Google HQ Visit Inspires Northport HS Students Planning To Revamp Small Commons

NORTHPORT, NY — Several Northport High School students and staff recently visited Google’s Manhattan headquarters to explore the dynamic workspaces and office layouts that the district said have "become synonymous with the tech giant's innovative culture."

Students gained insight into Google's work culture and inspiration for how they can create a similar environment in their own school, the district announced.

Students met with Google engineers working on the Google Classroom team to discuss how their office spaces contribute to a collaborative environment. From various seating arrangements to specific furniture styles, students will take what they saw and incorporate it into designs for the school’s small commons.

The district plans to refurbish the space this summer to become more comfortable and functional for students. The commons currently houses lockers.

As part of the renovation process, student leaders will work with art and technology teachers to create digital designs and space plans, which the district’s in-house buildings and grounds teams will use to complete the work.

Some considerations noted during the trip include flexible furniture arrangements so the space can be rearranged for different purposes. Greenery and organic elements are also being considered.

"One thing I took away from this experience was the balance between private and collaborative spaces," junior Lily Eagen said in a news release. "I enjoyed that at Google, everyone had a choice

on which space fit them for a particular date or time, which was really cool! I hope to incorporate this idea into the small commons in the future."

Sophomore Satya Williams said she also enjoyed the collaborative spaces.

"During my trip to Google, I was inspired by their emphasis on collaboration and personal creative workspaces for all. I want to incorporate their culture of continuous learning and creative
problem-solving into the new small commons, fostering an environment that encourages kids to
make meaningful connections and ideas, as well as a place to study, is the goal."

In addition to taking inspiration from Google, students also had the opportunity to provide feedback to a Google engineer on the Google Classroom experience. Their feedback may be used to make improvements to the platform in the future, the district said. Looking ahead, the district intends to begin the small commons renovation this summer with hopes of completion in the fall.

"Not only incorporating students into the design process but having them actually be the designers and developers will ensure that we are creating a space that directly addresses student needs," Principal Rob Dennis said. "Being able to see how these types of spaces are used outside of school can help students envision their usefulness and get their creative process started."