The Consortium for Design and Education Outcomes (CDEO) is a research collaboration between Perkins Eastman and Drexel University’s School of Education. This partnership brings together architects, sustainable design experts, academic researchers, former school administrators, and statisticians to examine the critical relationship between school facilities and educational outcomes.
For example, funded by the Latrobe Prize, one of the industry’s largest research grants, CDEO’s study, Addressing a Multi-Billion Dollar Challenge, explores how high-quality school facilities and learning environments can enhance student achievement, improve the well-being of students, faculty, and staff, and strengthen surrounding communities.
“Our research is focused on helping school districts advocate for increased funding while also enabling them to allocate limited resources more effectively to create learning environments that better support education,” says Sean O’Donnell, K-12 practice leader at Perkins Eastman. Communities also benefit from this research, adds Bruce Levine, director of Drexel’s Education Policy Program: “We intend for the CDEO to serve as a resource for communities, school leaders, and districts seeking to make evidence-based decisions about the future of their facilities.”
Demonstrating the real-world impact of CDEO’s research, Perkins Eastman’s K-12 Strategies team has been actively using its tools and insights to assist school districts nationwide helping them assess the condition of schools and prioritize funding for improvements and new construction.
Below, explore the latest studies, resources, and news about CDEO and its work.
