The Perfect Classroom Doesn't Exist — And That's the Point – Episode 150 with Will Gridley
This week on Better Buildings for Humans, host Joe Menchefski sits down with Will Gridley of Robert A.M. Stern Architects for a fascinating conversation about higher education design and the powerful ways classrooms shape how students learn. Drawing on his experience designing academic buildings—and a unique residency at Southern Methodist University—Will explains why there is no single “perfect classroom” and how different teaching styles require different approaches to space.
The discussion explores everything from classroom geometry, furniture, technology, and acoustics to daylighting, materials, flexibility, and the importance of in-person learning. Will shares how seemingly small details can significantly influence engagement and comfort, why technology should support rather than dominate the learning environment, and why adaptable spaces are essential when designing for an unpredictable future.
It’s an insightful look at what happens when architects experience their buildings through the eyes of the people who actually use them—and a reminder that great academic buildings don’t simply support learning, they create places where students want to stay, connect, discover, and engage.
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More About Will Gridley
Will Gridley, AIA, an Associate Partner with Robert A.M. Stern Architects, specializes in higher-education building projects. He has played an integral role in academic building projects that transform campuses, including the Harvard Kennedy School Pavilions Project, the Southern Methodist University Cox School of Business Expansion, and the McCourt School of Public Policy’s new home in the heart of Washington, DC. Will also currently helps to oversee multiple student housing projects nationally, comprising more than 6,000 beds. He has completed multiple projects from initial feasibility studies through construction, encompassing a variety of housing product types, delivery methods, and construction techniques. Will earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Bucknell University and a Master of Architecture degree from Yale University.
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