Designing Spaces That Last Starts With Knowing Your Why with Candice Leinneweber

In this episode, Matt Rogers sits down with Candice Leinneweber, Director of Design at MA+ Architecture and 2025 EdMarket NextGen Award winner, for a wide-ranging conversation about what it takes to design schools that truly serve students. Candice shares her winding path — from a family bakery in San Diego, to an accounting class that sent her running toward architecture, to teaching college courses for seven years before becoming a licensed architect. The conversation digs into how her dual training in architecture and interior design shapes her approach to K-12 spaces, what it really means to design for security without creating a prison-like atmosphere, and the exciting Oklahoma Aviation Academy project currently under construction in Norman. Candice also shares her work chairing an AIA committee building a framework to expose K-12 students to careers in architecture and design. Takeaways: Design with the "why" first. Candice's core approach — whether working with a client, a contractor, or a student — is to keep asking why until you understand the real goal. That clarity is what separates a decision that holds up 20 years from one that just looks good on day one. Security and joy aren't opposites. A recurring challenge in K-12 design today is creating spaces that feel open, welcoming, and engaging while also meeting rigorous safety requirements. Candice describes threading that needle on the Oklahoma Aviation Academy by designing for visibility, hiding places in emergencies, and an inviting open atmosphere simultaneously. Meet students where they are. Whether through student surveys, post-occupancy research, or thoughtful space programming, truly student-centered design means designing for the full spectrum of learners — the quiet kid, the kinesthetic learner, the future engineer, and everyone in between. Flexibility is the best hedge against an uncertain future. Rather than betting on what education will look like in 30 years, Candice designs spaces that can be rearranged, reprogrammed, and adapted — so a learning stair can be a tour stop, a study group, and a pickup class depending on the day. Exposure is everything. Candice's AIA committee work is rooted in her own experience: she didn't discover architecture until late in college because she simply didn't know it was attainable. Creating pathways for students to shadow architects, visit job sites, and see what the field actually looks like can change the trajectory of a career. About Candice Leinneweber: Candice Leinneweber serves as Director of Design, integrating mentorship and leadership into the firm’s design culture while guiding innovative K–12 education projects. She champions collaborative engagement with school stakeholders to deliver thoughtful, user-centered environments that support learning and community impact. Candice also chairs a K–12 architecture awareness initiative with The American Institute of Architects, partnering with local school districts to expand access to architecture and engineering careers through tours, site visits, and curriculum integration. Instagram: maplusarchitecture Facebook: MA+ Architecture LinkedIn: MA+ Architecture Candice Leinneweber Episode 333 of the Better Learning Podcast For more information on our partners: Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) - https://www.a4le.org/ Education Leaders' Organization - https://www.ed-leaders.org/ Second Class Foundation - https://secondclassfoundation.org/ EDmarket - https://www.edmarket.org/ Catapult @ Penn GSE - https://catapult.gse.upenn.edu/ Want to be a Guest Speaker? Request on our website