A new website which showcases examples of innovative school design from around the world has been launched to inspire students, teachers and architects involved in the Building Schools for the Future and other school renewal programmes.

Imagine features research by architecture experts from the University of Sheffield who have reviewed around 150 schools, colleges and universities from the UK and overseas.

The Imagine website and project research, which is sponsored by Partnerships for Schools and Balfour Beatty, shares information about some of the innovative design features which are making these spaces a stimulating place to learn. The examples range from schools where the design is helping to stimulate new teaching styles and increase opportunities for personalised learning, through to buildings which are creating a new sense of community or which include sustainable features.

Bureau - Design+Research from Sheffield’s School of Architecture have categorised the schools reviewed by country, educational level, design type and education model. Each entry includes a range of photographs to give a real sense of what the learning space looks and feels like, as well as plans, links and references for further research.

Each school has been selected for inclusion in the Imagine website because of its innovative design features which are helping to stimulate new teaching styles, increase opportunities for personalised learning, create a new sense of community, the use ICT in exciting ways across the curriculum, and the integration of sustainable features into new buildings.

Among the schools featured on Imagine are:

• Mimers Hus, Sweden, sets new standards for a school and community facility. The quality of space and materials creates a simple but refined building that offers an excellent library, auditorium and art gallery for use by everyone in the local area.
• St Georges Junior School in Edinburgh has undertaken several new-build elements that are woven into the fabric of the existing school complex, invigorating existing buildings and providing cutting-edge facitilities.
• The open air school, Suresnes, France, built in 1935 was one of the first schools to embrace the special education needs of children. The building is a series of pavilions in a landscape, where by the classroom walls dissolve to provide inside/outside learning environments.

Imagine will be updated on a regular basis with new case studies focusing on the latest learning environments from around the world including examples from countries not already represented on the site such as South Africa, Greece and China. A Quarterly Topical Essay will provide a more in-depth review of important aspects of school design with the first, Furniture for Learning, discussing the importance of furniture as an integral part of schools design.