The Foundation – Exploring Physical Needs in Design

Welcome back to Student Success: Built by Design, where our panel of experts discuss the overlap of architecture and education, and how both intersect in the multifaceted concept of Student Success. Joining the discussion are Dr. Joel Peterson, Aurora Ayala, Jennifer Gibb, Andrea Stalker, and Jeff Johnson, who share their unique perspectives on how built environments, facilities management, and inclusive design contribute to better educational outcomes. In this episode, we dive into the foundational levels of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs - both the Physiological needs and the Safety needs. Including how clean air, water, shelter, lighting, accessibility, and secure circulation all contribute to the creation of both real safety and also the perception of safety, which can be equally as important. Our experts share real stories from their years in the field of instances of these sorts of challenges that they had to address. Examples include motion-sensor lighting and fencing to address hidden, dark campus areas, and learning lessons in HVAC/air-quality, such as HEPA filtration balanced against staffing and lifecycle maintenance constraints. The group highlights crime prevention through environmental design, district design standards, and joint collaboration among architects, builders, facilities, and campus police to ensure constructability, code compliance, and maintainability without accidentally creating “bunker-like” spaces in the process. The Student Success: Built by Design is a production of San Diego Community College District and is produced by University FM.