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  1. We are WSP
  2. What we do
  3. Property and Buildings
  4. Education

Education

When working with educational institutions our teams strive to create stimulating, collaborative and safe learning environments that foster the critical thinkers of the future. Our projects span the entire education sector, from nurseries, primary and secondary schools to colleges and some of the world’s most prestigious universities.

Responding to Education Sector Challenges

We deliver well-designed buildings and infrastructure shaped by a profound understanding of the educational requirements of each establishment. WSP has close ties to the communities we work in – we work where we live. Motivated by this connection, our teams are able draw on local and global expertise to support schools, universities, local authorities and government bodies in meeting the high standards demanded by today’s students while responding to the challenges of increasing budgetary constraints, the ever-growing reliance on technology, new expectations from students, security needs and the impacts of climate change.

Sustainable Academic Infrastructure

WSP designs sustainable academic buildings that are healthy, safe and fit for purpose. A positive and productive atmosphere contributes to improved student attention by ensuring high levels of comfort, air quality, natural lighting and acoustics.

It is not just about buildings: our transport specialists develop safe and healthy ways for children to travel to school while reducing traffic congestion and pollution. In addition to designing inherently low-energy buildings, we consider the environmental impact of educational facilities on their surrounding areas, addressing issues such as water, materials, ecology and land use.

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De Anza College Media and Learning Center

© David Wakely

21st Century Learning Environments

Whether our involvement is in a new building or a modernization of existing facilities, we work closely with clients to develop flexible learning environments adapted to the increasing thirst for knowledge and the rapidly evolving needs of the 21st century. Above all, we are committed to delivering sustainable solutions which support academic aspirations and help educational institutions attract and retain students and staff, all while contributing to the wider community.

Primary and Secondary Education

Primary and secondary schools must be inspiring and inviting, but also designed to survive the daily wear and tear of thousands of children and adolescents over the course of decades – all within strict budget constraints.

With a long list of successful projects, we recognize that flexibility is crucial to design. Whether classrooms need to be able to change physical sizes and layouts or electrical systems need to allow for increased connectivity and digital support, we have the expertise and knowledge to address virtually any challenge no matter how large or small. We don’t just deliver high performing and adaptable classrooms, but also solutions that take into account the whole system that includes administration offices, cafeterias, playgrounds, gymnasiums, labs and libraries – creating welcoming spaces where children, teachers and mentors can thrive.

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Richard J. Klarchek Information Commons at Loyola University

Colleges and Universities

Our education sector experts have provided engineering and advisory services to hundreds of universities and colleges. From parking garages, parks and landscapes, to specialized research laboratories and library facilities, to student accommodation, lecture and dining halls – we deliver on all aspects of campus life.

Recognized by our peers for excellence, our services for higher education include, among others, structural engineering, MEP engineering, building technology systems, lighting design, high performance design by built ecology, commissioning and building enclosures. Projects like the De Anza College Media and Learning Center in California, the new School of Business at Rutgers University in New Jersey, Institute for Environmental Sustainability in Chicago and the  Jerome L. Greene Science Center and Lenfest Hall at Columbia University's new Manhattanville campus demonstrate our ability to deliver expertise across the country.

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