Architectural carpentry is having a moment. It seems custom wood design is everywhere today, from shopping malls to doctor’s offices to people’s homes. It was only a matter of time before the latest woodworking trends made their way into educational facilities.
And it’s a natural pairing! Schools and woodwork go together like peanut butter and jelly – each enhancing the other with their best qualities to create an exponentially better experience.
How does woodworking benefit the students and staff in schools? And why should the people in charge of building or renovating schools consider wood as their material of choice?
Whether the priorities are sustainability, better air quality, lower stress levels or more resonant acoustics, embracing woodworking trends in schools makes sound educational sense.
The experts at Mock have deep respect for the people and institutions that educated us, and we’re proud to return the favor with the architectural carpentry acumen that grew from that solid foundation.
Let’s look at what, exactly, woodworking is, then we’ll break down the specific benefits custom wood design can bring to modern school design.
What Is Woodworking?
Woodwork can also be called millwork. The terms refer to elements of a space that are crafted from wood, including furniture, door frames, cupboards and decorative embellishments. All craftspeople who work with wood employ creativity and a wealth of skills to shape this natural material into useful, sturdy and beautiful items.
But did you know that there’s a difference between architectural woodworking and carpentry? While there’s a lot of overlap between these two woodworker specialties, they differ in scope and purpose. Here’s how they diverge:
- Big-Picture Focus – Architectural woodworking firms like Mock collaborate with engineers, architects, project managers and other design professionals to bring high-level ideas to life. Our deep knowledge of woodworking tools and processes allows us to take a custom wood design from imagination to reality by working through the fine details, and then delegating the tasks needed to complete the entire project.
- Focus on Function – Wood carpenters are highly skilled at building and installing cabinetry, door frames, furniture, drywall framing and more to exact specifications. Rather than problem-solving huge projects, carpenters’ woodworking specialties focus more on the function of specific items they’re making. They can be found both at job sites and in the wood workshop crafting pieces designed by the architectural woodworker.
The Benefits of Woodworking in School Construction
From auditoriums and libraries to athletic facilities and student centers, custom wood design adds beauty and function to schools of all sizes and grade levels. Mock’s education woodworking projects can be found in some of Ohio’s most prestigious institutions.
Here are some of the ways woodworking helps elevate a school’s image while enhancing both staff experiences and the educational outcomes of the students:
Sustainability
Responsibly sourced wood is one of the most sustainable building materials available. Mock’s focus on sustainable wood and woodworking processes is rooted in our DNA. We simply could not stay in business if we didn’t nurture and protect the tree species that serve as our medium. But more than that, our eco-friendly values support a healthier planet for all of us.
Choosing wood as part of a school’s design showcases your commitment to sustainability while providing a thoughtful model of responsible decision-making for future generations.
Improved Air Quality
A safe and healthy learning environment is crucial to supporting both students and educational staff. Air quality may not be on the top of your health and safety list, but it’s a basic element of any school. Including wood in a school’s design can help improve the indoor air quality by naturally regulating humidity levels. On top of that, architectural woodworking is free of the harmful chemicals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found in many synthetic building materials, making it a healthier choice.
More Health Benefits
When students feel stressed, they have difficulty learning. And when teachers feel stressed, they have a tough time bringing their A-game to the classroom. Therefore, any parts of the learning environment that help reduce stress levels will ultimately support better educational outcomes. A remarkable Austrian study found that students in classrooms embellished with wood flooring, ceilings and cupboards experienced significantly lower levels of stress than students surrounded by non-wood surfaces. Also noted in the study were improved learning performance and lower instances of conflict among the students in the wood-enhanced spaces.
Acoustic & Biophilic Benefits
One of the more magical qualities of wood is its inherent acoustics. Woodworking naturally absorbs sound, which helps reduce echoes and background noise. Mock maximized these properties in the architectural carpentry we built for the Corbett Auditorium at the University of Cincinnati to enhance the performances of students in their nationally ranked Music Conservatory. In classrooms, woodwork helps create a quieter environment where students can focus with fewer distractions.
Biophilia refers to the innate human desire to be connected to the natural world. Biophilic design is the practice of including natural materials and elements in man-made environments to achieve a higher sense of well-being for the people in those spaces. Including custom wood design in new school construction and school renovations – especially in tandem with natural light and greenery – brings benefits of lower stress and higher creativity to educational settings.
How Mock Woodworking Services Can Help
Mock Woodworking is committed to harnessing the depth of our woodworker specialties to help educational institutions create the best possible learning environments. Explore our work in education, healthcare and hospitality settings – then reach out to discuss your own project! We look forward to seeing your ideas come to life in gorgeous custom wood designs tailored to your needs and budget.