Spaces of Connection: Translating Research into K-12 Design Webinar

Webinar Date: July 16, 2025

The demand for healthier, more human-centered school environments has never been more urgent. Burnout, disengagement, and rising mental health challenges among both students and educators underscore the need to rethink how we design spaces for learning, connection, and well-being. This evidence-based session explores findings from the 2024 Healthy Building Summit and the white paper “Spaces of Connection,” co-developed by Tarkett and DLR Group. Grounded in behavioral and cognitive science, this session highlights how comfort, clarity, and restoration can be strategically integrated to support belonging and connection in educational spaces. Participants will examine real-world applications and research-informed strategies that move beyond aesthetics to impact human experience in meaningful and measurable ways. Whether designing a new school or retrofitting an existing one, attendees will leave with actionable frameworks to create inclusive environments that support the whole child and the educators who serve them.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify environmental factors, including acoustics, lighting, thermal comfort, and ergonomics, that directly impact cognitive performance, emotional well-being, and physical health in K–12 learning environments.
2. Explain the role of biophilic design in reducing stress and mental fatigue among students, using evidence from post-occupancy evaluations and neuroscience-based case studies.
3. Evaluate the impact of spatial clarity and wayfinding on user stress and engagement, particularly for neurodivergent students and first-time visitors in educational spaces.
4. Apply research-informed frameworks to advocate for and implement inclusive, human-centered design strategies that meet the mental health and safety needs of students and educators alike.

Presenters:

		Dr. Kati Peditto, PhD, Senior Design Researcher, DLR Group Dr. Peditto is a design researcher at DLR Group, leading research for DLR Group’s K-12 and Higher Education sectors. She guides how learning environments are shaped, so that when evidence and lived experience lead together, schools can more fully support the students and educators within them. With a PhD in Human Behavior and Design from Cornell University, she works at the intersection of research, equity, and the built environment, helping education leaders and design teams create spaces that foster belonging, focus, and well-being. Kati centers student voice, developmental needs, and the realities of teaching in her approach, ensuring school design is grounded not just in aesthetics, but in what actually helps people learn and grow. She is widely recognized for her expertise in design for mental health and neurodivergence, including features in the BBC, The Atlantic, and the Washington Post.
		Jonathan Stanley, Vice President, Education & Government Strategies, Tarkett North America As education segment director for Tarkett North America, Jonathan has more than 20 years of experience in the flooring industry and leads the company’s strategic development and research initiatives for K-12 and higher education clients. Passionate about creating healthier, more productive learning spaces for both students and educators, Jonathan understands the connection between design and its integral role in social-emotional learning and better student outcomes.