Learning Studio Blog

MiEN’s GROW Nest Wins Association for Learning Environments Industry Partner Award at LearningSCAPES 2024 [October 29, 2024] – MiEN Company proudly announces that our GROW Nest and GROW Series have received the distinguished Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) Industry Partner Award at LearningSCAPES 2024. This prestigious accolade celebrates the GROW Series as a transformative solution...

New MiEN White Paper: Redesigning Learning Spaces for Neurodiverse Learners During the 2021-22 school year, nearly 15% of students in U.S. public schools received special education services. Many of these students are considered to be neurodivergent––that is, they experience a neurological or learning disorder such as ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, and sensory processing issues. Neurodiversity...

Providing a Calming Retreat: A Guide to Designing Sensory Spaces in Schools To address the needs of diverse student bodies, many schools are incorporating sensory spaces and quiet zones into their classrooms or buildings as part of Universal Design. Originally designed for students with special needs, more schools are now embracing this inclusive concept of...

Designing Learning Spaces for Neurodivergent Learners: Creating Zones for Success In today’s evolving educational landscape, creating spaces that cater to the diverse needs of neurodivergent learners is essential. Neurodiversity refers to the various ways individuals experience the world and process information, and it includes people with ADHD, autism, and other neurological variations. Designing a learning...

MiEN Company Employee Spotlight: Christian Frank, Midwest Regional Sales Director (IL, MI, WI) At MiEN Company, our mission is to create innovative, functional, and flexible furniture solutions for evolving learning environments. We wouldn’t be able to make this vision a reality without the dedicated individuals who work hard to make MiEN a leader in learning...

The Flexible SLICE Student Desk: Collaboration and ADA Compliance All-in-One! At MiEN, we believe that every furniture piece installed in educational and office spaces plays a pivotal role in creating a well-designed and effective environment. We strive to develop innovative furniture solutions that are useful and functional in a variety of different spaces, which has...

MiEN Company Employee Spotlight: Kim Diaz, Regional Director (AL, FL, GA, NC, SC) At MiEN Company, our mission is to create innovative, functional, and flexible furniture solutions for evolving learning environments. We wouldn’t be able to make this vision a reality without the dedicated individuals who work hard to make MiEN a leader in learning...

Transforming Classrooms: The Power of Flexible Seating for Students with Special Needs Classroom environments are changing rapidly with advancements in assistive technology, an increased focus on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics), and Social & Emotional Learning (SEL) initiatives. Educators are continuing to focus on inclusion as part of the Individuals with Disabilities Education...

Turning an Old School College Dining Hall into a Highly Utilized Student Center Not every college has extra space on campus to experiment with modern designs, furniture and features, but Orange County Community College (SUNY Orange) in Middletown, N.Y., just happened to have an aging, underutilized cafeteria that was ripe for an overhaul. The cafeteria...

Welcome Avron Levin: Leading Innovation at MiEN Company We are thrilled to announce that Avron Levin is joining MiEN Company as our new Senior Director of Furniture Innovation. With over 20 years of industry experience, Avron will lead our creative team, guiding our efforts to design agile, active learning spaces that empower modern instruction and...

MiEN Company Employee Spotlight: Tyler Pellerito, Regional Account Manager (CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, RI, VT) At MiEN Company, our mission is to create innovative, functional, and flexible furniture solutions for evolving learning environments. We are fortunate to have a team of dedicated individuals who work hard every day to position MiEN as a leader...

Reimagining College Spaces to Meet the Needs of Today’s Students Colleges and universities have changed drastically in recent years, pivoting to serve ever-changing bodies of students who are taking diverse approaches to higher education. Reimagining college spaces is essential as many of these institutional changes address the educational and economic needs of learners. Environments on...

Meet Katelyn Forcucci, Chief Education Strategist at emPOWERED PD Powered by MiEN As classrooms evolve, teaching methods must adapt to prepare learners for the dynamic demands of today’s rapidly changing world. Recognizing this need, Professional Development by MiEN delivers emPOWERED PD to equip educators with the skills and pedagogy needed to foster engaged learners. Through...

10 Steps to Integrate Teacher Input into Learning Space Design: Empower Educators to Transform Their Classrooms The thoughtful design of learning environments is key to improving educator satisfaction and fostering student engagement and success. In order to create transformative educational spaces, the design process should consider the needs of both the students and educators who...

Designing Versatile K-12 Media Centers for Diverse Instructional Approaches In recent decades, the role of K-12 media centers have evolved from merely collections of books to dynamic, multi-functional spaces that support various instructional methods. Gone are the days when the main focus of libraries was the content and resources they provided; now media center spaces...

Safety and Support in Schools: Trauma-Informed Design in K-12 Educational Spaces In the pursuit of creating learning environments that prioritize safety and support in schools, it is critical to design spaces that address the diverse needs of students, enhancing their mental health and education. We have discussed the importance of creating accessible spaces for students...

Bartow County School System Learning Hubs: A Transformation into Modern Media Center Spaces Bartow County School System - Cartersville, GA 14,000 students 12 elementary schools 4 middle schools 3 high schools District Transforms 19 Different Media Centers into Innovative Learning Hubs Taking a single media center and transforming it into a modern learning hub can...

Creating an Ergonomic Learning Environment: A Guide to Choosing the Best Furniture Sizes for Educational Spaces In ergonomic learning environments, both the physical environment and the furnishings within it play a pivotal role in fostering learning and wellbeing. While much of the focus of learning space design is placed on the layout and function of...

Q&A with Tyler Pellerito and Ryanne Lane on Their Top 5 Favorite MiEN Products Welcome to the newest installment of the MiEN Environments Top 5 Series, where we delve into the preferred selections of MiEN Company's finest. In this edition, we have the pleasure of featuring insights from Tyler Pellerito, Regional Account Manager for the...

Meet Cecilia Cruse, MiEN’s Special Needs Consultant Students with disabilities make up nearly 15 percent of the K-12 student population, and supporting these students is a valuable endeavor for schools and districts. As this percentage continues to increase, there has been a steadily rising demand for functional and exciting learning spaces for students with special...

Transforming Oregon State University Residential Hall Spaces with MiEN Furniture In 2022, Oregon State University (OSU) was seeking a furniture partner to help them transform the social spaces in four residence halls on campus: Poling Hall, Cauthorn Hall, Halsell Hall, and McNary Hall. By updating these spaces, OSU aimed to foster a sense of community...

Hampton University Classroom Modernization: Redefining the College Experience for Collaboration, Engagement, and Comfort With roots that reach deeply into U.S. history and the African American experience, Hampton University in Virginia has its sights set squarely on the horizons of the global community of the 21st century. Along with being one of the top historically-Black universities...

