We shape our buildings; thereafter, they shape us. Winston Churchill, 1943

Estonia, with a population of 1.3 million inhabitants, demonstrates the world's highest ratio of newly constructed modern school buildings relative to its overall educational infrastructure. These contemporary educational facilities feature custom-designed architecture informed by comprehensive research into best practices from leading designers and education specialists, positioning them to potentially enhance secondary education delivery. While Estonia consistently ranks among the top five nations globally in PISA assessments, and has produced a substantial body of education research, the specific contribution of modern architectural design on student academic achievement remains empirically unexplored in this nation-state.

By drawing on state examination results in Mathematics and the Estonian language, this research investigates differences in student achievement between schools constructed within the last twenty years and the broader school network. Through quantitative data analysis, the research seeks to determine how strategic investment in educational architecture influences student academic outcomes. Complementary interviews with school leaders and architects provide qualitative insights into how new learning environments influence student performance, well-being, and national competitiveness.

Authors:
Marge Tooming, University of Oklahoma, United States

About the Presenter(s)
Marge Tooming
Master of Architecture - 2025
MBA - 2002, Purdue University
Master in Psychology - 1997, Tartu University
Visual and Performing Arts, sailing, hiking, museum studies, painting
Intersectional studies, design for performance

See this presentation on the full schedule – Thursday Schedule

Bookmark