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Alexis Sanal examined the designs of two schools in Scappoose on Monday, but her mind’s eye was focused on a coastal, Middle Eastern city that skirts the Red Sea.

Sanal, an architect based in Istanbul, is working on the conceptual design for a school to be built in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. She thought that touring a few American schools might spur some design ideas, and because her mother works for the Oregon School Boards Association, she was able to arrange the Scappoose tours, as well as a meeting with architects at ‘s Portland office. Their conversation sparked cultural comparisons and a dialogue about how the design of a school can elevate learning.

DLR Group, which has worked with the OSBA for more than 12 years, produced the recent designs for Otto Petersen Elementary School and the remodel and addition to Scappoose High School. Several innovative design elements in both schools inspired Sanal, who was born in the U.S., but moved to Turkey with her husband, Murat, nine years ago. They are partners and owners of a firm that shares their last name 鈥� Sanal.

When speaking of the high school’s new auditorium, Alexis Sanal remarked how 鈥渁dult鈥� the environment felt.

鈥淚t’s not a child’s environment,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t has an air of clout, but with a young energy. I can see how that could help students prepare for the next stage of maturity.鈥�

And Sanal appreciated that Petersen Elementary’s library is an open, centrally located space that invites students to wander in and out. Because the students are trusted in the library with minimal security, the space encourages spontaneous interactions between staff and students 鈥� which the designers believe creates a better learning environment.

鈥淲hat is a classroom anyway? How do you define it?鈥� DLR principal Richard Higgins asked during the meeting. Higgins and Sanal agreed that 鈥渢he classroom鈥� includes any place where learning happens, and not only a room that holds with the chalkboard and desks in it.

By consciously setting up a school to encourage certain kinds of interactions, they said, architects can help learning happen in more kinds of spaces. The challenge, according to Higgins, is to convince communities and school districts of the importance of those design tactics.

To that end, DLR Group has developed a formal, yet flexible process. Over many months, the architects host several rounds of community meetings and design consultations with faculty, students and staffers. Sanal was a bit surprised by DLR’s exhaustive transparency, but its success impressed her.

鈥淭heir design work is not determined by their collaborative approach, but rather enlightened by it,鈥� Sanal said in a follow-up conversation with the 91视频. 鈥淲hat is exciting about DLR’s practice is they are moving public schools forward.鈥�

Marysville Getchell High School in Marysville, Wash., is a prime example: The campus recently won the prestigious James D. MacConnell Award for K-12 education design.

But in the early planning stage, Craig Mason, DLR principal and lead designer of the school, faced some doubts about the campus, which is a series of four, small learning communities with a shared common building.

The end result, however, was received well, which Mason and Sanal agreed often happens when they push for cutting-edge designs.

鈥淐hange takes everyone outside of their comfort zones,鈥� Sanal said. 鈥淏ut (architects) need to prepare for the society we want to be a part of in 40 years.鈥�

In Turkey and much of the Middle East, only elite, private schools are pushing for creative advances in pedagogy and school design, according to Sanal. But now, with inspiration drawn from DLR Group, Sanal hopes to broaden the movement for progressive schools as she continues her design work for the school in Jeddah.

鈥淓xamples of success are the best vehicle for confidence and enthusiasm toward positive change,鈥� she said.