Today's schools are increasingly focused on providing a balance between academic (reading, writing and mathematics) and 21st century learning (such as creativity, problem solving, collaboration and communication). All of these skills are important for student success after high school; however, these 21st century themes are difficult to assess in a traditional 'paper-pencil' exam. Rather, schools need classrooms dedicated to applied learning. Students can then demonstrate their understanding of these necessary skills in space designed for real-world application.