Furniture Designed to Last: Promoting Sustainability with High-Quality Furnishings In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on the environmental problem of “fast furniture,” which refers to the disposable nature of many modern furniture products. “Fast furniture” is a fairly new term, describing the inexpensive, trendy furniture pieces that are often mass-produced with low-quality...

MiEN Company Employee Spotlight: Drew Wodarski, Regional Account Manager (IA, KS, MO, NE, OK) At MiEN Company, our mission is to create innovative, functional, and flexible furniture solutions for evolving learning spaces. We take pride in the dedicated individuals who make our vision a reality. Today, we’re highlighting Drew Wodarski, MiEN’s Regional Account Manager overseeing...

MiEN Company Employee Spotlight: Eliza Jensen, Regional Account Manager (WA, OR, AK, & Canada) At the MiEN Company, our mission is to create innovative, functional, and flexible furniture solutions for evolving learning environments. We are fortunate to have a team of dedicated individuals working hard every day to turn our vision into reality, positioning MiEN...

MiEN Company Releases Thousands of Revit Family Downloads MiEN Environments now offers thousands of Revit Family Downloads for all our products, readily available for download directly from our website. This pivotal step aligns with our commitment to support and enrich the design community with practical, innovative solutions. Why Revit Family Downloads? Revit, a cutting-edge Building...

Pantone Color of The Year 2024: Incorporating Peach Fuzz in Learning Environments As we enter a new year, new color trends are on the horizon. The Pantone color of the year 2024 is Peach Fuzz, a color Pantone describes as "a color radiant with warmth and modern elegance. . .that resonates with compassion, offers a...

5 Education Trends for 2024: A Look Into K-12 Education Unleashed As we welcome the new year, educators and industry leaders are anticipating the top education trends for 2024. In recent years, the education industry has seen a rapid transformation, marked by new ideas and emerging technologies. In 2024, this momentum will continue, bringing forth...

A Year in Review: 2023 at MiEN Company Each year as we enter the New Year, we like to look back upon all that we’ve been able to accomplish throughout the year. 2023 at MiEN Company has been a vibrant and transformative year––from emerging educational technology trends to inspiring learning space designs. Reflecting on 2023,...

Echo Trail Middle School: Innovation Through Intentional Design Echo Trail Middle School, located in Jefferson County, Kentucky, strives to inspire its students to reach their full potential through an innovative space through intentional design that provides a hands-on, collaborative learning experience. In an interview with Dr. Kara Ammerman, the principal of Echo Trail, we explored...

New Northeast Lakeview College STEM Facility Prepares Students for High-Demand Careers Located in one of the fastest-growing areas of the state, Northeast Lakeview College (NLC), in Universal City, TX, is one of five Alamo Colleges and was born out of need to serve a region that was welcoming a high volume of new residents and...

Holy Trinity Catholic School Creates Multipurpose Space That Caters to Student Testing Student test performance is a hot topic in educational circles, where there is continued debate over whether some students will test better in informal, comfortable environments. Holy Trinity Catholic School in Louisville, Kentucky is betting on the fact that environmental factors do indeed...

Hudson Middle School: Empowering Students and Engaging the Community Hudson Middle School, located in Jefferson County, Kentucky, is a community-focused middle school that is self-described as the “School for the People.” Hudson is the first middle school in West Louisville to be built in 91 years and welcomes every student from the area regardless of...

MiEN Company Employee Spotlight: Jonathan Gossom, Regional Director (KY, TN, IN, OH, WV) At the MiEN Company, our mission is to create innovative, functional, and flexible furniture solutions for evolving learning spaces. We take pride in the dedicated individuals who make our vision a reality. Today, we’re highlighting Jonathan Gossom, MiEN's Regional Director overseeing Kentucky,...

EDspaces 2023: Discover Esports Innovation with MiEN Environments The EDspaces 2023 conference and exhibit is drawing near, and we can’t wait to gather once again to share and discover the latest innovation in education design. At EDspaces 2023 discover esports innovation with MiEN’s expansive booth at the exhibition. Join us for enriching presentations, and immerse...

4 Tips to Design Learning Spaces for Middle School Students Middle school is a transitional phase in students’ academic careers, ushering students from elementary school into high school––and beyond. In middle school, students are often presented with a new schedule, different approaches to learning, and faster rates of acquiring new academic content.  During their middle...

Design Considerations to Support Neurodiversity in the Workplace As the workplace has transformed over the past few years, companies have come to understand that employee wellbeing is one of their greatest assets. The foundation of a positive employee experience is cultivating a diverse workplace that is accommodating and inclusive of all individuals’ needs.  Promoting a...

MiEN Company Releases White Paper on Use of Teacher Spaces to Stop Teacher Burnout and Turnover New paper explains how investing in teacher lounges and workrooms can reduce stress, increase retention, boost academic outcomes and attract new teachers GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Oct. 10, 2023 – Addressing the increased rates of teacher burnout and resignations...

Transforming School Leadership: The Power of Mobile Teaching Stations In the classroom and beyond, principals, administrators, and other school leaders play a pivotal role in shaping the learning environment for students and educators alike. Gone are the days when administrators were confined to their offices, detached from the daily rhythms of school life. Today, forward-thinking...

Designing Active Learning Spaces for Higher Education: 5 Tips to Foster Engagement and Collaboration In recent years, greater use of technology and remote learning in higher education has led to a shift in how learners interact within a classroom environment. Traditional lecture-style classrooms are gradually giving way to more dynamic and engaging learning spaces. The...

Big Picture High School's Innovative Learning Spaces: From Office Space to Classroom Big Picture Learning activates learning opportunities through its community of more than 275 global schools and a suite of initiatives. Through its multiple fellowships; outside-of-school learning opportunities; and healthy living and learning partnerships, the organization also serves as an “incubator” for the next...

How Burke County Schools Are Modernizing Media Centers for the 21st Century Two years ago, Burke County Schools in Morganton, N.C., received Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding earmarked for helping the 12,000-student district manage the negative impacts of the COVID pandemic. The 1:1 district has 27 schools, many of which featured aging...

Megan Cope Elementary’s Media Center Gets a Modern Facelift When Emily Price, Ed.D., came onboard as Megan Cope Elementary School’s new principal in 2021, she quickly learned that the San Jacinto, Calif.-based school’s library was in need of a media center modernization. After speaking with Renee Moore, the school’s library media tech specialist, about some...

