Benefits of Installing Street Furniture in Educational Facilities
Schools and other educational buildings are a big focus within UK construction projects right now. The UK Government’s School Rebuilding Programme involves refurbishing and rebuilding schools and sixth form colleges across England.
Interestingly, street furniture is increasingly featured in such education projects as the need to develop their outdoor spaces strengthens.
Current trends with architects and main contractors include constantly innovating design concepts (through BIM and offsite construction) and Passivhaus into education projects.
But it is also important to consider doing the ‘basics’ right first, such as identifying and specifying the correct furniture for education buildings, for both inside and outside. Sub-contractors here are leading the way to design and install the right furniture which is fit for the purpose intended, is within budget, and completed within the project timeframes.
And for the focus of this article, sub-contractors are constantly working with Local Education Authorities and Head Teachers to influence and inspire outdoor spaces within schools, colleges and universities.
Here are three main benefits of installing street furniture within schools:
1) Improves social skills for children
Developing social skills is a crucial aspect of school life. Obviously academic studies are important and it is vital that children are able to learn indoors with suitable furniture. But a large proportion of a child’s socialising will be outside, during break times.
This is where street furniture benefits school children’s social skills. Benches and other seating are really important as they encourage social gatherings and offer places to relax and develop friendships.
Seating and benches are available in a wide range of styles and materials, from simple traditional wooden benches to a more modern timber and steel minimalist bench. Depending on your chosen style and material, lead times for benches and seating often range from 5 days to 5 weeks.
2) Encourages outdoor learning
By installing a range of street furniture in outdoor spaces within a school or college, it opens up the space and makes it suitable so that teachers can move their classes outside on nice days.
And with a change of scenery, fresh air, natural light, most teachers will see a boost in productivity among their classes.
3) Adds value to schools
Installing and investing in street furniture for schools gives the properties a more aesthetic appeal. Schools will add value in terms of making it visually more appealing, but also practically by adding seating, rubbish bins, tree protection and access bollards, making the outdoor spaces much more user-friendly.
The more appealing a school then the easier it is to attract pupils to study there and teachers to work there.
Final thoughts
Installing street furniture in schools is an excellent way to upgrade the outdoor space within the facility.
The benefits for schools mean by installing street furniture they are helping their students to develop socially and academically, as well as overall improving the facility.
If you are a subcontractor and successfully recommend and install street furniture in a school or college, it then gives you a great platform to work with other education facilities.
If you are working on an education project that requires street furniture, talk to the team at Street Furniture Direct.
Our straightforward and down-to-earth approach helps sub-contractors find the piece of street furniture quickly and easily, meaning you spend more time on carrying out the building work.
Telephone us on 01625 879 442, email us at enquiries@streetfurnituredirect.co.uk or view our range of street furniture, bollards, cycle parking, shelters or lockers.