Hot on the heels of Obama’s Labor Day speech – in which he pledged $50 billion for infrastructural development – is the latest edition of Civic Duty. Since FDR began the tradition during the Great Depression, recessions have precipitated large-scale civic building projects. This holds true for the global slump we’re currently ‘recovering’ from: immigration centers, federal research buildings, and schools are in the works all over the world.

Just in time for the first day of school, here are our top ten picks for remarkable education design.

From Coop Himmelb(l)au’s mind-bogglingly expensive ($578 million) K-12 school in Los Angeles (unveiled last week to the consternation of many taxpayers), to a tiny, un-programmed learning space at the University of Tokyo by Kohki Hiranuma Architect & Associates, this week’s Civic Duty covers multiple scales and multiple price points. Projects like Winy Maas’ new Why Factory space at Delft University asks questions about how to facilitate experimental learning and collaboration within architecture and urbanism, while a new kindergarten in Zagreb uses large-scale pop geometries to represent progressive education models used in the early childhood development school.

Click through to see Himmelb(l)au’s half billion dollar wonder, among other more humble highlights, all culled from our growing database of civic projects.

1. Central Los Angeles Public High School for the Visual and Performing Arts by Coop Himmelb(l)au. Photos © Roland Halbe.

2. Tietgen Kollegiet by Lundgaard & Tranberg Architects.

3. Why Factory Tribune at Delft University by MVRDV.

4. Space Lab by Kohki Hiranuma Architect & Associates

5. New York University Department of Philosophy by Steven Holl Architects

6. Segrt Hlapic Kindergarten by Radionica Arhitekture. Photos © Boris Cvjetanovic.

7. Vitus Bering Innovation Park by C.F. Møller Architects. Photos © Julian Weyer.

8. Kindergarten Barbapapà by Luca Ciaffoni and ccdstudio.eu. Photos © Fabio Mantovani.

9. Gjerum Secondary School by Kristin Jarmund Arkitekter.

10. Inner- City Arts Campus by Michael Maltzan Architecture. Photos © Iwan Baan.

by Kelsey Campbell-Dollaghan

posted in civic duty top ten

tagged C.F. moller, ccdstudio.eu, civic duty, education, Himmelb(l)au, Kohki Hiranuma, Kristin Jarmund, Luca Ciaffoni, Lundgaard & Tranberg, michael maltzan, mvrdv, Radionica, schools

more articles by Kelsey Campbell-Dollaghan