K-12 EDUCATION: Classroom Furniture Layouts
The right K-12 classroom design, furniture, and technology can transform how educators and students, teach, study, and learn.
We are a New England-based team with over 20 years of expertise in designing innovative K-12 educational spaces. We collaborate closely with schools, architects, and designers to create environments that elevate the learning experience for both students and teachers. Our extensive portfolio includes K-12 classroom, library, administrative and cafeteria furniture, as well as cutting-edge technology solutions tailored to fit any design vision or budget. We are here to support you every step of the way:
Our Value
Tailored Solutions
Find the perfect combination of furniture and technology solutions designed to fit your unique needs and elevate your space.
Expert Planning
Discover the latest trends shaping K-12 education, and develop detailed product specifications and floor plan layouts.
Smart Procurement
Navigate and select the optimal purchasing contracts to maximize value.
ECLPS Certification
Mary Sauvageau, our K-12 general manager, recently became an EDmarket Certified Learning Place Specialist (ECLPS). ECLPS is a new, research-informed certification program aimed at improving the learning experience for school districts and educating industry learning environment design professionals. It starts with the understanding that everyone learns differently and focuses on creating environments that meet these diverse needs.
Universal Design
Universal design transforms classrooms into inclusive, effective learning environments by accommodating all students’ needs, abilities, and learning styles. It moves beyond a one-size-fits-all approach, creating accessible and engaging spaces that foster a sense of belonging and promote student success. By utilizing flexible teaching methods, hands-on learning, and adaptable classroom layouts, universal design encourages active participation and increases engagement. This approach is not about lowering standards but raising expectations to help every student reach their full potential, ensuring equity in education regardless of background or ability.
Contracts
Red Thread Authorized Contracts:
- Massachusetts State Contract
- MHEC (Massachusetts Higher Education Consortium
- E&I (Educational and Institutional Cooperative Purchasing)
- Connecticut State Contract
Manufacturing Partners
Red Thread has partnered with industry-leading furniture and technology manufacturers to create innovative classrooms, libraries, and common spaces.
Our Partners
Our Projects
Bunker Hill Community College
Bunker Hill Community College
Date
NBBJ Architects
Timeline
Furniture, Technology
Client
Boston, MA
Transforming BHCC: the new student success center.
Bunker Hill Community College’s new Student Success Center is a transformative addition to the campus, designed to significantly enhance the student experience. This three-story building serves as the vibrant heart of BHCC, creating a sense of community for commuter students and showcasing a modern, inviting atmosphere that contrasts with the older campus structures. The first floor features welcoming communal spaces in the learning commons, while the second floor includes private offices and lounges for faculty. The third floor combines classroom and library spaces with study rooms and a courtyard, capped off with a reading room equipped with a high-lumen ceiling-mounted projector, motorized screens, and comprehensive AV connections.
In collaboration with Red Thread, BHCC has outfitted the new building with state-of-the-art furniture and AV solutions. The design adheres to consistent standards of fit and finish, featuring Answer workstations, height-adjustable desks from AMQ, additional lounge and soft seating, benching, Amia chairs for conference rooms, and AMQ Bodie chairs. The project included equipping 9 classrooms with laser projectors, projection screens, HDMI connections, wireless presentation systems, control panels, and speakers; 21 group study rooms with 55” 4K displays and wireless presentation systems; 2 conference rooms with similar setups plus sound bars; and 4 digital signage displays.
This carefully curated environment not only supports academic success but also attracts new students, positioning the center as a beacon of innovation and community on campus. Funded at 60% by the Mass State contract and DCAMM, this project represents a significant investment in the future of BHCC.
Photos © Chuck Choi Photography
Confidential Engineering Education & Design Center
Confidential Engineering Education & Design Center
Date
WBRC Inc., Ellenzweig, Consigli Construction
Timeline
Furniture
Client
Orono, ME
Fostering collaborative learning and adaptability.
The new Engineering Education and Design Center has emerged as a beacon of cutting-edge academic space design. Spanning across three stories and 107,000 square feet, the state-of-the-art facility serves as the center of graduate engineering education, equipped with advanced laboratories, collaborative zones, and technology-rich teaching spaces. Red Thread teamed up with WBRC Inc. for a thorough engagement process on furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FFE), uncovering important insights that influenced the layout.
Our approach to workshops is deeply rooted in inclusivity, as we harness the power of sophisticated tools to gain comprehensive insights into specific requirements and design preferences. We utilized Mural, a virtual collaboration platform, to facilitate interactive discussions and allow various stakeholders, such as graduate students, faculty members, and other staff members, to share their perspectives. Through a series of thoughtfully curated sessions, we encouraged anonymous feedback and fostered an environment of open communication and collaborative ideation. Our use of advanced technological resources continues to play a pivotal role in streamlining the transition from imagination to reality for our valued clients.
