WXY designed REED Academy with the idea that the environment itself can be a teacher. The school provides a highly individualized educational program for students with Autism Spectrum Disorders, incorporating one-on-one instruction through discrete trials, incidental teaching, and modeling. The design reinforces life skills and job training beyond academic learning. An interior street wraps around a central multi-purpose room, creating a communal heart that connects the school. Two wings open to the landscape, forming a sheltered courtyard for supervised outdoor activities.

The school needed to support students who benefit from structured environments while encouraging independence and interaction. Spaces had to accommodate Applied Behavioral Analysis techniques and balance predictable routines with opportunities for engagement. The design required built-in features that integrate with teaching methods, reinforcing learning through structure and flexibility.

The interior street provides a clear, navigable path through the school, with alcoves along the way serving as stations for students to practice communication and life skills. Communal spaces, including kitchens, tables, and pianos, encourage social interaction. Tack surfaces throughout the school allow for the display of student work, reinforcing participation. Built-in features, glass distraction markers, wall graphics, LCD screens, and lighting effects create an interactive and visually engaging learning environment.

WXY worked closely with educators to integrate pedagogical techniques into the design. The selection of materials introduces sensory variety, helping students gradually adapt to new experiences. The relationship between built space and teaching methods ensures that every design element contributes to student learning and engagement.