Our School Configurator
Designing a school involves many voices. Learning, wellbeing, cost and carbon all matter. Our School Configurator brings these priorities together, giving teams a clear way to explore options and make decisions with confidence.
Development of the Configurator
Created by Associate Visualiser, Andy Forbes, in close partnership with our education team, this visual tool makes design conversations straightforward and more productive. It allows every part of a school building to be reviewed interactively, from the shape and layout of classrooms to the materials on the walls. Whether users have a background in architecture or not, they can see how their decisions affect the design of a school in real-time. Avoiding the limitations of static plans or disjointed visuals, this School Configurator offers a live, adaptable model that adapts at pace and responds to the questions being asked in the room.
“We developed the Configurator to empower all education stakeholders with a clear understanding of the possibilities. By making the design process interactive and tangible, the Configurator allows users to experience and shape educational spaces before a single brick is laid. It gives people the confidence to ask questions, test ideas, and see the impact of every decision without having to interpret a drawing or sit through a long explanation.”
Andy Forbes
Associate Visualiser, SPACE
Benefits of the Configurator
Built-in tools, such as its carbon meter, help teams better understand the impact of their choices. Everything can be tested, iterated, and compared quickly without holding up timelines or creating extra cost. That freedom allows space for new ideas and better conversations, while still staying grounded in practical constraints such as compliance, procurement, and performance. Rather than handing down decisions, it opens up the process. It invites people to explore and contribute in ways that feel natural and immediate.
The Configurator at a Glance
Impact and Future Development
Since its introduction, the Configurator has helped streamline engagement, reduce approval times, and increase confidence across a wide range of education projects. While it was initially built for schools, the core principles of the tool are applicable across various sectors. That’s why SPACE Architects are already exploring future versions tailored to other environments, including healthcare.
A new cloud-based version of the Configurator is also in development. This will expand access beyond the architectural team, enabling clients and wider stakeholders to interact with the tool directly from any location.
At SPACE Architects, we continue to invest in purposeful tools that elevate the design process. Tools that help ideas travel further and make the environments we create work better for everyone. If you would like to learn more or collaborate with us, get in touch.
Research
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