4 Transformative K-12 Learning Spaces to Nurture SEL Author: Dr. Christina Counts When implementing a social emotional learning program in your school, choosing a quality curriculum isn’t the only consideration for creating an effective program––developing K-12 learning spaces to nurture SEL is also a key part of advancing students’ learning and development. Social and Emotional...

5 Ways to Organize Your Classroom for Back-to-School Author: Dr. Christina Counts As summer ends, teachers and students eagerly prepare for the new school year ahead. Before learning takes off at full speed, it’s important to organize your classroom to create a successful learning environment for students and teachers alike! A well-organized learning environment fosters...

5 MiEN Educational Products Going Viral If you’re searching for the latest trends in furniture design, you’ve come to the right place. Prepare to be inspired by these five MiEN educational products that are going viral! Here at MiEN, we offer a diverse range of educational furniture products that meet the needs of schools and...

6 Essential Library Spaces: Beyond the Books With the new function of media centers, there are a lot more zones to consider to meet all student and faculty needs. These six essential spaces created with MiEN products can help you create a 21st century library that provides function and comfort for all who use it! ...

4 Tips for Designing a Student-Centered Library In modern library spaces, the design is no longer centered around books and other reading materials. While these media still require a home in the library, a modern media center holds more functions, acting as a hub for students to engage in a variety of social and academic...

4 Key Factors to Starting an Elementary Esports Program The benefits of scholastic esports make a compelling case for starting a program, and many schools have done just that to enhance students’ learning experience and future opportunities. Starting an esports program is beneficial to learners of all ages: Research shows that students who participate in...

Designing Learning Spaces for Developmentally Appropriate Practice In order to provide students with an effective education, early childhood educators need to utilize developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) to teach children. This teaching strategy acknowledges what children know and what they can do, while also setting reasonable goals for learning and development. What is Developmentally Appropriate Practice...

How to Design a Montessori Learning Environment Nurture children’s independence and natural motivation by designing a Montessori learning environment equipped to support their learning! Montessori is an alternative form of education––primarily used with early childhood and elementary students––that is built around supporting children’s natural behaviors and instincts. This learning method is known for its child-centered...

Designing Accessible Learning Spaces: Furnishing Classrooms to Meet ADA Requirements The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires schools to provide accessible and inclusive learning spaces for students, parents, and employees who have a physical or mental impairment or disability of any level of severity. To meet ADA requirements, schools must meet a minimum standard of...

5 Steps to Take When Building a 21st Century Media Center Author: Miranda Klemp When Voorhees School District decided to give all of its media centers makeovers, Osage Elementary School was one of four elementary schools that was more than ready for the experience. Its 600-student school would become the first in the district to...

Funding for Private Schools: Upgrade Your Learning Spaces with EANS Funds The challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic are still greatly impacting schools today, and federal funds from pandemic relief programs can be the key to recovery. The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund allocated roughly $190 billion to K-12 schools across the country,...

Vertical Whiteboards Make for a Collaborative, Engaging Discovery Lab While Mindy Collier was reading Peter Liljedahl’s book, Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics, Grades K-12: 14 Teaching Practices for Enhancing Learning, a lightbulb went on over her head. A third-grade teacher at North Huron Elementary in Kinde, Mich., Collier wanted to create a “discovery lab” for...

5 Ways to Use ESSER Funding to Transform Learning Spaces The September 2023 deadline to allocate ESSER II funding provided through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act is quickly approaching––here’s a reminder of the five ways to use ESSER funding to transform learning spaces in your school or district! Since March 2020, the...

Creating a Modern Space Where Teachers and Staff Eat, Relax and Socialize Since 2007, Atlantic County Institute of Technology (ACIT) in Mays Landing, N.J., has been providing a comprehensive high school education that incorporates all academic courses, advanced placement (AP) courses and vocational-technical opportunities. Serving about 1,700 students—a number that will soon increase to 2,000—the...

Meet Martin Fritzen, MiEN’s Esports Expert As educational institutions decide to build gaming and esports programs and facilities to support students, stakeholders are searching for guidance. Here at MiEN Company, we’ve partnered with international esports expert and consultant Martin Fritzen to help us share the best ideas and resources with organizations who are looking to...

Elementary School Creates a Modern Media Center from a Blank Slate When Voorhees Township Public Schools in Voorhees, N.J., decided to give all of its media centers makeovers, Osage Elementary School was one of four elementary schools that was more than ready for the experience. The 600-student school would become the first in the district...

3 Key Components of Early Childhood Learning Environments Author: Dr. Christina Counts Deciding what to include in an early childhood learning environment may seem like just choosing what color to paint the room and which chairs to buy, but there’s so much more to consider below the surface. The building blocks of effective early childhood...

Pantone Color of The Year 2023: Incorporating Viva Magenta in Learning Environments Author: Marissa Onesian The Pantone color of 2023 is Viva Magenta, a color Pantone describes as “a new animated red that revels in pure joy, encouraging experimentation and self-expression without restraint, an electrifying, and a boundaryless shade that is manifesting as a stand-out...

5 of the Biggest Education Trends for 2023 Author: Dr. Christina Counts With the start of a new year and education conference season just beginning, educators and industry leaders are discovering the biggest education trends for 2023. The past few years have seen a significant transformation for education and edtech, and 2023 will continue to...

6 Modern Ideas for Innovative K-12 Learning Spaces Author: Madison Johnson Classrooms aren’t the only place for innovative design––more and more schools are coming up with modern ideas for innovative K-12 learning spaces. From media centers and cafeterias to STEM labs and English literacy spaces, schools are approaching learning space design with flexibility, collaboration, and...

Collaborative Learning Spaces Designed Nationwide by the MiEN Company GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Jan. 4, 2023 – A growing number of schools chose MiEN to support learning and collaboration in their schools and districts. Twelve schools and one district-wide project are a few of the most recent educational institutions to make MiEN Company their furnishing...

New Arizona High School Blends Functionality with Comfort in its Common Areas When Crismon High School in Queen Creek, Ariz., opened its doors for the first time for the 2022-23 school year, the school welcomed more than 1,000 students into its new facility. Its administrators had spent an entire year planning out the new school,...

4 Ideas for Designing Collaborative Learning Spaces Designing collaborative learning spaces in your school is a great way to expand learning opportunities and enable teachers to engage students in new ways. These spaces are usually designed to meet the needs of a variety of different subjects or activities and are an effective way to encourage...

4 Easy Ideas for Social Spaces that Encourage Student Connection Author: Dr. Christina Counts Schools are not just a place for learning––they are also hubs for community and connection. After spending much of the past two years learning remotely and separated from their peers, students are excited that things at school have returned to normal....

