Think back to the last time you stepped inside of a school building. How did it look, feel, and sound? Many older schools were constructed in a way that makes them feel dark, dingy, and closed up, with resounding noise a constant throughout the building. Newer schools tend to be much brighter, cleaner, and airier, with better sound absorption in place. This is partly due to the increased use of wood design in educational facilities, which has become a more popular material to incorporate in learning spaces all over the world.
Using Wood to Build a Better Learning Environment
Wood is a clean, sustainable, and warm material that can be worked into most any design. It’s growing in popularity as a design feature because it’s:
- Natural
- Safe
- Reusable
- Renewable
- Non-toxic
- Durable
- Recyclable
For schools in particular, wood features are a great way to promote a healthy, productive environment. Here are just a few highlights of the benefits of wood design in educational facilities.
Health
Wood ceiling and wood wall systems encourage better indoor air quality (IAQ), and because many types of wood have proven to have natural antimicrobial properties, wood design helps students and staff stay healthy. This means more time in the classroom, and less time home sick.
Focus
Noise can make it difficult to concentrate and actually retain information, especially for those being instructed in classrooms. Wood walls and wood ceilings can be manufactured with acoustic panel options that deaden sound and make it easier for students to learn.
Happiness
Wood products bring the warmth and comfort of nature into otherwise sterile and stuffy classrooms. When natural elements are brought into the classroom — such as sunlight, plants, and wood — it helps generate calm and minimizes stress for both students and staff.
For those in education looking to build and design a state-of-the-art learning space that breeds excellence, biophilic educational facilities are the way to go. Beyond promoting better health, focus, and happiness, biophilia (defined as the innate human instinct to connect with nature and other living beings) can boost brain function and empower, leading to more successful learning experiences overall.
Educational Facilities Done Right with Custom Wood Wall and Ceiling Systems
At Rulon International, we understand the impact our sustainable wood products can have on learning spaces, and we’re proud to manufacture custom wood solutions that deliver optimized sound quality for learning in a natural, comfortable, and healthy learning space. When working with educational facilities, we make it a priority to ensure our custom wood ceiling and wood wall systems help improve sound, comfort, and health while delivering a beautiful aesthetic.
A sustainable wood design can offer impressive benefits that will impact students and staff for years to come, and the right products can make all the difference. To find out more about how you can use wood products to enhance learning spaces and support education, contact our team today.
