Far from the limelight of LEED, Energy Star or Green Globes certifications are the energy codes developed and updated by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and the International Code Council (ICC) through the support of the Department of Energy (DOE) as minimum guidelines for building envelope,…

Combining preventative operations and maintenance (O&M) with strategic retrofitting of building systems improves a school's energy performance. For schools with limited resources and experience, "quick wins" in O&M and retrofitting provide a valuable starting point to energy management. As a next step, strategically prioritizing long- and…

What should a campus do when it needs more learning spaces but can't construct new buildings? Dr. Benjamin Sill's first task when he became the director of Clemson University's general engineering program was to find space for classrooms and for the advising program. His search ended in the old YMCA building (Holtzendorff Hall), where space was…

Describes how school districts in Ohio have dealt with old, architecturally significant school buildings when state rules mandated that it would be cheaper to rebuild. Many districts found ways to renovate the buildings or convert them to other uses. (EV)

Describes adaptive reuse of college buildings, which involves reconfiguring existing buildings for entirely new functions, including its benefits. Examples include Bartlett Hall at the University of Chicago, Annenberg Hall and Locker Chambers at Harvard University, Goodrich Hall at Williams College, and Sarratt Student Center at Vanderbilt…

Conversion of a University of Oregon bowling center into a computer laboratory by the college union is discussed. Located in a renovated former bowling center, the Erb Memorial Union Computer Lounge is a self-supporting campus computer laboratory. User fees are charged for on-site computer rentals, laser printing, color plotting, and typesetting…

This practicum effort concentrated on the development and implementation of a renovation/conversion alternative to new school construction at the public high school in Wilmington, Massachusetts. The problem was overcrowded facilities. The strategy utilized to remedy this problem was to convert noninstructional areas of the existing building into…

Two university renovations are visual metaphors using craftsmanship and other arts to suggest larger contexts. (Author/MLF)

An imaginative joint effort by public and private interests revived the former Ridgefield High School (Connecticut) and transformed it into an executive office building. It will eventually revert to the town for another use. (Author/MLF)

Examines the transformation of a railroad warehouse into a college bookstore. The new 24,600 square-foot facility also is an art gallery, textbook center, gift shop, lunch counter, and coffee bar that is open to the public as well as students. (GR)

This article explains how a project owner can be an active participant during the design and construction of his/her facility. The author discusses the two levels of participation the project owner needs to actively work with the design and construction team. And he further states that a project owner can enrich his/her personal experience and…

Details on how a surplus school was transformed into an office for the Marin County (California) Office of Education. (Author/MLF)

A number of case studies show the conservation benefits of reuse and continued use of existing buildings. Energy savings increase when changes are adapted to individual circumstances. (Author/MLF)

As enrollment growth at Oregon Graduate Institute drew more people to the campus, the need for a central gathering place became clear. An old science building was rehabilitated with a first-floor kitchen, dining areas, plus 2 50- to 60-student classrooms. Renamed the Wilson Clark Center for Lifelong Learning, students and faculty now have a…

Describes how schools and universities are finding new uses for outmoded facilities, thereby saving on land and construction costs and in many cases preserving buildings that have achieved historical status in a community. Offers several examples. (EV)