Students Are Bored: Engage Them With Innovative Learning Spaces Author: Dr. Christina Counts Students are becoming increasingly bored at school but creating innovative learning spaces may help to re-engage them in their learning. Research suggests that students become less engaged the more time they spend in school, moving up each grade level. According to a...

Stay Ahead of the Curve with MiEN Curved Bookcases Author: Dr. Christina Counts Stay ahead of the curve with some of MiEN’s most popular curved bookcase products: KIO Class Curved Shelving and KIO Curved Bookcases. With our modular, curved KIO shelving systems, you can establish pathways through learning spaces, define different learning areas, and create...

MiEN Company Announces New and Pending Patents GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Oct. 31, 2022 – MiEN Company announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued patents for three of MiEN Company’s furnishing designs: the MUST+ Sit-2-Stand Table & Lectern, FFL chair series and FLEX Steps modular lounge and seating unit. Four...

Q&A with Kara and Mary: Top 5 Favorite MiEN Products Kara Zmudka Mary Longo Welcome to the MiEN Environments Top 5 Series, where our regional directors, account managers, and designers share their favorite MiEN Company top 5 products. Here we will breakdown the value our employees and our customers find in the solutions designed with...

EDspaces 2022: Come See MiEN’s Innovative, Patented Furnishings The EDspaces 2022 conference and exhibit is right around the corner, and it’s one of our favorite places to gather each year to share and discover the latest innovation in education design. Come visit us at the exhibition to learn about our top patented furnishing products and...

Florida High School Infuses Collaborative Learning into the Curriculum Like many schools in the U.S.—where at last count the average public school building was 55+ years old—Mulberry High School in Florida was working from a facility that was built almost 70 years ago. Ready for an overhaul and equipped with funding from a local sales...

3 Types of Modern Media Shelving: Curved Bookcases, KIO Tinker, & DIVIDE Storage Author: Dr. Christina Counts For a long time, the only storage option available for K-12 media centers was lining up rows and rows of traditional bookshelves. While we still love to see a row or two of traditional straight bookcases for vertical...

Modernization Project - H.B. Whitehorne Middle School Verona, NJ As STEM became more popular in Verona schools over the years, it was apparent that one thing was missing at H.B, Whitehorne Middle School (HBW): a STEM lab learning space. Over the winter of 2021, Technology, Engineering and Design teacher Julia Zambrano began working with colleagues...

How Teaching Gaming & Esports will Boost Student's STEM & 21st Century Learning Skills Author: Martin Fritzen There are three ways schools and universities can work with gaming and esports to increase the students' STEM and 21st century learning skills. The 3 Foci 1) Focus on learning As a teacher: when teaching students, focus on...

5 Tips for Designing Accommodating Learning Spaces for Students with Sensory Needs As the number of students with special needs, students with sensory sensitivities, and students with other support needs increases nationwide, educators are finding ways to design accommodating classrooms that support positive student behavior and academic performance. Today’s students are increasingly being bombarded with...

Q&A with Scott and Mary: Top 5 Favorite MiEN Products Scott Doney Mary Longo Welcome to the MiEN Environments Top 5 Series, where our regional directors, account managers, and designers share their favorite MiEN products. Here we will breakdown the value our employees and our customers find in the solutions designed with specific products and...

Making a School Media Center a Collaborative and Fun Learning Space With about 275 students in grades pre-K through 8, St. Stephen Catholic School in Riverview, Fla., is well aware of the tectonic shifts that have taken place in the educational sector over the last two decades. And while the 21-year-old school is considered “young”...

A Look at Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation's (KRAI) learning space is Pasco County’s newest public magnet high school, opening its doors for the 2022-23 school year to 9th and 10th graders. In the coming two years, the Wesley Chapel campus will add students to grades 11 and 12 to...

3 Reasons to Use Sit-to-Stand Desks in the Classroom Author: Dr. Christina Counts So long to a classroom full of stationary, seated desks that keep students sedentary all day––the future holds flexible, student-centered sit-to-stand desks that promote student choice and engagement! Sit-to-stand desks have become common in the workplace and home offices as an option...

4 Ideas for Innovative Teacher Stations Author: Dr. Christina Counts For decades, teachers have sat in the front of the classroom behind a bulky, stationary desk. While this approach works for many educators, these teacher stations have always left something to be desired. At MiEN, we’ve created the THX Double Pedestal Teacher Station, a traditional-style...

High School Designs with MiEN Furniture a Flexible, Collaborative, College-like Student Union Josh LeSage, High School Principal at Valley Christian Schools in Chandler, Ariz., recently turned to MiEN for help designing and furnishing its student union space with MiEN collaborative and flexible furniture. With nearly 1,100 K-12 students, including 485 high schoolers, the school is...

5 Tips for Back-to-School Classroom Organization Author: Dr. Christina Counts It’s once again time to head back to school and putting a focus on your classroom organization now can set you up for a smooth and efficient school year. With the right organization tools and classroom furnishings, you can create a well-organized learning space that...

Five Elementary Classroom Design Tips for Engagement and Success Author: Dr. Christina Counts Gone are the elementary classrooms of the past––where students were confined to their desks for all day lectures––make your early childhood classrooms a welcoming space where students are engaged and excited to learn! The classroom environment is an essential part of learning...

Q&A with Eliza and Hannah: Top 5 Favorite MiEN Products Eliza Jensen Hannah Carson Welcome to the MiEN Environments Top 5 Series, where our regional directors, account managers, and designers share their favorite MiEN products. Here we will breakdown the value our employees and our customers find in the solutions designed with specific products and...

5 Design Tips for an Elementary Media Center Author: Dr. Christina Counts Away with dark and boring brown school libraries! Make your library a place kids love to visit and learn skills to prepare them for the future at the same time! The media center is an important place for learning, discovery, and collaboration, especially...

MiEN Company Appoints Krzysztof Skrzypek as VP of Finance MiEN strengthens executive leadership team with new VP of Finance hire GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – July 5, 2022 – MiEN Company has announced that Krzysztof (Chris) Skrzypek is joining the company as its VP of Finance. In his new role, Skrzypek will coordinate with MiEN’s business...

How Cooperative Purchasing Can Simplify the Buying Process and Increase Your Purchasing Power{{ vc_btn: title=Learn+More+About+MiEN+Contracts&align=center&link=url%3Ahttps%253A%252F%252Fmiencompany.com%252Fcontact-us%252F%7Ctarget%3A_blank }} When you’re searching for the best furniture for your facilities, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with comprehensively reviewing and vetting all the different furniture partners you want to consider. However, it’s important that suppliers are going to be able...

