Calendar and Process for Chiaravalle Montessori School

1. Chiaravalle Montessori School
DESIGN PROCESS
Preparing the environment.
Growing your future.

2. OVERVIEW
GROWING YOUR FUTURE
DISCOVERY, VISIONING, & DESIGN PROCESS
An integrated team: The Third Teacher+ and Cannon Design
The Third Teacher+ is a a multi-disciplinary consultancy within Cannon Design exploring the future
of learning through the lens of human-centered design. We use a robust process to co-create a
holistic vision, design drivers, and language to guide the design of learning ecologies– including
spaces, mindsets, and curricular strategies. From this strong foundation, The Third Teacher+
collaborates with the educational studio at Cannon Design to create dynamic architectural and
planning solutions.
Our beginnings: Inquiry and a book
The Third Teacher+ consultancy began with a collaborative exploration of how
design shapes teaching and learning. The Third Teacher book, powered by a
collaboration between Cannon Design, Bruce Mau Design, and VS furniture,
was called The Third Teacher. It was a product of over two years of intense
research, hands on workshops, and interviews with thought leaders from Raffi
to Sir Ken Robinson. Its name is rooted in the Reggio Emelia concept of the
environment as a child’s “third teacher.”
Our journey ahead: A holistic and human-centered path
We look forward to exploring the ways in which we can express and empower the Montessori
philosophy and Chiaravalle culture throughout your new spaces. A dynamic and inclusive design
process is at the core of creating an environment that is prepared, nuturing, and aligned with your
learning, cultural, and strategic goals. Join us as we begin this exciting journey with Chiaravalle
Montessori School.
Learn more and follow our team here:
The Third Teacher+ www.thethirdteacherplus.com / t: @thethirdteacher / f: The Third Teacher
Cannon Design www.cannondesign.com
“Education is a natural process carried
out by the human individual, and is
acquired not by listening to words, but
by experiences in the environment.”
MARIA MONTESSORI
OCTOBER 2012
www.cannondesign.com | www.thethirdteacherplus.com

3. PROCESS
GROWING YOUR FUTURE
DISCOVERY, VISIONING, & DESIGN PROCESS
Our architectural design process is built on a strong foundation of community and human
centered design.
DISCOVERY
The Cannon Design and The Third Teacher+ plus team process begins by discovering all we can
about the learning community. We visit the school to observe and talk with a diverse array of
members of a community. Back at the studio, we conduct additional research, launch surveys to
widen the conversation and synthesize all we have found into emerging themes that structure the
remainder of our process.
Our process of discovery is rooted in the tradition of ethnography. What are your hopes, what are
your questions, what is it like to be in your shoes? Ethnography is the qualitative study of a people
and the culture they share. Secondary research will support our understanding of the traditions and
pedagogy of Montessori education. We will observe the current learning environment, study your
spaces, and familiarize our team with your daily routines. Additionally, we will conduct interviews
with a full range of stakeholders to understand their views on the learning and teaching experience
at your school. With this thorough understanding of the human, experiential and educational
aspects of the Chiaravalle Montessori community, we can translate insights into an environment
that will best support these values.
OCTOBER 2012
www.cannondesign.com | www.thethirdteacherplus.com

