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DILE: Design of Innovative Learning Environments

Design of Innovative Learning Environments (DILE) addresses the extraordinary over-crowding in schools in Downtown Manhattan by proposing building sites and developing learning environments via architectural and urban strategies in GAUD studios. To that end, GAUD has founded a new research group ‘Design of Innovative Learning Environments’ [DILE] whose focus of inquiry is the relationship between the design of educational and learning environments, architecture, and urbanism.

GAUD faculty members, Robert Cervellione, Sulan Kolatan, Philip Parker, William MacDonald, Alihan Polat, GAUD staff, Erika Schroeder, and graduate assistants, Sandra Berdick and Addie Duplisse-Johnson have been working with New York City and State elected officials and political committees including Community Board 1, President Catherine McVay Hughes; The Build Schools Now Board Members, Wendy Chapman and Buxton Midyette; State Senator, Daniel Squadron’s office; Speaker of the New York State Assembly, Sheldon Silver’s office and the Downtown Manhattan Schools Overcrowding Task Force; Council Member Margret Chin’s office; the City Council’s office; Congressman Jerry Nadler’s office; and the Department of Education’s Public Affairs Director, Ben Goodman.

Co-Founders, William MacDonald and Philip Parker