What if our schools were more than just buildings? What if they were intentional spaces, designed to nurture well-being and empower students? This question drives the collaborative work of Fielding International and Natural Pod, the first B Corp certified school design and learning furniture companies in North America, who are leveraging their collective power to address critical issues in education, aligning with a global movement of businesses committed to positive change.
Since 2014, their partnership has helped create innovative schools like Norma Rose Point in Vancouver and others across North America, demonstrating that thoughtful integration of architecture and furniture can create transformative learning experiences.
Their approach is grounded in a participatory process, placing student voices at the forefront of design. As Natural Pod Founder and CEO Bridgitte Alomes asks, “Are these environments designed with intention, reflecting a commitment to our children’s holistic well-being? Or are they merely functional spaces, lacking the beauty, calm, and nourishment essential for true growth?”
Norma Rose Point School, Vancouver, Canada
A project that Natural Pod inhouse designer Allan Alomes remembers vividly to this date, Norma Rose Point School was designed to transition an elementary school from a classroom-based organization to a learning community model, where teachers and specialists work in teams of three to five with student groupings of 90 – 125. Each learning community has at its heart a common area with natural light and views, a kitchenette, and ample space for gathering, presentations, independent, collaborative and technology-enhanced learning.
The design and the educational philosophy of the school are seamlessly interconnected. Fielding created an environment that nurtures their core principles of individualized, community-centered, experiential and collaborative learning, which aligned perfectly with Natural Pod’s versatile, open-ended furniture solutions, which offer educators and learners creative choice in how to use them – e.g. have you ever heard of educators encouraging students to use a table as a stage? The sturdy and durable design of the Natural Pod tables makes them amenable to such suggestions and encourages ideation and experimentation in the learning environment.
Educator Wendy Cheng, who runs the Nature Preschool at Norma Rose Point, shared her experience using Natural Pod’s Reach Tables in her classroom. “They are still in amazing condition,” she raved, at a recent in-person event. “And their natural wood feels right in my learning space.”
Students at Norma Rose Point are grouped according to an age range but not grade, and are encouraged to venture above their age level if a subject interests them. This flexibility creates a highly personalized learning experience. The curriculum is strongly based upon hands-on project-based learning, and building amenities include a kitchen lab, greenhouse, garden terrace, music room with instruments, and maker labs. The spaces are flexible and connected with transparent garage doors that enable teachers to configure a variety of room sizes. Smaller group rooms are also acoustically separate, and dampening materials in the common level sound even in these larger areas.
“The design and the educational philosophy are seamlessly interconnected. Fielding created an environment that nurtures our core principles of individualized, community-centered, experiential and collaborative learning.” —Rosa Fazio, Principal, Norma Rose Point School.
North Tampa Christian Academy, Wesley Chapel, Florida
North Tampa Christian Academy was designed with the intention to endorse 21st century learning and establish a robust sense of community, with an emphasis on each student’s individuality, worth, and potential. Fielding International took the lead from the stages of educational planning and space programming, to in-depth design and furniture selection.
The campus is meticulously designed to efficiently use both indoor and outdoor spaces, with a capacity to cater to 650 students, ranging from the early learners at the Early Learning Center to high school seniors in the 12th grade.
A key feature of the design is The Commons, located in each Learning Community. These spaces have direct connections to outdoor learning terraces, acting as vibrant hubs of learning and social interaction. With large glass panels and open layouts, they offer expansive views of the captivating landscape, further bridging the gap between the indoor and outdoor environments.
Natural Pod’s natural wood furniture offered the perfect counterpoint of warm, minimalist beauty to the airy layouts of the environment.
“Much like the varied patterns of children’s growth in the early years, our approach is fluid, constantly being modified based on our observations of our students, the world around us and best practice. Our carefully selected philosophies and curriculum guide us as we create the ideal context for each child’s emotional, physical, spiritual, and mental growth. Each child is given the support needed to progress and grow in a developmentally-appropriate fashion.” —North Tampa Christian Academy
Garden City Elementary School, Cranston, Rhode Island
The design team at Fielding International alongside the planning team at Natural Pod first explored what the students, specifically the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders at Garden City Elementary School needed from their learning space by bringing the students and educators into the planning process with a specially designed project-based learning opportunity. Rather than designing from an adult’s perspective and traditional assumptions, the team really embraced both the educators’ and students’ feedback. Students were more than just passive participants; they were active co-authors, bringing to life their dream learning spaces through critical thinking, ideation, and prototyping.
This process, far from being a mere academic exercise, resonated deeply with the principles of inclusivity. The result? A transformative shift in educators’ perspectives, giving rise to enhanced student agency, creativity, and self-advocacy.
“From big picture discussions to furniture design, and from painting the safety fencing around the construction site to having a two-way dialogue with the builders, their [students’] hands and voices are literally woven into every aspect of the project. They feel a sense of ownership and pride in the building, before it even exists, which will translate into connection, investment, and student leadership when we are in the building.” —Bryan Byerlee, Principal, Garden City Elementary School
This feat was achieved through the alignment of Cranston Public School District’s strategic vision, emphasizing stakeholder engagement, core student learning objectives, and the project team. The school opened its doors to the students who helped inform the design, in the fall of 2023.
Designing Future-Ready Learning Environments: A Partnership Rooted in Purpose
“Reflecting on the collaborative projects we’ve undertaken with Fielding International—such as the Norma Rose Point and Tampa schools, and more recently, the work in Ontario with the ALCDSB—it’s clear that these schools exemplify the innovative spirit of both Fielding and Natural Pod. Together, our forward-thinking organizations champion projects that break away from conventional approaches, prioritizing future-focused designs and creating spaces with lasting impact.” —Bridgitte Alomes, CEO, Natural Pod
In a landscape where educational needs are constantly evolving, Natural Pod and Fielding International offer a model for the future of learning, one that is both sustainable and socially responsible, as evidenced by their B Corp certification.
But what truly sets this collaborative approach apart is the power of process—both Fielding and Natural Pod actively seek out and elevate student voices, integrating their insights to shape meaningful, future-ready spaces. This participatory design model not only strengthens connections within the school community but also fosters a deep sense of engagement and empowerment, impacting communities beyond the walls of each school.
“The future of learning depends on the environments we create today. Schools should be joyful, dynamic spaces that inspire curiosity, foster well-being, and empower students to shape their own learning journeys. Our collaboration with Natural Pod is a testament to the power of intentional design—where architecture and furniture work together to support meaningful, student-centered experiences that prepare learners for a rapidly evolving world.” —Randy Fielding, AIA, Founding Principal, Fielding International
Together, Natural Pod and Fielding International are redefining what it means to design for education—where learning spaces are more than just buildings and furniture; they are dynamic ecosystems that inspire curiosity, collaboration, and the joy of discovery.
Originally published on B The Change
By Insiya Rasiwala-Finn and Sarah Stalter
