The buzz at Christian Education conferences is all about enriched environments. Since the early 90’s, a new wave of Sunday school has been spreading across the nation-- multi-dimensional learning in classrooms that are designed to be part of the curriculum.  This model, called Workshop Rotation Model, began as a grassroots movement with churches writing their own curriculum or “cutting and pasting” curriculum from publishing houses to teach children using Harvard professor Howard Gardner’s research on multiple intelligences. Entrepreneurial, independent publishing houses grew out of this movement and have been serving churches with creative, activity-based, rotation curriculum for many years. Recently, denominational publishing houses have developed rotation/workshop curriculum, and the interest from churches is spreading anew. 

The hidden aspect of this activity-based curriculum is the classroom design, which has changed from a classroom to a theme-based learning space: a theater room for a drama re-enactment of Paul on the road to Damascus, a kitchen to make a topographical pizza map of the two kingdoms, a storytelling room to sit at a long, low table and participate in a seder meal, or age-defined rooms that allow for many ways of learning with a drama area, tables for creative arts, computers, and maps and reference books in the corner. 

The key to these rooms is to combine the principles and elements of design, incorporate design using the five senses and make it all kid-friendly. Themed rooms provide direction and focus for the look of the room. Creative environments aid in the learning and retention level of the important spiritual truths we are teaching each Sunday, not to mention how great design will attract the kids to come on Sunday morning in the first place.  Knowing the curriculum is necessary to be sure all activities are provided for in that space. 

Design Directions recently worked on a project for First Presbyterian Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. This enthusiastic church took on the vision of a new kind of Sunday school, adopted the Workshop Rotation Model and remodeled their rooms. 

This large church needed 18 workshops to rotate their more than 300 children through each Sunday. They made a commitment to remodel their third floor to accommodate the Workshop Rotation Model, beginning with space planning and updating the old layout of the rooms. Oversized rooms were divided into two or three rooms appropriate for about 16 students each. Decisions were made on window placement, lighting and electrical needs. When the basic construction issues had been resolved, they moved on to the design. 

The design challenge was to make 18 rooms look and function differently but achieve harmony and unity throughout the space. Design Directions began by giving the hallways an “old-world marketplace” feel, wallpapering the walls with a faux limestone effect and adding market carts with imitation fruits, vegetables, eggs and cheese--all appropriate for the Middle East. They selected a multi-colored carpet for use in the hallway and in the rooms. The carpet proved to be a chameleon, allowing them to pick a variety of colors for the rooms’ interiors while also providing a unifying element in the overall space. 

Each room’s interiors were carefully designed for the activities that were to be in that room, such as storytelling, drama, art, geography, mission outreach and computers.  The study workshop was named “The Synagogue” and designed to look like one.  The geography workshop was “Timothy’s Travel Agency” and featured walls filled with maps (inserted in an open-scroll motif).

They added more specialty rooms like “Holyword Squares” with a floor-to-ceiling tic-tac-toe structure that children could climb into and play the game, and “Manna Grill,” a 50’s diner with black and white checkered floors, soda fountain stools, booth seating, and even a real jukebox (that plays Christian music with a few “oldies but goodies” mixed in).  

Even though they had the traditional look in the hallway, some of the rooms took a definite modern turn. The Art Workshop was painted in yellow-green with one wall color blocked in squares of corkboard, blackboard paint, and some squares in fuchsia, yellow-green and sea-foam blue. 

The Music Workshop was called “R&B Music,” so they selected wallpaper that featured saxophones, trombones and musical notes. However, in this workshop, “R&B” doesn’t stand for “Rhythm and Blues.” It stands for “Repent and Believe.”

In “The Bible Broadcast Center” (or commonly known as “The BBC”), video and audio equipment was used to set up a television broadcast station. The news, weather, sports and special interviews (conducted at the “Cross Fire” portion of the studio) were all presented by the children, recorded by video camera and shown back to the class on the TV monitor.  Newspaper print wallpaper lined the room to add to the effect.

All rooms had coordinated, specially selected furniture to enhance the theme of that room. Some was custom-made from wood, some was specially fabricated from laminates with integrated designs, and others were from the church school resources. For example, they used “U” shaped tables and chairs with unique backs that mimicked the shapes in the room that was called “U-Connect” (a Faith Application Workshop where kids are encouraged to connect to God, self and others).

In any public space, special care must be taken to adhere to the fire and building codes for that location.  Much time and research went on to be sure all products used were within code. All fabrics were sent out for flame-retardant application, and certification of that application was provided to the church. Design Directions limited their use of fabrics in the hallway to comply with the fire code, which allowed only a small percentage of fabric to be used in a fire escape route. 

Designers often say “design is in the details,” and the details crop up in every corner of a room. 

When designing the walls--whether it be wallpaper, paint or a faux finish--they selected a baseboard that would blend in. They wanted to be sure they didn’t design a gold-cast, limestone-looking wall and have a standard gray or white vinyl baseboard.  The company also selected light fixtures with the same detail in mind, such as contemporary drop fluorescent for the Art Workshop, residential lanterns for the storytelling room. Clocks for the rooms were carefully selected to blend with the décor (waste baskets are color coordinated) and accessories were chosen in the correct proportion and style for the design (baskets and pots from the Middle East don’t have the same look as Southwestern baskets and pots.  Many small pots and baskets look cluttered, so they chose substantial pieces and placed them strategically). 

Church Sunday school design is unique. It must incorporate the quality of a children’s museum without looking institutional or commercial. It must function well using the curriculum and activities used in Sunday school environments.  And it must be good design. 

It has been said that Europeans design their children’s spaces using the same principles and elements of design that they use in their “adult” design. Americans often design children’s spaces in accordance with mass-media marketing (the latest cartoon character).  Children need and appreciate good design. They need to experience it.

The test of a well-designed space is that it 1) functions well for the people using the space, 2) uses quality products, and 3) is aesthetically pleasing. Never underestimate the power of good design. These are designs that move hearts and minds.

Jan Hubbard, ASID, is the interior designer for Design Directions for Church School, Ltd., www.churchschooldesign.com.

Fast Facts

Church: First Presbyterian Church
Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Designer: Design Directions for Church School
Description of project: Remodel of Sunday school rooms based on the principles of the Workshop Rotation Model, a grassroots movement that uses Harvard professor Howard Gardner’s research on multiple intelligences. It incorporates creative, activity-based, rotation curriculum. Each room’s interiors were carefully designed for the activities that were to be in that room.
The challenge: Make 18 Sunday school rooms look and function differently but achieve harmony and unity throughout the space.