Planning with Purpose: Impactful Visioning for School Design

The rapidly evolving landscape of teaching and learning requires educational facilities to be adaptive, purposeful, and resilient. This session explores the power of the visioning process in shaping impactful education design projects. Participants will gain an in-depth understanding of how visioning fosters a project's success by aligning spatial goals with community aspirations, yielding innovative design solutions. Attendees will explore best practices for effective visioning sessions with diverse stakeholders, and strategies for translating conceptual ideas into spaces that promote exceptional design and pedagogy. Case studies will illustrate how visioning generates environments for learning that promote wellbeing, collaboration, and innovation, while wholeheartedly reflecting a community's identities and values. Attendees will be equipped with tools to ensure their projects not only meet immediate needs but also anticipate future demands, fostering long-term institutional success.


Enrico Giori, Assoc. AIA

Architectural Designer

Architecture for Education, Inc.

Enrico Giori is an Architectural Designer at Architecture for Education (A4E) in Pasadena, CA. He holds a BARCH and BFA from RISD's Architecture Department. Enrico is a passionate professional, known for his expertise in participatory planning and co-design, which he successfully integrates into the creation of state-of-the-art learning environments. His approach is characterized by deep engagement with stakeholders, crafting spaces that are adaptable, inclusive, and future-proof. He meticulously integrates pedagogical best practices into all projects. Enrico received the prestigious 2023 Loris Malaguzzi International Prize for his children’s book "We Want a School!" which narrates the story of students who envision and design their ideal school.

Elena Prado, Assoc. AIA

Architectural Designer

Architecture for Education, Inc.

Elena Prado is an Architectural Designer at Architecture for Education (A4E) in Pasadena, CA. She holds a Bachelor of Architecture with a Minor in Archaeology from University of Southern California’s School of Architecture. Elena is a motivated emerging professional interested in the design of accessible, public, and community-centered spaces that disseminate historical and cultural knowledge. This ambition is driven by Elena’s need to amplify the voices of students, people of color, and those who face economic adversities. As a result, Elena is actively engaged with mentorship organizations such as the SoCal NOMA Chapter, dedicated to providing mentorship to aspiring designers.
This content will not be available until 06/09/2025 at 8:00 AM (EDT)