Sprout Space: A Healthier Choice for "Temporary" Classrooms

According to Allen Post, AIA, of Perkins+Will, more than 7.5 million children are being taught in mobile classrooms in the U.S. While most of these estimated 300,000 classroom units are designed for temporary use, the actual average use exceeds five years, according to Post, and that provides an opportunity for a hybrid solution. Unlike most mobile classrooms, Sprout Space is designed to be placed on permanent footings—but it can also be disassembled and moved, and can be constructed in 60 days and delivered nationwide on two semi-trucks. With a construction cost of about $120 per square foot (and a floor area of 1,008 ft2 per classroom), the cost is greater than that of cheaper mobile classrooms, but Sprout Space delivers a lot more bang for the buck.

Targeting LEED Gold for permanent installations, the classroom design encourages a variety of seating arrangements for different teaching styles and for facilitating collaboration among students. Double doors open out to an exterior space designed for outdoor learning and equipped with exterior marker boards.