Global architecture and design firm Corgan has released new research funded by American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) Foundation that expands the conversation around inclusive design to address the experiences of educators with disabilities. The study also introduces a new open-source design guidebook offering actionable strategies for architects, designers, administrators and district leaders, helping close the empathy gap in educator-inclusive school design.
Nearly one in eight educators identifies as having one or more disabilities, including learning differences, chronic illnesses, physical disabilities, or visual impairments — factors that influence how they move through and engage with school spaces. Many of these conditions are invisible and can manifest as extreme fatigue, sensory overload, mobility challenges, or cognitive strain.
Research Methodology
Led by Corgan’s Education team and Corgan—Hugo, the firm’s in-house research and innovation team, the study combines evidence-based research with human-centered experimentation to reveal how both new and existing school environments can better support educator well-being, performance and long-term sustainability.
To connect lived experience with measurable data, the research team synthesized educator interviews with simulation-based experimentation, physiological measurement, behavioral observation, and self-reported feedback. Researchers employed tools such as a gerontological (GERT) suit, to simulate conditions including aging, temporary injury, pregnancy, sensory sensitivity, arthritis, and diabetes, translating empathy into actionable design insights.
Design Insights
The study transforms these research insights into practical, scalable design strategies that support adaptability, endurance, and sustained performance in educational environments.
Key findings include:
- Designing for low effort supports educator endurance: Reducing barriers to movement and organizing materials to minimize unnecessary steps, reaches, and lifts can help extend physical capacity and reduce fatigue throughout the school day. Under simulated conditions like aging, pregnancy, and chronic illnesses, common teaching tasks were nearly twice as difficult.
- Adaptive environments support effective teaching: Flexible systems — reconfigurable zones, multipurpose furnishings, and personalized equipment — allow educators to adjust their environments in response to changing physical needs and teaching approaches. Under simulated conditions like aging, pregnancy, and chronic illnesses, teachers’ confidence in their ability to perform their jobs declined by approximately 14%.
- Cognitive clarity reduces mental strain: Simple spatial hierarchies, intuitive organization, thoughtful acoustics, and clear distinctions between active and quiet zones help minimize distractions, support focus, and improve day-to-day decision-making. With simulated conditions, mental effort increased by approximately 36% while overall mood declined by 27%, emphasizing the need for environments that promote cognitive clarity and reduce everyday strain.
“Campuses have made strides toward inclusivity, particularly in supporting students with diverse needs,” said Chloe Hosid Sloan, Education Design Researcher at Corgan. “This research goes further by asking how learning environments can also better support the educators with settings that foster capability, comfort, and longevity in the profession.”
A New Design Guidebook
The study synthesized findings into 10 educator personas, representing a broad spectrum of physical, cognitive, and sensory experiences. These personas informed workshops that researchers held with educators, designers, and district stakeholders, ensuring alignment with real-world conditions at every stage. Findings from the study’s research report and workshops were translated into an open-source design guidebook offering practical tools and strategies that examine inclusion across multiple lenses. From examining individual educator experiences to broader spatial, operational, and environmental systems, the design guidebook offers holistic, adaptable approaches across design scales, project phases, and shared learning spaces.
“By grounding innovation in real educator experiences, this work moves research into action,” said Melissa Hoelting, Assistant Director of Corgan—Hugo. “Our goal was to transform findings into practical guidance and design strategies that ultimately help teachers thrive in their environments, not just endure them.”
Corgan is ranked No. 4 for education design in Interior Design’s Giants of Design and No. 4 overall by Architectural Record. The firm’s education design expertise ranges from elementary, middle, and high schools to career and technical institutions, as well as community colleges and universities. Established more than 70 years ago, the firm’s education practice offers master planning, facility assessments, and specialized offerings such as bond planning and community engagement.
About Corgan
Corgan is an employee-owned architecture and design firm with 22 locations and more than 1,300 team members globally. Ranked as the No. 4 architecture firm by Architectural Record and Building Design + Construction, the firm works with clients in a variety of sectors including aviation & transportation, campus, data centers, education, government, health, hospitality & retail, mixed-use, multifamily, office, and workplace. The firm’s core disciplines are supported by a wide range of supplemental services including brand & graphics, furniture services, master planning and sustainability — all of which have a singular goal: to build environments where clients thrive. Founded in 1938, Corgan has developed a strong reputation for agility in design by anticipating marketplace changes and leading clients to thoughtful, data-driven design solutions. Its research insights and design expertise empower the organization to foresee emerging changes and develop solutions that minimize risk, create flexibility, and maximize longevity. To learn more about Corgan, visit www.corgan.com.
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