Designing Elementary Learning Spaces to Encourage Movement in the Classroom Incorporating movement into elementary learning spaces offers benefits to students’ physical health, social and emotional wellbeing, and academic success. Physical activity is a powerful tool for improving learning and focus, increasing engagement, and reducing classroom management challenges. Research suggests that increased physical activity in schools...

New MiEN K-12 Esports White Paper Available: Creating an Esports Space That Supports Academic Success and SEL Author: Dr. Christina Counts K-12 esports, or competitive online video gaming is a rapidly growing and trending industry projected to surpass $1.8 billion in 2022. The growing popularity of esports as a school extracurricular is supported by the...

6 Key Ideas for Designing an Esports Space Academic esports, or a competitive school video-gaming team, is the next big extracurricular opportunity for today’s students. Esports offers the same social and emotional learning benefits as traditional athletics and can also provide a pathway to teach topics like literacy, STEM, and career and technical education. Currently,...

MiEN Company Releases White Paper on Creating a Scholastic Esports Program New paper covers curriculums, career pathways, funding, planning and effective space design for competitive gaming  GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – June 9, 2022 – An increasing number of schools are finding that scholastic esports – competitive online video gaming between schools – provide the same...

Power Up and Press Play with Esports Spaces Author: Dr. Christina Counts The rise of esports is paving the way for schools to embrace structured esports programs spaces as an extracurricular sport alongside traditional competitive sports programs. School leaders understand that esports offers the same valuable lessons and skills that traditional sports do, making these...

4 Key Factors to Creating a Modern Library Space As technology in the classroom has transformed over the past few years––particularly in response to the pandemic––more and more schools have attained a 1:1 personal device system. When every student has a device, there is a lesser need for bulky desktop computers and computer labs throughout...

Giving Educators a Contemporary Teacher Space to Decompress When Voorhees Township Public Schools approached MiEN to help design six teacher space lounges, the district’s primary goal was to create contemporary teacher spaces where educators could have lunch, socialize and decompress. In addition, some of the spaces were intended to support teacher collaboration, common planning, and...

Transforming an Aging High School Library into a Modern, Collaboration Lab As a public high school that offers a rigorous college prep curriculum, University High School (UHS) serves students in grades 9-12 who are committed to success in high school and beyond. Through a partnership with Wayne State University, all of UHS’ seniors attend class...

3 Key Factors in Designing Sustainable Buildings When creating new schools and workplaces of the future, designing sustainable buildings should be a top consideration for architects, designers, and building planners. Sustainable design emphasizes the needs of infrastructure, efficient energy consumption, durability, and air quality to ensure environmental sustainability and the health of those who use...

Creating Collaborative Spaces for Students Post-Remote Learning When Lamphere High School welcomed its 730 students back on campus for the 2021-22 school year, it wanted every student to have a Chromebook. This would not only eliminate the need for computer labs, but it would also free up physical space in the school’s media center (which...

How to Build and Fund Gaming and eSports Facilities at K-12 Schools, Community Colleges and Universities Author: Martin Fritzen The idea to build gaming and esports programs and facilities at educational institutions can come from different sources. Any stakeholder can ask for it: students, school leaders, local community, or influencers. The research phase No matter...

4 Reasons to Create an Esports Space in the Media Center Academic esports continues to grow in K-12 schools as an extracurricular activity that attracts students of all backgrounds. The benefits of esports in schools are clear: evidence shows that academic esports benefits students’ overall academic performance and social emotional learning––plus, students who are successful...

Is Polypropylene Safe and Sustainable? Uncovering the Facts About Polypropylene Polypropylene (PP) is a thermoplastic polymer (a type of plastic) that has a wide variety of applications. As one of the most common thermoplastics in the world, uses range from food packaging to medical devices to fabric fibers. Of the variety of commercial plastics available...

What is Sustainability? Defining Common Sustainability Terms At MiEN Company, we are driven by environmental sustainability, which is reflected in both the materials and designs we use for our products. By utilizing innovative design and sourcing high-quality raw and recycled materials, we create products that balance durability with comfort and style to ensure a long...

4 Benefits of Flexible Seating: From Floor Learning to Standing Desks Author: Dr. Christina Counts Traditional classroom seating was created with traditional learning in mind, but with many schools transitioning to modern, flexible, and active learning practices, classroom design must also transition to support new ways of learning. And while traditional seating approaches still have...

What It Means to Be a Sustainable Furniture Company: Designing With Sustainability in Mind Schools and workspaces of the future are designed with environmental sustainability in mind for everything from architectural design and creative reuse to the furniture pieces we use in the spaces we create. Design decision-makers in these spaces need to not only...

Q & A with our Founder and CEO Remco Bergsma Ever wondered what Remco is thinking about the business landscape right now or his plans for the future? Or why he started the company in the first place? How his European heritage gives MiEN an edge in the US market? How he sees the future...

6 Workplace Design Tips for Collaboration and Productivity Author: Madison Johnson When moving to a new office or remaking your existing space, it’s critical to approach the design process with function in mind. An innovative and engaging workplace design can make the difference when it comes to your company’s productivity and collaboration among your employees....

5 Tips for Building an Esports Program in Your District A unique opportunity to capitalize on after-school activities and get students involved with extracurricular activities, esports’ competitive, organized video gaming has been gaining in popularity in the K-12 sector. Not only is an esports program a great way to engage students through an activity they...

6 Ways to be Environmentally Friendly in the Classroom Whether you’re a teacher or administrator, improving the sustainability of your school can be beneficial. A focus on sustainability can help you create a healthier learning space, as well as engage students in important environmental principles. Educating students to be more eco-friendly gives them a better...

A Year in Review: 2021 at MiEN Company Author: Dr. Christina Counts Every year with the arrival of December, it’s hard to believe the year is actually coming to a close. And this year is no exception. As schools have reopened for in-person learning again in 2021, learning spaces have seen great transformations––from improved technology...

5 Tips to Design an Active Learning Space When building a new school, it’s important to design a building that not only fits the academic needs of modern learners, teachers, and administrators, but that also is equipped with features to support the school’s mission. Many schools are now focused on incorporating active learning principles into...

4 Steps to Designing Modern Learning Environments Many schools face steep challenges on the road to creating collaborative, modern learning environments that students, teachers, and staff can enjoy and thrive in.  One of the biggest barriers to developing these learning spaces is the state of aging school buildings, which often haven’t been updated and reworked...

New table adapts to multiple learning needs in classrooms, media centers, makerspaces and STEAM labs GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Nov. 9, 2021 – Schools’ limited space means that they need furniture that can adapt to multiple situations. For this reason, MiEN Company has created the KIO Tinker table, a 360-degree mobile bookcase that doubles as...

