB concept which focuses on individualized learning and hands-on application. The first two phases of the competition asked participants to research how students learn and to understand the context in which they are learning; then, design a concept for how to improve the American high school.
“The most rewarding part of this process has been imagining, reinventing and implementing ideas in a design that has the power to shape the future of education. We gave our ideas a voice and form; now, it’s time to develop them into reality”
- Dennise De La Rosa, Director of Interiors, Ruhnau Clarke Architects
“I found the transition from public education to adult life challenging and complicated. Looking back I can’t help but think of how unprepared I was for what real life was actually like. I want high school in particular to be a place that relates to the real world so that when students encounter it they’re ready. I’m passionate about really preparing our future generation for the decisions they’ll make, the careers they’ll choose, and the lives they’ll lead.”
- Lance Higgins, Project Manager, Ruhnau Clarke Architects
The Develop phase will task teams with creating a plan for turning their ideas into reality, including:
- Staffing and training
- Facilities and infrastructure
- Implementation
- Performance Evaluation
- Governance
- Financial model and sustainability
In this next phase, Ruhnau Clarke Architects is looking to partner directly with a local school District to help implement and further develop the concept.