4. PROCESS
GROWING YOUR FUTURE
DISCOVERY, VISIONING, & DESIGN PROCESS
OBSERVATION & SHADOW DAYS: We are including at least three full observation and shadow
days in which we will focus on the patterns, pedagogy, mindsets, culture, and space usage of each
of Chiaravalle’s age levels.
BOARD DISCOVERY & VISION MEETING To anchor the process in the strategic vision of your
school, we will conduct a working meeting with board members to weave together your research,
initiatives, and strategic insight into our discovery phase.
INTERVIEWS & COFFEE HOURS: We will conduct a range of community, staff, leadership, and
educator interviews on key values, goals, and possible planning areas. Two Coffee Hours with
parents will provide deep dialogue about the whole child and Montessori families as well as serve
to clarify any questions regarding the design process.
SURVEY: To capture and quantify other aspirations and educational priorities, we will create surveys
for your community to complement and enhance our in person and desk research.
Additionally, this phase will also consist of DESK RESEARCH, TECHNICAL REVIEWS, and A DEEP
DIVE INTO EXISTING CHIARAVALLE MATERIALS.
ACTIVATION
Built on the foundation of listening and discovery, we are committed to an active engagement
period that is informed by the needs of each specific community. We want to give you the
Chiaravalle family the chance to roll up their sleeves together to design the experience and spatial
implications of the discovered themes and shared vision. We believe it is important to balance
school-centric discovery and research with community-wide vision and activation. Activities will
include:
STUDENT DESIGN LABS: Imagining the future of Learning for Chiaravalle Montessori
The engagement process allows for the opportunity to raise up the voices of your young learners
and to stretch their view of what is possible for their community. We will create an intimate and
dynamic lab experience for each level to capture their imaginations.
EDUCATOR & STAFF WORKING MEETING: Honing Emerging Themes and Capturing the Learning
Ecology
After the discovery phase and student workshops, we will have uncovered emerging themes,
vision, and design drivers. The educator workshop will allow us to explore and refine those key
pillars of design as well as provide an opportunity to dig deeper into the educational program areas.
COMMUNITY DESIGN WORKSHOP: Developing a Learning and Community Ecology
The creation of a campus is an expression of a complex and elegant learning ecology. Will create
a design and programming challenge that allows Chiaravalle Montessori’s teachers, students,
leaders, families, and other key stakeholders and community cheerleaders to envision what this
OCTOBER 2012
www.cannondesign.com | www.thethirdteacherplus.com

5. PROCESS
GROWING YOUR FUTURE
DISCOVERY, VISIONING, & DESIGN PROCESS
means. This day will be rooted in a presentation of emerging themes from our focused discovery
process.
STRATEGIZE & LAUNCH
The final deliverables of the Discovery and Activation phases amount to visual and dynamic
documents that articulate the vision, design drivers, and possible scenarios. Coupled with our
thorough assessment of site, programmatic needs, partnerships, and other drivers, we will produce
a design that captures the vision and action items for the Chiaravalle community to take bold steps
into the future. This strong foundation informs our launch into a dynamic, full-service AE process
that will contain key moments of checking in with the community.
OCTOBER 2012
www.cannondesign.com | www.thethirdteacherplus.com

6. SCHEDULE
GROWING YOUR FUTURE
DISCOVERY, VISIONING, & DESIGN PROCESS
Stage Date Time Activity Notes
Pre Monday, Staff and faculty overview
August 27 2012
,
Pre Thursday, Start of project announced
September 13, 2012
Discovery Thursday, 9:00- Discovery planning & Guided tour
September 27 2012
, 12:00pm
Discovery Tu-Wed, 8:00 - Shadow & Observation:
October 2-3, 2012 Afternoon Early Childhood and Elementary
Technical Monday, Technical Survey of Building
October 8, 2012
Discovery Tuesday, 4:00- Board Discovery & Vison Meeting
October 9, 2012 5:30pm
Pre Tuesday, 6:00- Town Hall Meeting Presentation
October 9, 2012 8:00pm
Discovery Friday, 8:00-9:00 Parent Coffee Hour: *board
October 12, 2012 early childhood All levels representatives
9:00-10:00
elem//middle
Discovery Friday, 11:00 - Shadow & Observation:
October 12, 2012 Afernoon Middle School
Discovery Mid-October Launch Survey
Conduct supplemental interviews
Activation Thursday, 9:00-10:30 Student Workshops *board
October 25, 2012 Lower Elementary Lower Elementary representatives
11:00-11:30 Early Childhood
Early Childhood Upper Elementary / Middle
1:00-3:00
Upper/Middle
Technical Friday, October 26, if needed Technical Survey of Building
2012
Activation Thursday, November 7:00- Educator and Staff Workshop
15, 2012 9:00am
Activation Thursday, November 4:00- Community Workshop *board
29, 2012 7:00pm representatives
Strategy December 2012/ Scenarios Presentation and
January 2013 Feedback
Strategy January 2013, TBD Community Report
Launch Winter 2013 Launch architectural design process
OCTOBER 2012
www.cannondesign.com | www.thethirdteacherplus.com