The relationship of color, light, sound, spatial arrangement, furniture and furnishings with the user is explored as well as his expected behavior as a result of different combinations of these variables. In effect, the environment of the library is shown to be as important as the service it offers. (15 references) (Author/NH)

Asserting that without an adequate acoustical environment, learning activities can be hindered, this paper reviews the literature on classroom acoustics, particularly noise, reverberation, signal-to-noise ratio, task performance, and recommendations for improvement. Through this review, the paper seeks to determine whether portable classrooms…

This paper explores the issues associated with poor acoustics within schools. Additionally, it suggests remedies for existing buildings and those under renovation, as well as concerns for new construction. The paper discusses the effects of unwanted noise on students in terms of physiological, motivational, and cognitive influences. Issues are…

In order to understand the dynamic influences of the physical environment on seating behavior, a longitudinal study was made of seating choices in the reading area of a university library. Based on analysis, a predictive model was outlined that extrapolates observed behavior in a space to new environmental settings. (BL)

This book is intended as a resource for those who create, adapt, and cope with settings for young children. It focuses particularly on all-day child care settings. Part 1, "Understanding Children's Settings," explores the power of the environment, or the "landscape" of children's lives--the array of settings they inhabit--and analyzes the…

Seven experts describe the elements that make college housing a success. (Author)

This exploratory study examines ho wan Internet-assisted design game succeeds in bringing forth children's own visions for the environment where they live and their definitions of a good environment. Two connected concepts in environmental psychology, the theory of person-environment fit and the concept of affordances, are applied in the analysis…

In Manteo, North Carolina, community involvement in planning and design phases of community revitalization led to recognition of the town's "sacred structure"--highly valued places essential to social processes, lifestyle, and sense of place. Identification and preservation of these places allowed community development without negative…

THE PRESENT STATE OF DESIGN ON THE PRIMARY SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT IS REPRESENTED IN A COLLECTION OF ESSAYS AND PAPERS. THE REPORT GENERALIZES ABOUT QUALITATIVE FEATURES OF SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT AND SOME OF THEIR CONSEQUENCES FROM THE STANDPOINT OF A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH GROUP'S OBSERVATIONS, IN THE COURSE OF WHICH SOME SYSTEMATIC…

Architects, group home administrators, people with mental retardation, family members of people with mental retardation, and college undergraduates substantially agreed in rating the homelikeness of 20 community residences for people with mental retardation. Clusters of physical features identified using an architectural inventory were found to be…

As a comprehensive reference source on carpeting usage in schools, this selected and annotated bibliography is divided into five subject areas. The subject areas covered are as follows--(1) facility case studies of carpeted learning environments gives an insight into actual situations along with the accompanying feed-back results and experiences…

Over the past eight years several combined behavioral and architectural investigations have been undertaken by Ewing Miller Associates. On the basis of data from almost 1,500 university students, an extended example of some of the results of these cooperative studies is presented. The work carried on relative to the college campus has dealt mainly…