Inside Schools and Beyond the Building: Authentic and Experiential Learning Spaces
Authentic and experiential learning can happen anywhere: outside of school, in a classroom or lab, or within common areas in a school. By Paul Klee, FAIA, ALEP, LE Fellow, LEED AP, Principal at FGMA Originally published in Next Generation Learning | April 2026 Innovations in teaching and learning have had little impact on modern space […]
Water Security and Conservation: Designing for a More Resilient Future
As communities face increasing concerns related to drought, aging infrastructure, and population growth, water security has become an essential part of designing for resilience. Resilient infrastructure and thoughtful planning play a critical role in protecting one of our most valuable natural resources. Water security means ensuring reliable access to safe, clean water while managing risks […]
Why Firefighters Face a Higher Cancer Risk
When firefighters rush into burning buildings, there are immediate and obvious dangers: collapsing structures, intense heat and suffocating smoke. However, for many firefighters, the most serious threat may not manifest until years after they extinguish the flames. Increasingly, research shows that firefighters face a significantly higher risk of developing cancer compared with the general population, […]
A First Responder’s Perspective on Fire Station Design with Architect Michael Seppala, AIA
It’s a rare perspective: designing fire and rescue facilities while actively serving inside them. For more than 20 years, Michael Seppala, AIA, has answered calls ranging from medical emergencies to complex technical rescues. “I’m with the Rescue Squad. We respond to medical calls, vehicle crashes, rope and water rescues,” he shared. “It’s a different lens […]
Community Engagement Shapes Meaningful School Design
When communities feel left out of the school design process, even necessary improvements can face resistance. But when engagement is intentional, transparent and inclusive, those same projects can gain momentum, trust and lasting support. FGMA’s Community Engagement Hierarchy of Needs offers a structured approach to building that connection, guiding districts from initial awareness to true […]
Today’s Schools Need Research and Information Gathering Spaces
Innovative learning environments provide spaces that encourage students and teachers to engage in investigative conversations, conduct peer reviews, develop research skills and present their learning publicly. Research and information gathering are foundational skills in education, teaching students how to think critically, analyze data and communicate their findings. Both teachers and students need to know how […]
Boost Students’ Academic Experiences with Small Group Learning Pods
Small group learning benefits from spaces that are designed to support peer-to-peer discussions, group project work and differentiated instruction. Small group learning pods offer numerous benefits for both students and teachers. They foster a more personalized, interactive and collaborative learning environment, which can be especially effective for deepening students' understanding, promoting critical thinking and enhancing […]
Paul Klee to Lead FGMA’s PK–12 Education Practice in the Mid-Atlantic
FGM Architects announces the launch of its PK–12 education practice in Virginia, Washington, D.C. and Maryland, expanding the firm’s long-standing commitment to creating safe, inspiring and future-ready learning environments. With decades of experience designing schools nationwide, FGM Architects is bringing a student-centered, community-driven approach to districts, counties, private schools and partner firms across the Mid-Atlantic. […]
Designing Learning Environments That Adapt, Perform and Endure
Next Generation Learning Guiding Principles By Paul Klee, AIA, ALEP, LEED AP, NCARB Principal, FGM Architects Introduction “Next Generation Learning is a measurable, research-based response to how students actually learn today.” For more than a century, the physical form of American schools has remained largely unchanged, even as the world around them has transformed dramatically. […]
What Does “Radically Student Centered” Design Mean?
What does “radically student centered” design mean for PK-12 education spaces? Two of FGMA’s interior designers, Samantha Blum, NCIDQ, LEED AP and Celeste Karier, IIDA, ALEP, answered this question in conversation with Better Learning Podcast host Matt Rogers. Recorded live at EdSpaces 2025, Samantha explained how engaging teachers through user meetings, designing flexible classrooms and […]