Learning By Design Magazine Announces 2024 Design Awards
RDG Planning & Design has been recognized for design that promotes lifelong learning and strengthens foundational community relationships.
Learning By Design Magazine has awarded RDG a 2024 Outstanding Project Award for its design for Porter-Leath Early Childhood Academy | Frayser. The magazine’s annual Architectural and Interior Design Awards showcases the very best in education design and construction, recognizing newly built learning space projects or significant works in progress.
RDG’s design for the Early Childhood Academy at Frayser, a collaboration with Porter-Leath, incorporates vibrant colors and a simple block design to evoke the essence of play and cultivate engagement, curiosity and a sense of joy. Located in Memphis, Tennessee, the Academy includes 16 classrooms with spacious corridors leading to activity areas filled with natural light and views of nature. The building is inspired by Memphis' musical heritage and features elements such as ceiling panels modeled after sheet music and pendant lights representing musical notes.
The facility also includes observation spaces for research and educator development, supporting the Teacher Excellence Program and enhancing early childhood education across Tennessee. By focusing on children, educators, families and the community, this center promotes lifelong learning and strengthens foundational relationships for everyone involved.
The Learning By Design Fall 2024 Architectural and Interior Design Awards of Excellence entries are judged on their implementation of seven criteria: design challenges, innovation and solutions, functional design and effective space planning, sustainability and social impact, next-generation learning, interior architecture and design and meeting community needs. For its 2024 awards, submissions were judged by a jury of six education design professionals.