As part of our commitment to user-centered design and ensuring that new educational facilities truly serve their communities, our team recently conducted early post-occupancy interviews with students and faculty at the newly completed CLIFF Center at Briarcliff High School. These conversations offered valuable, firsthand insights into how the space is being utilized in real time, highlighting both the successes of our design and areas for future enhancement. Faculty shared how the flexible learning environments have supported interdisciplinary collaboration and individualized instruction, while students expressed appreciation for the comfortable, modern atmosphere that fosters creativity, interaction, focus, and a greater sense of ownership.
The feedback collected not only validated many of our early design intentions – such as natural light, open views in the space, adaptable furniture, integrated technology, etc. – but also offered subtle, real-world observations that will inform the evolution of similar learning environments in our future projects. Engaging with the students and faculty directly after occupancy reinforces our belief that the best educational architecture grows from active listening and a responsive, iterative design process.
Hear directly from students and faculty as they share their first impressions and experiences in the recently opened CLIFF Center at Briarcliff High School. >
Please stay tuned for more occupancy interviews in the upcoming academic year 2025-2026.