In this episode of the Better Learning Podcast, host Jessica Westerduin talks with Amanda Vottis, an architectural designer at Mosaic Architects with over 12 years of experience in K-12 educational design. Amanda shares her winding path into school architecture, her philosophy of "radically student-centered" design, and a deep dive into the multi-year Saratoga Springs School District project — a "legacy" renovation initiative built on an educational plan shaped by community input, teacher feedback, and student voice. The conversation explores how thoughtful design (learning stairs, breakout spaces, informal student areas) can transform how kids feel about school, and why understanding student behavior and needs matters more than just filling classroom walls.
Takeaways:
- Design starts with people, not walls. Instead of asking "what does this classroom need," Amanda asks "what do your students need to be successful" — shifting conversations from storage and outlets to real student experience.
- Community alignment sustains long-term projects. Saratoga Springs' educational plan, built through summits, surveys, and teacher/student input, has guided nearly a decade of phased renovations back to a shared vision.
- Dream big before scaling back. Exposing districts to ambitious ideas (like learning stairs and dedicated informal spaces) helps them aim higher instead of defaulting to "practical" but uninspired designs.
- Every student learns differently — design should reflect that. Just as teachers and coaches adapt to different learning styles, school spaces need variety to support how each student thrives.
- Ownership and pride change student behavior. When students feel a space belongs to them, they take care of it and use it — evidenced by the pride shown in Saratoga's new fitness center and cafeteria.
About Amanda Vottis:
Amanda is an Architectural Designer and Accredited Learning Environment Planner with Mosaic Associates Architects. With over a decade of experience, Amanda specializes in designing innovative learning environments for K-12 public schools, colleges, and universities in New York. Collaborating with clients from initial project conception through completion of construction, Amanda enjoys helping clients design projects that align with their unique educational goals and community needs.
Amanda volunteers for the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) New York Chapter Board, serving as past President, and co-captain for Mosaic's CANstruction team.
Episode 338 of the Better Learning Podcast
For more information on our partners:
Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) - https://www.a4le.org/
Education Leaders' Organization - https://www.ed-leaders.org/
Second Class Foundation - https://secondclassfoundation.org/
EDmarket - https://www.edmarket.org/
Catapult @ Penn GSE - https://catapult.gse.upenn.edu/
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