Introducing the 2021 MiEN Showroom Author: Kevin Ecarius When designing new school and/or office spaces, it’s important to choose furniture solutions that will best serve the people who will use the space. For the designers of these spaces, it can be challenging to imagine exactly how a product will function for a specific purpose or...

Benefits of Whiteboards in the Classroom Teachers face the challenge of keeping students engaged every day, but one solution to this problem is one of the simplest learning tools in the classroom: the traditional whiteboard.  Writable surfaces can be easily integrated into the learning space by adding mobile whiteboards, mini handheld whiteboards, whiteboard tabletop surfaces,...

Transforming a Nearly Century-Old School Building into a Modern Learning SpaceMiEN and Staff at Robert D. Johnson Elementary School transformed a learning space out of a nearly 100-year-old building. Open since 1923, Robert D. Johnson Elementary School of Fort Thomas, Ken., will soon hit its 100-year-old milestone, but not before transforming its aging buildings into...

Learning Anyplace, Anytime in Student Centered Spaces! Learning spaces are moving beyond the four walls of the traditional classroom to take advantage of every opportunity for student-centered learning spaces in K-12 and higher education.  As curriculum and instructional delivery models adapt, so does the design of the spaces needed to support learning. Here are 3...

Integrating Tray Storage Systems into Your Classroom Ecosystem Research has found that if a teacher creates a positive learning environment, they also develop an efficient classroom setting alongside an emotional setting that boosts student performance (Bailey, Beasley, & Swafford, 2014). Designing positive learning spaces takes a combination of several furniture and design elements that affect...

Cumberland Trace Elementary School Creates Active Teaching & Learning SpacesWorking with MiEN, the school outfits its newly-constructed building with seating, tables and fixtures that support active teaching and learning spaces for groups of all sizes. When Cumberland Trace Elementary School in Bowling Green, Ken., set out to construct a new school building this year, it...

Inclusive Design to Support Equity and Diversity Diversity in universities is rapidly expanding, and the current generation is known as the most diverse generation in history in terms of race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, and more. So many of the needs of students have changed over the past couple of decades, with many students being...

3 Reasons Why University Libraries Still Matter Author: Dr. Christina Counts Universities have had to innovate to meet student expectations and school needs, and university libraries and learning spaces play a central role. Librarians have been at the forefront of a shift in the usage of university libraries, reimagining libraries to accommodate new technologies, expanded...

4 Reasons Why School Libraries Still Matter Author: Dr. Christina Counts From K-12 to higher ed, a shift in school needs and technology has led school libraries to reimagine how they support students and educators in their learning communities. Schools are implementing new learning standards, and many have integrated technology-enabled instruction into their daily curriculum....

5 Benefits of Esports in Schools As the esports industry has grown, academic esports teams have also become more common as an extracurricular activity. Students of all backgrounds are attracted to esports for a variety of reasons, but many are drawn in by the chance to compete while playing some of their favorite video games....

5 Functions of Active Learning Classrooms Active learning classrooms are more than just learning spaces outfitted with technology. These engaging and dynamic learning environments support new pedagogy, active learning, and students’ development of essential skills. Implementing active learning spaces puts a greater focus on creativity, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration in schools and supports modern...

Modern Food Court Design Ideas: For Schools, Universities, and Offices Author: Dr. Christina Counts Modern food courts and cafeterias in K-12 schools, universities, and office spaces have transformed into places for more than just eating. While these spaces offer quick and convenient meal options for busy students and employees, they also provide practical spaces for...

5 Steps to Establish a Collaborative Learning Environment When Designing New Learning Facilities Not all schools have designated spaces for collaborative learning, so sometimes student collaboration must take place in the hallway, cafeteria, or other makeshift spaces. While finding multiple ways to use a learning space can be great for space efficiency, designing intentional collaborative...

How Modern Learning Environments Prepare Students for the Future Although workplace design has changed vastly over the years, the traditional classroom has remained the standard for many schools. Many of the jobs we’re preparing students for didn’t even exist 20 years ago, which means the learning spaces built prior to the early-2000s are failing to...

MiEN Company Releases New Guide on Creating Active Learning Spaces GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – June 21, 2021 – During the pandemic, schools rapidly adopted technology and flexible learning models so they could better support students. Now, many district administrators are deciding to keep those flexible models when the pandemic ends. To help educators make the...

Level Up Your Learning Space with These 5 MiEN Products Author: Dr. Christina Counts Creating future-ready learning spaces that invite students to explore, spark creativity, and engage in learning doesn’t accidentally happen. Warm inviting environments are carefully curated with functional durable products. Level up your learning space with the DIVIDE, EDGE table, 2G2BT Open Face,...

5 Reasons to Implement Active Learning Environments Author: Dr. Christina Counts There is a clear shift from traditional pedagogy to a focus on creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and social-emotional learning. As the demands of college and careers have also changed, these skills have become critical for students to be successful in their future endeavors. Active...

4 Benefits of Active Learning Environments Traditional classroom design is in transition, with the integration of technology, personalized learning, collaboration, and the implementation of a learner-centered approach being at the core of the conversation. This shift in design mirrors the needs of the modern workplace, helping to prepare students for next-generation careers and empowering them...

How to Furnish Classroom Learning Zones Author: Dr. Christina Counts We recently posted a blog about creating classroom learning zones to promote engagement and meet the diverse needs of students. Creating organized zones for students to engage with different learning environments and types of content can support a wide variety of teaching and learning approaches,...

5 Ideas for Federal Stimulus Relief Funds to Transform Learning Spaces Author: Dr. Christina Counts The Corona Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act includes a set of plans and funds that aim to help schools rebuild with an emphasis on equity, classroom safety, social and emotional well-being, and academic success. The CARES act provides...

JetCo Federal’s New Collaborative Workspace is Inspiring and MotivatingGovernment contractor works with MiEN to design a new collaborative workspace, inviting space for its growing workforce. Founded in 2007, JetCo Federal is a supply chain management and logistics firm that works with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). Focused on developing efficient warehouses, the Grand Rapids,...

3 Key Elements of Future Ready Science Labs Gone are the old, stuffy, and institutional-looking labs of the past, and now in their place are bright and airy future ready spaces that support collaboration and student-centered learning. Students benefit from working in spaces that are designed for their comfort and to support their learning, and––in...

5 Classroom Learning Zones to Promote Engagement When designing a classroom, creating differentiated classroom learning zones is a useful way to personalize the learning environment to meet the diverse needs of students. This strategy can be used with all age levels to organize learning spaces into established zones where students can engage with different learning...

