Learning Environments: Designing for Inclusion

Steve Maslin, Building User Design

Steve is a Chartered Architect, Director of Building User Design and Research Fellow at the Schumacher Institute for Sustainable Systems. He is also a member of the National Register of Access Consultants, Building Research Establishment Global Standing Panel of Experts, several British Standards Institute committees and leads efforts towards Design for the Mind guidance. He comes to this subject with significant experience of diversity, including his own personal experience and whilst working within social services. His work includes both review of existing premises and design advice for new learning environments - emphasising the importance of systems thinking when clients develop project briefs. He believes that “enabling” learning environments - informed by stakeholder engagement - leads to greater wellbeing, effectiveness and increased social sustainability.  

Arnold Levin, SmithGroupJJR

Arnold is currently a Principal with Smith Group JJR, leading design strategy initiatives across the firms practice areas including workplace, healthcare and learning studios. With over 45 years’ experience conducting workplace research, teaching, design strategy, and designing and developing workplace strategies, Arnold is among the leading practitioners of workplace design, design strategy and change management. He has worked in a range of industries from corporate, technology, media, science and healthcare and has held leadership positions at international firms such as IA, Gensler and TP Bennett. Arnold brings diverse experience from working and consulting in the US, Asia and Europe where he has utilized this background to connect design solutions to business models and position design strategy to enhance organizational performance. He has an undergraduate degree in design from Pratt Institute, an MBA in Design Management and an MPhil in Organizational Design from The Harrow Business School, University of Westminster in London.

Caroline Pepper, Loughborough University

Caroline Pepper, Learning and Teaching Space Manager is responsible for the development of learning environments at Loughborough University. This incorporates formal teaching areas, informal study spaces and learning technologies. She works closely with Students, Facilities Management and E-learning to ensure the development of learning spaces supports the student experience and aligns with the estate and academic strategy. 

Nicholas Burwell, Burwell Deakins Architects

Nicholas Burwell is the founding director of Burwell Deakins Architects, a London-based practice specialising in Higher Education design.

In the past, BDA have completed projects for Plymouth University, QUB Belfast, Loughborough University, Falmouth University, UCL and the University of Exeter, and were recently appointed to educational frameworks at Kingston University and are working Leeds University on further developments in lecture theatre design.

Marianne Reed, University of the West of England

Marianne is the Head of Faculty Strategic Developments in the Faculty of Business and Law at the University of the West of England (UWE) where she is currently the client project manager for a £50 million new build for the faculty.

Matt Tarling, Stride Treglown

Matt Tarling is a Director of Stride Treglown and leads the dedicated education team where he has extensive experience of school and university projects. During the last nine years Matt has worked very closely with a number of different HE institutions on a wide variety of buildings nationally and internationally.

Peggie Roth, Leesman

Peggie is Development Director at Leesman, the leader in measuring workplace effectiveness, providing a business intelligence and benchmarking tool that measures how workplaces support the employees that use them. Leesman offers no other services and thus holds the largest independent collection of workplace effectiveness data.  

Tim Oldman, Leesman

Tim is co-founder and CEO at Leesman, the leader in measuring workplace effectiveness, providing a business intelligence and benchmarking tool that measures how workplaces support the employees that use them. Leesman offers no other services and thus holds the largest independent collection of workplace effectiveness data.  

Shane Cryer, Saint-Gobain Ecophon

Shane is a Concept Developer for Education at Saint-Gobain Ecophon. 

Saint-Gobain Ecophon develops, manufactures and markets acoustic products and systems that contribute to a good working environment by enhancing people's wellbeing and performance. Their promise "A sound effect on people" is the core backbone of everything they do.

Jude Harris, Jestico + Whiles

Jude Harris is Director at Jestico + Whiles and co-leads the practice's education portfolio, having worked on more than 50 schools and universities in the UK and internationally.  He is actively involved in the practice’s cultural projects, including the refurbishment of a number of significant historic buildings.  

The practice was commended in the School Architect of the Year category, BCSE Best of British School Awards and has been named the 'Education Architect of the Year' by the UK's Building Design magazine. 

Through his research at University of Plymouth and the Welsh School of Architecture Jude has developed an expertise in the field of energy, environmental design and interactive facades, and is co-author of a book called Intelligent Skins, which explores the use of integrated building technologies in building facades. 

After winning an international design competition Jude is currently working on Jestico + Whiles’ proposals for a new campus for Doha College in Qatar. He is also working on the restoration of renowned British architect Sir John Soane’s Pitzhanger Manor and Walpole Park in London.

Maria Nesdale, Gensler

As the Global Practice Area Leader of Gensler’s education and culture practice area, Maria is deeply involved in designing enhanced learning environments that deliver a vastly enhanced learning experience for all levels of student. Maria has over 10 years' of extensive experience working with diverse clients and delivering successful projects of various scales across sectors. She is highly regarded as a specialist in her field and as such was on the World Architecture News awards jury panel for education in 2012 and the World Architecture News Effectiveness Awards 2013.