Active Class Space Phase 1
University of Michigan Office of Research
(UMOR) MCubed
Collaborators: Milton S.F. Curry, MArch
University of Michigan, Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
Ulysses Sean Vance, RA
University of Michigan, Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
Rebecca E. Hasson, Ph.D., FACSM
University of Michigan, School of Kinesiology
Student Collaborators:
Noel Hernandez
Omari Tabor
John Hilmes
Yinglin Wu
Caitlin Cashner
G. Casey George
Samira Daneshvar
Yun Jae Lee
Martin Ellliott
Jamilla Afandi
Ian Donaldson
Gracie Trinidad
Elizabeth Baskerville
Publication: Acts of Spatializing Healthy: The
Adolescent bodies in Motion (2016)
Simulation Mapping the displacement when engaging in physical activities
The Active ClassSpace project Phase One (the “ACS P1” Project) is based on the premise that typical
elementary school classrooms in urban school districts in the United States, in which students are
confined to a single room for most of their school day, are less than optimal in catalyzing sufficient
levels of daily physical activity. Architectural design plays a catalytic role shaping the processes that
constitute learning environments - as most public schools adhere to design guidelines enforced by
local, state and federal building codes and regulations. The purpose of this project is to integrate
public health, science, and elementary education curriculum research work into design thinking.
Questions:
1. What are the space requirements during physical activity based on the metabolic baselines for
optimal daily energy expenditure?
2. What are the activity requirements and corresponding classroom designs that facilitate ubiquitous
movement in support of physiological, behavioral and cognitive goals for young persons?
3. How do these architectural interventions influence the design of new classroom prototypes and
speculative furniture and materials?
Methods
1. Understanding current practices in facilitating physical activity in schools.
2. Testing technological interventions for simulating adolescent movement.
3. Rigorous analysis of the prototypical classroom environment.
4. Development of a prototype block unit that could be used in creating interactive architectural
elements.