Chicago Middle School Transforms Older Building into a Collaborative Learning SpaceWorking with MiEN, this top-ranking middle school in Illinois turns an older building into a collaborative learning space. Taking older structures and turning them into modern, collaborative learning spaces is no easy task, but some schools are facing the project head-on and achieving their goals...

A Modern Classroom for the Workforce of the FutureMySchool@Kent overhauls its learning space to meet the needs of its learners and help them prepare for success in the workforce of the future. A vital program for the Kent ISD in Grand Rapids, Mich., MySchool@Kent provides an engaging, world-class blended modern classroom that supports all students....

Florida Charter School Develops a New, Highly-Collaborative School BuildingHillsborough County Public Schools A part of the Hillsborough County Public Schools in Tampa, Fla., Literacy Leadership Technology (LLT) Academy was founded in 2005 with the goal of creating a place for middle school students to focus on technology with a highly collaborative school building. It would...

5 Office Design Trends for a Post-Pandemic World Author: Dr. Christina Counts COVID-19 has changed everything about our lives, from the way we shop, to the way we interact with people, to the way we work. In particular, COVID-19 has ushered in the remote working trend, with some analysts predicting that 25 to 30 percent...

4 Office Furniture Trends in 2021 Author: Dr. Christina Counts Each year, new office furniture trends arise, and while the past year has been far from ordinary, 2021 will debut unique furniture trends. This year, office design and furniture trends will be centered around health and safety, as well as easing employees back into working...

Community Donor Transformed Classroom for 21st Century Learning Greenville, MI— 2/16/2021 —   Some Students at St. Charles Catholic Schools are learning in a new “state of the art” classroom, thanks to a gift of new furniture.   It was donated by MiEN Environments, an educational furniture manufacturer based in Grand Rapids, and The Currie...

Q&A with Jonathan and Ryanne: Top 5 Favorite MiEN Products Welcome to the MiEN Environments Top 5 Series, where our regional directors, account managers, and designers share their favorite MiEN products. Here we will breakdown the value our employees and our customers find in the solutions designed with specific products and why those products meet...

Designing Better Learning Environments for Active Learning Author: Dr. Christina Counts When designing learning environments, it’s important to consider how spaces can support active learning. Active learning is an approach to learning in which students are engaged as active participants in the learning process through investigation, discussion, problem-solving, and collaboration. The active learning model allows...

The Effect of Learning Environments on Behavior and Wellbeing Author: Dr. Christina Counts Numerous studies show that physical spaces have a direct effect on mood and behavior (Uncapher, 2016).  Factors such as comfort, security, serenity, and levels of distraction all have an impact on how spaces make us feel and how we act in these...

The Effect of Color on Learning: How 4 Different Colors Affect Student Moods and Behaviors Author: Dr. Christina Counts Choosing the color palette for a space is important––being exposed to certain colors influences different behaviors, mood, and perceptions ("Color Psychology: How Do Colors Affect Mood & Emotions?", 2020). That being the case, choosing the color...

Repurposing Learning Spaces on College Campuses Author: Dr. Christina Counts Repurposing Learning Spaces on College Campuses Over the past few decades, American colleges and universities have grown their campuses and facilities exponentially, many constructing brand new, expensive buildings to attract more new students. While many of these state-of-the-art facilities add significant value to student experience...

Brand New Learning Space Design at Belmont Elementary SchoolWith MiEN as its space design partner, Hillsborough County Public Schools creates a modern media center for its brand-new elementary school. On track to outpace the nation’s population growth between now and 2024, Florida’s Hillsborough County is growing by 8.7% annually (compared to 3.9% for the U.S....

Q&A with Christian and Claire: Top 5 Favorite MiEN Products Welcome to the MiEN Environments Top 5 Series, where our regional directors, account managers, and designers share their favorite MiEN products. Here we will breakdown the value our employees and our customers find in the solutions designed with specific products and why those products meet...

MiEN Helps Jasper County Schools Design & Outfit its New CATE FacilityFrom comfortable furniture to vibrant color schemes to charging stations, Jasper County Schools’ new CATE facility is an inviting space that’s durable enough to stand the test of time. A believer in the value of hands-on educational experiences, Jasper County Schools has had a...

A Year in Review: 2020 at MiEN Company Author: Dr. Christina Counts Every year as we come upon the end of December, we like to look back to reflect upon all that we have been able to accomplish throughout the year. 2020 has been a year like no other, with COVID-19, social movements, and a...

The Living Room Concept at Deer Path Middle School Lake Forest School District works with MiEN to rewrite the playbook on how to build out a modern, collaborative middle school science lab. It’s been nearly three years since a group of administrators and directors at Deer Path Middle School first sat down and planned out...

MiEN Company Releases White Paper on How Flexible Furniture Creates Active Learning Environments GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Dec. 15, 2020 – Districts and schools are increasingly adopting active learning practices in order to address businesses’ demand for employees capable of creative and collaborative work. But one commonly overlooked factor in this transition is classroom design....

Designing Community Planning Spaces for Educators Author: Dr. Christina Counts Collaboration in schools is essential to create rich and productive learning experiences that are inclusive. Collaborating allows both students and teachers alike to learn from one another and build on each other’s ideas to gain deeper understanding of complex subjects and develop creative concepts. When...

Q&A with Kim and Marissa: Top 5 Favorite MiEN Products Welcome to the MiEN Environments Top 5 Series, where our regional directors, account managers, and designers share their favorite MiEN products. Here we will breakdown the value our employees and our customers find in the solutions designed with specific products and why those products meet...

Dare County School Builds Amazing New Media Center After Hurricane DorianWhen Cape Hatteras Secondary School’s library was destroyed by a hurricane, the school turned to MiEN to help it come back even stronger and better. In September 2019, Hurricane Dorian ripped through Dare County, N.C. with a vengeance, leaving behind a trail of destruction that...

Creating Flexible Environments in a Learner-Centered Classroom Author: Kevin Ecarius Along with the implementation of technology and new learning approaches, there has also been a shift away from traditional classroom design and toward more flexible learning environments. These flexible environments deviate from the status quo by focusing more on active learning, collaboration, and self-led learning....

Creating Student Centers Focused on Optimizing Student Success Beyond High School The Education Foundation of Sarasota County works with MiEN to develop innovative student success centers for high school students attending Sarasota County Schools. Focused on supporting Sarasota County Schools’ students, teachers, and schools, the Education Foundation of Sarasota County is a non-profit that works...

What Does a Modern Computer Lab Look Like? Author: Dr. Christina Counts The prevalence of personal devices in the classroom has resulted in the computer labs of the past losing much of their value as spaces for digital and online learning. Laptops and tablets have made it possible for students to take digital learning anywhere––both...

