Dr Fiona Young is an architect and researcher specialising in learning environments. Fiona has over 20 years of experience designing learning environments across schools, universities and cultural institutions. Her collaborative approach brings together school leaders, educators, students, parents and other stakeholders as co-designers of their future environments. She works with school communities and design teams to build shared understanding of pedagogy and space, informing the design and use of educational facilities. She is co-author of the forthcoming book Shaping Places: A Framework for Effective Design and co-founder of Making Space, an award-winning initiative that helps educators develop practical strategies and protocols for activating collaborative learning environments. In 2025, Fiona founded architecture_with. Recognising the interconnected nature of space, practice and culture, architecture_with also works with organisations to build spatial literacy, empowering communities to harness the potential of their environments to support pedagogy and enrich learning.

photograph: Bowen Aricò for Zvelle