Beyond its immediate impact on the university landscape, engineering and design center stands as a testament to Maine’s demand for engineering talent. By bringing together diverse engineering disciplines under one roof and fostering a culture of collaboration, the facility plays a pivotal role in attracting and retaining top-tier engineering talent within the region, amplifying the state’s potential as a leading hub for innovation and technological advancement.
Photos © WBRC Inc.
Confidential University Collaboration Hub
Confidential University Collaboration Hub
Date
Stantec, Gilbane Construction Group
Timeline
Furniture , Demountable Walls
Client
New Haven, CT
Revitalizing an iconic tower into a collaborative nexus.
An iconic structure in New Haven, underwent a substantial renovation into a collaborative hub for researchers, faculty, and students at a local University. This 16-story building spans 186,000 gross square feet and is the tallest structure on the campus. The revitalized space now features open-concept programming areas, including two additional top floors that provide panoramic views of New Haven and its harbor. This thoughtful redesign fosters collaboration and connectivity, encouraging interaction and interdisciplinary engagement among various departments and disciplines.
Red Thread’s meticulous attention to detail and responsiveness to the client’s needs transformed the tower to foster cross-departmental collaboration and break down traditional barriers. Adding floor-to-ceiling windows, a key element in this makeover, not only brings in natural light but also symbolizes the university’s commitment to openness and connection. Across all floors, integrating soft seating, whiteboards, and tables in hallways creates relaxed environments, promoting impromptu meetings and discussions. This comprehensive transformation aligns with the university’s standards, offering height-adjustable seating, privacy-preserving walls with maintained visibility, and top-notch acoustical performance, ensuring flexibility and adaptability across various departments and floors.
The incorporation of Steelcase Glass Selections (GS) with sleek butt glazing was guided not just by sustainability and minimalism but also by a seamless alignment with aesthetic, budget, and brand considerations. The impressive scale of this project, with roughly 3000 linear feet of glass fronts, equates to over half a mile of glass – a compelling testament to the magnitude and impact of this successful partnership.
Photos © Tom Holdsworth Photography LLC
CREC Academy of Aerospace & Engineering
CREC Academy of Aerospace & Engineering
Date
Friar Architecture
Timeline
Furniture
Client
Rocky Hill, CT
STEM Based Space Design
The wonder behind exploration and science inspired this pre-kindergarten through grade 5 elementary school. The school’s theme focuses on developing strong foundational knowledge for students in four interrelated domains of STEM literacy: science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The 89,000 SF space on 7 Gardner Way maximizes natural light through large-scale windows with versatile learning spaces both indoors and outside. Not only does the curriculum reflect STEM, but each learning environment does, too, through a mix of products and solutions. The makerspace classroom features BCI height-adjustable tables and stools while the computer lab features all Smith System active learning stools. The music room features Kimball height-adjustable tables and stools and Smith System storage. Most of the furniture was purchased through the Connecticut State Contract.
Photos © Robert Benson Photography
The Roux Institute of Northeastern University
The Roux Institute of Northeastern University
Date
SMRT, Leggat McCall, Cianbro Corporation
Timeline
Furniture, Sound masking
Client
Portland, ME
Fostering tech talent and innovation across Northern New England.
The Roux Institute’s emerging innovation hub servers as both a professional graduate school and research center dedicated to bringing cutting edge technologies to Maine. Located at 100 Fore Street in Portland’s historic Old Port neighborhood, the 43,450 sq ft campus embraces its vibrant community while taking advantage of a rich employer network, access to world-class faculty and researchers, and the university’s global reach. Designed to build talent, train the next generation of tech professionals, and drive economic growth, the space encourages cross-collaboration for learners, faculty, and staff with multiple flex areas and free address workspace.
As the world leader in experiential learning, the Roux institute supports a variety of spaces for the task at hand. With a mix of open and enclosed classrooms, study, café, amphitheater, makerspace research area, and meeting rooms, the campus’ flexible spaces embrace entrepreneurial and creative thinking. Through height-adjustable desks, nearby phone booths, and different seating postures, the unassigned work zones reflects the campus’ mission of liberating students from outdated career models and giving them the opportunity to work in close collaboration with others under the same roof.
Certain design elements including strong biophilia throughout serve as a source of energy while mobile planters instill privacy for concentration. To help reduce unnecessary noise from the open amphitheater, sound masking plays a critical role. All interior furnishings are freestanding, moveable, and completely compatible in function, fit and finish. Furniture is meant to be utilized interchangeably through the floor plan, allowing the space to adapt to the needs of changing and rotating research teams.
Photos © Ryan Bent Photography
Our Blog
K-12 Classroom Guide
Our 21st Century Classroom Design lookbook provides inspiration for creating engaging learning spaces, including:
- 18 classroom layouts for elementary, middle and high school grades
- 20 shared and faculty space designs
- 4 classroom technologies