A Seat for Everyone and More: New Products for Flexible Spaces MiEN offers a wide variety of seating options that can accommodate use in many spaces––from K-12 and higher education classrooms and common areas to corporate and in-home offices. This week, MiEN introduces five new seating options which can be paired with MiEN’s vast range...

Districtwide Modernization Project Transforms Media Centers into Activity HubsHere’s how one 10-school district in Michigan worked with MiEN to transform its aging media centers into activity hubs that all students are excited to be a part of. Like many school districts, Midland Public Schools in Michigan had to come to terms with the fact that...

Classroom Design with SEL in Mind Social-emotional learning (SEL) is a critical skill set that all K-12 students should learn and master. SEL competencies include self-awareness, self-management, decision-making, social awareness, and relationship skills and give students the ability to manage emotions, set and achieve goals, create positive relationships, and more. These skills help students build...

Designing Learning Spaces for Today’s Students with Their Futures in Mind Author: Dr. Christina Counts The jobs of the future are much different from what students experience in the classroom on a daily basis. Technology will change and become more complex, working in the office will be a completely different experience after COVID-19, and students...

Cleaning & Disinfecting to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 in Learning Spaces As students, faculty, and staff return to school this fall and beyond, there is a new emphasis on the importance of cleaning and disinfecting surfaces throughout schools in order to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. While students and educators will be...

Flexible, Modular Classroom Spaces Designed for Teachers and ScholarsCareer-based high school in Kentucky pulls out all of the stops when creating modular classroom spaces for its new, 180,000sf facility Focused on providing education and experience in career fields, Boone County Schools’ Ignite Institute is creating a reality where industry and education work together to ensure...

Five Advantages to a 1:1 Learning Environment Technology is an increasingly important part of a successful learning environment, particularly with the recent expansion of blended learning to K-12 curriculum all over the U.S. While schools have brought technology into the classroom with computer labs and laptop and tablet carts for many years now, it’s becoming...

5 Ways to Redesign a Media Center During COVID-19 Author: Dr. Christina Counts If the global pandemic sidelined your plans for creating a very inviting, collaborative, nurturing media center space, get your vision back on track with these five success tips. As central hubs of school activity, media centers are the places that students, teachers,...

Dr. Christina Counts Earns Distinction as an Accredited Learning Environments Planner Our very own VP of Education for MiEN Environments, Dr. Christina Counts, has recently received the Accredited Learning Environments Planner (ALEP) designation, a mark of excellence developed to reflect the knowledge, skills, and abilities of a competent educational facility planner. Before joining MiEN in...

Active Learning Through Tech-Friendly Spaces Learning can and should happen everywhere in a school––from classrooms to common spaces to the cafeteria––and flexible learning spaces support this objective. But once you’ve created responsive learning spaces through layout and furniture design, what can you do to further support learning throughout your school? One way to support learning...

Slate Run Elementary Implements Unique, Flexible Furniture in its Brand-New School Building Working with MiEN, this Indiana school took two years to build a brand-new facility that supports collaborative learning, small-group instruction, and project-based learning with flexible furniture. Outfitting an existing school building with modern flexible furniture is one thing, but taking a ground-up approach...

Designing Responsive Learning Spaces Throughout a School Author: Dr. Christina Counts To best support learning, classrooms need to be responsive and flexible to fit schools’ changing needs and uses. Responsive learning spaces adapt to the needs of a variety of subjects, grade levels, and students. These flexible learning environments encourage creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration,...

Shifting Learning Space Design to Combat COVID-19: 7 Design Tips Author: Dr. Christina Counts Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, learning space design has had to adapt and grow to create healthy and functional learning spaces. One of the key components to safe, healthy learning space design is creating flexible learning spaces that can serve multiple...

New Albany High School Uses Creative Multipurpose Room Design to Maximize its Space This Indiana high school worked with MiEN to create an extremely versatile multipurpose space that teachers and students love When New Albany High School got the opportunity to transform its existing media center into a multipurpose space, it immediately surveyed all of...

Leveraging the Maker Movement to Build Tech-Savvy Students Ready for the Future Workforce Author: Dr. Christina Counts The maker movement is a game changer reinventing the rules for innovation in the world of crafters, hackers, & tinkers! The current generation of students is glued to their phones, iPads, computers, gaming consoles and realistically, we adults...

West Rowan Elementary Creates Modern, Engaging Learning Spaces When Woodleaf Elementary and Cleveland Elementary consolidated to form West Rowan Elementary School in 2019, both predecessor schools were already proponents of engaging learning space seating as part of the instructional process. Students had various seating options to choose from. “It wasn’t all just desks and chairs,”...

Georgetown High School Transforms its Media Center Space to be Student-Centric A two-year plan to upgrade an aging media center space culminates into an environment where flexible furniture supports a wide range of academia and social activities on campus. With about 950 students in grades 9-12, Georgetown High School in South Carolina was in the...

Designing for Healthy and Functional Learning Spaces Author: Dr. Christina Counts As the 2019-2020 school year wraps up remotely for schools all over the country, district leaders and educators are turning their attention to the fall 2020 semester and what it will look like when students return to the classroom. Schools and districts are focused...

Technology for Good is Inspiring Kids Across Maker Education By Michael Hurley This past December in a packed auditorium at Peck Elementary School on Chicago’s southwest side, a caped crusader stood before several hundred 3rd and 4th grade students and asked, “What is your superpower?” She said that hers was the ability to create a...

Creating a Makerspace At Home During a Pandemic With the school year wrapping up remotely and many summer camps, daycare centers, and public parks closed due to coronavirus, parents are wondering how to keep their children entertained without resorting to hours and hours of screen time. Encouraging unstructured learning time through creativity and play may...

What is a Makerspace and Why Do They Still Matter? Many educators are looking for ways to bring more hands-on experiences to their students to improve STEM skills, critical thinking, and creativity. Often, this goal can be achieved by designing a space in schools where students can explore their creativity through engaging activities. For most...

The Role of Surface Materials in Cleaning and Disinfecting Schools During COVID-19 Author: Dr. Christina Counts With only three and half months until many U.S. schools are scheduled to begin a new school year, American students, teachers, and staff are wondering what the new normal will be in classrooms to keep COVID-19 from a resurgence...

Meet the New MiEN Educational Expert in Learning Space Design, Dr. Counts! Dr. Christina Counts, VP of Education for MiEN is a proven leader with a successful background in transforming learning spaces to modern engaging learning environments.  In her current position, Christina leads a team of professionals that support schools making the transition to a flexible,...