Transforming Educational Spaces Beyond COVID-19
Read the new article from Ruth Gratzke, President of Siemens Smart Infrastructure U.S., about the variety of ways that federal COVID-19 relief funds can be used by schools, colleges and universities to address needs in response to the pandemic and create safe, healthy in-person learning environments.
A Smart School is one that is digitally connected to the next generation, for the next generation. And every day, the Internet of Things (IoT), digitalization, automation, and vast amounts of data bring us closer to creating a truly Smart School. But getting there is a journey.
More than ever, school administrators recognize the value in making facilities upgrades and investments in smart infrastructure today to have a positive impact on tomorrow.
Did you know?
Good IAQ contributes to a favorable environment for students, performance of teachers and staff and a sense of comfort, health and well-being. These elements combine to assist a school in its core mission — educating children.~EPA
IoT, digitalization, and digital learning continue to reshape how, when, and where students learn. And today, schools can leverage data in ways that improve all aspects of the educational experience.
By taking the right steps today, we can transform our educational infrastructure so that it’s smarter, safer, more sustainable, and more resilient – all of which can also translate into enhanced efficiency, improved comfort, and lower cost of operations.
Like our students, every building and community has its own needs – so there’s no one right answer for every school or district. But by working together, we can create the right environments for learning and chart a course toward truly resilient, sustainable, Smart Schools.
Pack your bags and get ready to embark upon your Smart School journey today. Download the infographic.
Creating safer, healthier school environments
We know ventilation and indoor air quality (IAQ) are more important than ever. We also know that it’s important to not only have the technology to mitigate COVID, but to have the “behind-the-scenes” know-how of building systems, from ventilation and filtration to control strategies, and how they can be optimized. Most importantly, is implementing the right technologies and strategies as soon as possible to ensure the safety of your school or campus. Let's get back to in-person learning.
Students do their best learning in school – but only when the building is as safe and healthy as possible. Optimal ventilation, combined with other mitigation efforts, is at the heart of reopening education as safely as possible. Manually implementing controls strategies to align with ASHRAE’s recommendations, however, may be time consuming and difficult – but it’s exactly the type of problem that artificial intelligence and machine learning were intended to solve. Dynamic VAV Optimization applies AI to intelligently harmonize temperature, humidity, and outdoor / fresh air based on building priorities. Better still, it’s an easily deployed solution that schools love. Learn more
The future of learning is powered by the sun
A new generation of students will be learning in solar-powered schools: a demonstration of what renewable energy and sustainable technology can accomplish right now.
The relationship between the educators at Pine Grove and Siemens isn’t simply that of customer and supplier. And the scope of the work didn’t end with the installation of the last piece of technology. Siemens is a true partner to Pine Grove and works with the administration, educators and community for the entire district. Listening. Advising. Exploring. In areas that impact not just the building, but the students and teachers, too. Because just as a child isn’t educated overnight, there’s something else that needs to be long term, too. Partnership.
See how we're transforming the everyday at K12 schools nationwide.
This project is about much more than just fixing the boilers. It’s a springboard for our kids. We live in an area where few career paths are generally available to our residents. But in combination with the solar arrays, Siemens has helped us create a pathway.Dr. Sam Ray, Superintendent of Schools
North Sanpete School District
The North Sanpete School District in central Utah operates under a singular philosophy: all students can learn. Thus, the district works hard to provide the education and resources appropriate to meet the needs and contribute to the success of each student, the community, and society as a whole.
We knew there were so many ways that Siemens’ goals and our goals aligned. It’s about partnering with Siemens to really help our students and community, and not just receiving materials.School District Innovation Coordinator
Supporting innovation and achievement with a STEM grant
The Ohio County School District in Wheeling has a long-standing tradition of maintaining high academic standards for its students. As Superintendent Dr. Kimberly Miller says, “Together, we achieve with a focus on our students. We work with our community to create an environment conducive to student learning, build a foundation for success, enrich minds, and inspire dreams.”
Funding the future with today's energy savings
Many of today’s schools face infrastructure challenges and rising energy costs. Lack of capital and little appetite to take on debt can make improving our schools seem an insurmountable challenge. But by working with Siemens, more and more of today's school districts are funding their futures with energy saving improvement projects.
Students realize that they are electrical engineers and that they’re building skills that move outside the classroom, and they can do something with them. Siemens really does bring the outside world into our classroom, and that’s super cool.Alexis Mason, STEM teacher
Ingenuity is what makes the future exciting, and we at Siemens want to help educators like you inspire young minds.
We at Siemens want to inspire young minds with our Empower Program for K12 Schools that advance critical thinking, creativity, and problem solving.
South Valley Junior High School received a grant two years ago for the FUSE Program developed in partnership with Northwestern University. They’ve implemented the program with huge strides in engagement, collaboration and more.
The speed of our ability to alert people quickly and easily has made everyone relax a bit. We know we can reach them all.Cathe Mazza, Dean of Students, Kent School
Innovative mass notification ensures students get the message
Founded in 1906, Kent School is a private, college preparatory school located next to the Housatonic River in northwestern Connecticut. Total enrollment for the co-ed institution is 570, of which 520 live on campus. The grounds of Kent School span 1,200 acres, and comprise 6 dormitories, 10 instructional buildings and a wide range of athletic and recreational facilities, including an equestrian center, a boathouse, and over 10 miles of biking and cross-country trails.
Overall, the pathways to great instruction are better in person. We just know how to do it, and so we are constantly trying to figure out how and when to get back into our buildings.James Dennis, Executive Director
Memphis Scholars
For many years, Memphis Scholars has relied on Siemens as their partner in building systems and infrastructure, modernizing the buildings and addressing a range of facilities needs from HVAC to fire and life safety. Angela Goodin, Managing Director of Finance and Operations, reached out to her Siemens team to engage in a series of conversations about how to safely bring students and faculty back into the buildings early in the pandemic.
Ingenuity is what makes the future exciting, and we at Siemens want to help educators like you inspire young minds.
We at Siemens want to inspire young minds with our Empower Program for K12 Schools that advance critical thinking, creativity, and problem solving.
Leveraging Sourcewell Contracts to streamline projects
Siemens is proud to partner with Sourcewell and their Cooperative Purchasing Contracts. This agreement allows schools and districts to purchase solutions, equipment and services through a pre-negotiated contract vehicle, saving time and eliminating the RFP process. Even with allocated federal funding now available for education, this vehicle can accelerate this process. This applies to planned or actionable projects due to the pandemic that can improve the health and safety of your institutions. Our team can assist in assessment, planning and managing your improvements, as well as providing continued support as needed.
Siemens has created partnerships with K-12 schools across North America, helping them set the right foundation today for a smarter tomorrow. Contact us today.