School Buildings of the Future: Lessons from the Pandemic discusses the impact that innovative and new learning models adopted during the pandemic may have on the way the charter school sector thinks about the future of school facilities. Aside, from exploring the impact of the new innovative approaches during the pandemic and discussing the state of the current model of instruction in the charter school sector this article also shares the four themes that stood out the most when school experts were asked about their thoughts on the future of school facilities. The four themes that stood out were: 1) flexibility, 2) community connectivity, 3) efficiency, and 4) technology.

Four Themes

Flexibility 
The number one theme that was highlighted by interviewees was the importance of school facilities being able to adapt easily to meet the needs of new learning models like blended learning where students may want to work independently or meet in small groups, or in other cases, gather in much larger groups.
In addition, most school leaders and CMOs added that flexibility also applies to furniture used in the classroom. Interviewees recommended flexible lightweight furniture that can be moved around and reconfigured easily as needed. One architect also stated that the days of heavy wooden stationary desk are over. 

Community Connectivity
The second theme that emerged was that schools in the future will connect with their students by relying more on outdoors spaces. School leaders and CMOs added that they saw schools in the future designed to foster community connections, both within the school community itself (gathering spaces for community meetings and casual college-like spaces for informal social bonding, particularly at the high school level) and with the broader community outside the school walls.

Efficiency
It is well documented in the charter sector that charter schools are already underfunded for facilities when compared to district schools and that expenses brought by the pandemic such as improvements in ventilation for many charter schools will require cost efficiency strategies in the future.
Interviewees pointed out that in the future we will start to see more charter schools without a dedicated classroom for teachers in middle and high schools. Also, teachers will be asked to rotate classrooms fostering more innovative planning by teachers.

Technology

• Wi-Fi Connectivity: All of the school buildings on campus should have strong Wi-Fi. Also make sure all students have access to strong and reliable Wi-Fi outside of the classroom.
• Charging Stations: Affordable Chromebooks are often used in most charter schools but their short battery life will require schools to install multiple charging stations in classrooms or extra devices were laptops can charge in carts while others are in use.
• Decline of Dedicated Computer Labs: Most interviewees share the belief that with the evolution of smaller personal computer devices the traditional computer labs will no longer exist. 
• Broadcast Booths: Schools have expressed their interest in creating broadcast booths as part of their facilities plans to create a place for teachers to film a lecture or mini-lesson.
• Teaching In-Person and Remote Audiences Simultaneously: To improve the in-person and remote learning experience of students, teachers will need better technology support and control over ambient light and sound when moving around while being filmed and recorded.

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