James Seaman, PhD, AIA, ALEP Managing Principal
It is the cross-pollination of disciplines and a holistic approach to design that form the cornerstones of James’ career.”
James Seaman is not just an architect, but also an educational researcher. With a career spanning over twenty years, he has dedicated his work to designing and improving places for learning, and has managed, planned, and designed numerous innovative schools around the world.
James seamlessly straddles the worlds of architecture and education. His approach to designing schools begins with a deep understanding and vision for learning. He views the physical environment as a technology that can be designed to shape and support teaching and learning activities. This philosophy has led him to author articles about architecture and educational innovation and regularly present at conferences. He’s also an experienced teacher, having taught university courses in education and design.
James holds a Master’s degree in Architecture from Lawrence Technological University, a graduate-level certificate in Educational Facility Planning through San Diego State University, and a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and Educational Technology from Michigan State University. His academic work enriches his practice, as he approaches design with a methodology rooted in academic research.
Dedicated to the profession of educational facility planning, James has served as the President of the Association for Learning Environments Midwest Great Lakes Region, an organization committed to best practices in K-12 and Higher Education. He holds the organization’s top distinction of Accredited Learning Environment Planner (ALEP) and received a Regional Service Citation Award.
James in the News
2023 Annual Impact Report
Introducing Fielding International's 2023 Annual Impact Report: Leading as a Certified B Corporation™ Join us in celebrating our milestone achievement as the first school design firm to earn B Corp certification. Our Impact Report showcases our dedication to using business for good, highlighting our commitment to people, projects, and communities worldwide. Explore our impactful initiatives from the past year and goals for 2024 as we contribute to solving global challenges. What does it mean to be a Certified B Corporation™? Fielding International has the honor of being the first school design company to receive B Corp certification, joining a global movement of companies committed to using business as a force for good. Together, we are a community of businesses using our collective power to solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges, such as climate change, inequality, and—in our position—education. B Corp certification is a rigorous process that evaluates a company’s social and environmental impact, accountability, and transparency. By becoming a B Corp, we are committing to a higher standard of social and environmental performance, along with ethical practice. Moving forward, Fielding International committed to using our position as a B Corp to drive positive change in our industry and beyond.
Certified B Corporation™
We are thrilled to announce that Fielding International is now a certified B Corporation™! Fielding International is the first school design company to receive B Corp certification, joining a global movement of companies committed to using business as a force for good. Together, we are a community of businesses using our collective power to solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges, such as climate change, inequality, and—in our position—education. B Corp certification is a rigorous process that evaluates a company’s social and environmental impact, accountability, and transparency. By becoming a B Corp, we are committing to a higher standard of social and environmental performance, along with ethical practice. As a global design and education company, we believe our work should be more than just creating architecture. We have always been committed to creating nurturing places for learning where students thrive. Becoming a B Corp is a natural extension of this commitment. We will strive to improve our social and environmental practices by setting and achieving ambitious goals and implementing sustainable business practices across all aspects of our company. We will continue to engage our clients, employees, and partners to drive positive change in our communities and the world at large. The B Corp certification process has been a valuable learning experience for us. It has allowed us to identify areas where we can improve our social and environmental impact. We have gained insights into best practices and new ideas that we can implement in our business—making us better every day. We have always been transparent about our design process and practice by sharing our knowledge in articles, blog posts, books, and our online resource for school design patterns, SchoolPatterns.com. Becoming a B Corp reinforces our commitment to transparency and is essential to building trust with our clients and employees. Our B Impact Score is available publicly on our B Corp Profile Page. Going forward, we will publish our annual impact report, which will provide a detailed overview of our social and environmental performance and our efforts toward making the world a better place through school design. B Corp Impact Areas What does this certification mean for you? When partnering with Fielding International, you can be assured that you are working with a company that is dedicated to making a difference in the world. Together, we will set an example of how good business, meaningful relationships, and thoughtful school design can improve education around the world. Moving forward, we are committed to using our position as a B Corp to drive positive change in our industry and beyond. We will continue to innovate and push the boundaries of school design. We believe that business has the power to be a force for good, and we are excited to be part of a movement that is redefining success in business. By becoming a B Corp, we are making a public commitment to using our business as a platform for positive change, and we hope to inspire others to do the same.
Including Student Voice in School Design
Education Talk Radio Podcast / Equity & Access Featuring Fielding International's Mike Posthumus, Learning Design Principal, and James Seaman PhD, AIA, ALEP, Managing Principal, on the Education Talk Radio Podcast with Larry Jacobs. Listen Here
James' Featured Work
Cathedral Prep – The Salata Technology + Innovation Center
Erie, Pennsylvania, USA
South Clearfield Elementary
South Clearfield, Utah, USA
Bloomfield Hills High School
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, USA
YCIS Ronghua Early Learning Center
Shanghai, China
St. Martin de Porres High School
Cleveland, Ohio, USA
John C. Schiffer Collaborative School
Sheridan, Wyoming, USA
