10/08/2026
by John Ramsey
There is a real sense of energy building across the learning environments profession. There is also a growing understanding that the challenges facing education are simply too complex for any one profession or organization to address alone. That shared belief is at the heart of the decision by the Education Market Association (EDmarket) and the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) to come together.
In October 2025, the boards of both organizations voted to join forces. This decision brings together two associations with complementary strengths, longstanding relationships and a shared commitment to creating better places for students to learn. Both boards have approved the merger agreement, and EDmarket’s eligible voting members have formally ratified it.
Between now and the end of the year, our staff and volunteer leaders will continue to bring together governance, operations, technology, programs and member services. We also plan to introduce an interim co-branded website and a new communications platform in January 2027. This is an exciting time for both organizations, and I am grateful to everyone who has helped us reach this point.
More than a merger
For more than a century, A4LE and EDmarket have brought together people who understand the tremendous influence learning environments have. Our combined community represents nearly every part of the school environment – from educators and district leaders to planners, architects, designers, engineers, construction professionals, manufacturers, dealers and industry partners. That breadth of experience is one of our greatest strengths, and it creates some remarkable opportunities for the future.
We have an opportunity to create a more connected community, one that brings education, planning, design, research, products and implementation together so that we can make better decisions for students and the communities we serve.
This is about much more than organizational efficiency. It is about strengthening the voice of our industry at a time when education and the way we think about learning are changing quickly. Together, we can create a more integrated platform for research, credentialing, professional development, networking and collaboration. The goal is to make the member experience clearer, more connected and more valuable.
Building the organization together
The A4LE and EDmarket boards will come together as an interim Board beginning this fall. This structure will guide the organization through the first several years of the transition while we listen to our members, evaluate the needs of the combined community and develop a long-term governance model.
Both organizations have strong identities, proud histories and loyal members. Our goal is not to erase what came before. It is to honor those strengths while creating something new that is ready to serve the future.
That means continuing valued signature programs, events, thought leadership, relationships and volunteer opportunities. It also means being open to new ideas and looking carefully at where better alignment can create additional value.
We will be thoughtful about what we change and when we change it. Decisions involving long-term governance, branding, programs and services deserve careful consideration. We intend to listen, learn and test ideas before making decisions that will significantly shape the member experience.
This will be a planned transition rather than a sudden change. Our focus will remain on continuity, renewal and building the right structure for the combined organization.
Councils, chapters and a more connected community
EDmarket’s councils have long provided valuable leadership, industry knowledge and member engagement. As we move forward, we expect these councils to remain an important part of the combined organization while also exploring ways to connect their subject-matter expertise with A4LE’s regional and chapter network.
Bringing national industry knowledge together with strong local and regional relationships creates tremendous possibilities. It can provide more opportunities for networking, professional development, mentorship and collaboration. It can also help us bring national programs, ideas and resources closer to our members’ communities.
I believe our regions and chapters will become one of the most important ways we strengthen the industry. They give professionals a place to build relationships, share ideas, develop meaningful programs and contribute directly to the future of learning environments.
By connecting the councils with this network, we can create more opportunities for members to participate in ways that reflect both their professional interests and their local communities.
Events will continue to play an important role in the life of the new organization. LearningSCAPES and our regional conferences have their own strengths, traditions and audiences. We do not want to lose the character that makes each of these gatherings meaningful. Instead, we have an opportunity to create better alignment by sharing themes, coordinating content and developing clearer pathways between events. The goal is for members to see these gatherings as connected parts of a larger professional journey rather than as separate or unrelated offerings.
EDspaces also remains an important part of the broader industry conversation. Although the conference is no longer owned by the Association, I remain committed to exploring opportunities to reconnect EDspaces with our association community and create greater value for everyone involved.
Our long-term vision is to bring together the full school environment community through experiences that combine meaningful education, strong relationships and genuine collaboration.
What members can expect
For members, the most meaningful benefits of this transition should be greater access, better alignment, stronger connections and less fragmentation. That includes expanded professional development, clearer credentialing pathways, more coordinated events and content and greater access to people and perspectives outside a member’s traditional professional network.
EDmarket’s dealer and manufacturer communities will gain access to A4LE’s regional and chapter events, programs and relationships. A4LE members will benefit from industry expertise, market knowledge, programs and connections that have long been central to EDmarket.
Most importantly, members will have more ways to connect with the people who influence every stage of a learning environment – from the first conversation about educational needs through planning, design, construction, furnishing, operation and continued improvement.
Any organizational transition of this size will bring both opportunities and challenges. The operational work is significant, but the relationships and cultures of the two organizations deserve just as much attention. Our responsibility is to bring their communities together in a way that feels welcoming, respectful and collaborative.
That is why communication and engagement will be so important throughout this process. We will not have every answer immediately, and some ideas will evolve as we learn more. What matters is that we continue to listen to one another, communicate openly and keep our shared purpose at the center of the work.
We want this organization to be built with our members, not simply presented to them after the decisions have been made.
A stronger voice for the future
By bringing together two organizations with rich histories, dedicated volunteers, experienced staff and complementary strengths, we have an opportunity to create something neither could accomplish as effectively alone.
Our ambition is to build an association that serves as a stronger voice for the entire school environment community – connecting education and industry professionals, delivering meaningful professional development, advancing innovation and helping create better learning environments for students around the world.
The future of education will ask us to collaborate more intentionally, think more strategically and remain deeply focused on learners’ changing needs. It will require stronger connections between research and practice, educators and industry, and the people who imagine learning environments and those who bring them to life.
Ultimately, this is about building a connected community that can help shape the future of our industry and make a meaningful difference in the communities we serve.
I hope you will join me at EDspaces and LearningSCAPES as we continue the conversation and begin building this next chapter together.
John Ramsey, CAE, ALEP, LE Fellow, is president and CEO of the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) and the Education Market Association (EDmarket).
