Soil is a complex habitat for diverse biota. A significant challenge in teaching soil ecology is our inability to observe organisms as they live and interact in the soil. The objective of this article is to describe an interactive class project to help students visualize the sizes of different groups of soil organisms and to relate these to soil…

A citation from the 23rd P/A Awards Program for the design of a college art facility. (Author/MLF)

The first step in designing a work station that is appropriate for both the maintenance and repair of library materials is to determine procedures likely to be necessary based on the nature of the collection and the type of use it receives. Necessary equipment includes a work station with a bench and storage space (an illustration and a list of…

The Martin Luther King Elementary School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is as vandal-resistant as the designers could make it. The windows, skylights, signs, and ceilings were specified with vandal resistance in mind. (Author/MLF)

Lightweight air supported fabric roofs over stadiums in Pontiac, Michigan, and at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls will be the largest air supported structures to date. (Author/EA)

The new and completely revised edition of the Asphalt Handbook, a standard reference work in the field of asphalt technology and construction, summarizes with reference the information contained in other Asphalt Institute technical manuals. Major areas discussed include the following--(1) uses of asphalt, (2) terms relating to asphalt and its…

Techniques for improving sound barriers through the use of lead sheeting are described. To achieve an ideal sound barrier a material should consist of the following properties--(1) high density, (2) freedom from stiffness, (3) good damping capacity, and (4) integrity as a non-permeable membrane. Lead combines these desired properties to a greater…

Tips for proper site and building planning with reduction of future maintenance problems in mind. (Author)

The recently completed restoration of Thomas Jefferson's Rotunda at the University of Virginia is criticized as being the result of compromises and, consequently, an amalgam of its three previous designers. (Author/MLF)

Drew University will save money by consolidating all service operations in one building now under construction. (Author/MLF)

Large, pre-engineered school (including gymnasium, cafeteria, and offices) is ready in record time for New York City. (Author)

The University of Michigan has lowered its cost-per-square-foot for roof maintenance as the result of 20 years of continuing inspection, analysis and record keeping. (Author)

The Fuji Group's inflated structure (20 large circular pipes of rubberized canvas spanning a circular concrete base) may be the message for future school building. (Author/MB)