Westmark School in Encino, CA designed by NBBJ. Photo by Ty Cole

"About one in five students are diagnosed with a learning difference, meaning they experience academic challenges around organization, memory, or attention. Yet rarely are education spaces designed to take such conditions into account. In fact, most schools, with their loud hallways, hard surfaces, and limited green space, exacerbate such conditions. Think about it: when have you walked into a school and felt focused or relaxed?

"The lower school campus of the Westmark School, a private academy in Encino, CA dedicated to supporting students with learning differences, is a model for charting a new direction. Not just for educational architecture, but for any type of building. Embracing research in neuroscience, education, and architecture, the facility addresses learning challenges from top to bottom, from incorporating nature and natural materials to encouraging multi-sensory learning to limiting stressors like excess noise and clutter." - Sam Lubell

ARTICLE: NBBJ’s Westmark School is Designed for Learning Differences