When it comes to building student housing, the stakes for universities and colleges have never been higher. From competing for prospective students and environmental bragging rights to contesting for space on the typical campus, institutions face a fundamentally different landscape than they did when housing previous generations of students. A…

Doors serve a variety of needs and purposes in schools: (1) Exterior doors provide building security and protection from the elements; and (2) Interior doors control the movement of people among school spaces, help control noise and air flow, and act as flame and smoke barriers during a fire. In a lockdown, they serve as safety barriers. From a…

This publication discusses conditions that feed wildfires, how a building catches fire, determining the school's risk, creating a survivable space for the school, the importance of maintenance, the fire-resistant school, meeting code requirements, and related flood and mudslide risks. Much of this publication has been adapted for schools from the…

The failure of a roofing system is due to inadequacies in one or more of the elements of design, material, workmanship, and maintenance. Ways to avoid roofing failure are provided. (MLF)

Outlines factors to be considered in planning a dedicated room when a school system plans to become involved in a network of interactive television for distance learning. (MLF)

In today"s economy, public university administrators need to reflect on current practices for reporting and projecting space requirements to government entities as the cost of constructing new facilities or renovating space rises while income from legislative appropriations diminishes. As stewards of public buildings and funds, institutions…

These guidelines describe both the role and preparation of a Program of Requirements (POR) in the planning and design of capital improvements projects. The purpose of POR is to define very clearly facility needs and objectives to the designer. The POR consists of five parts: (l) the title page; (2) part A, a summary of the project and general…

The National Art Education Association (NAEA) began work on this general planning reference for school art facilities in 1989, basing its initial draft on a survey of over 90 different groups, including school districts and state education agencies. The final publication represents the views of a broad-based constituency. Photographs of existing…

The number of school fires is up nationwide. This article describes unsafe school conditions, problems with new fire codes, and the factors that contribute to school fires. Installation of sprinkler systems is recommended. A fire-safety checklist is included. (LMI)

At the request of the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools, the National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities (NCEF) has conducted "a literature search and review to identify best practices in [school] building design for accommodating the evacuation and sheltering needs of individuals with special needs or…

Over the past decade, thousands of new school buildings and renovations have been planned, designed, and constructed in the United States. Of these, only a small fraction will ever be evaluated against the educational needs of students and teachers. This paper reflects on the state of post-occupancy evaluation (POE) in the practice of educational…

The convergence of technical communication devices and services is transforming the learning, administrative, and facility control functions in schools. A communication system's study procedure uses a multidimensional matrix to assist planners in analyzing communication's infrastructure needs and configuration. (MLF)

The purpose of this guide is to facilitate the work of Georgia planners in systematically determining the size, nature, and functions of spaces needed for the construction or renovation of media center facilities after the minimum requirements for school media centers established by the Georgia Board of Education have been met. The first section…

The 1973 remodeling of the Emmanuel Mounier Lycee in Grenoble, France, shows how a secondary educational facility can respond to expanding school offerings. As background to the lycee's expansion, the author, who was principal of the school during its remodeling, provides general information on the French educational system and on the consequent…

Practical energy-design elements adaptable for schools include building orientation and shape, inclusion of an energy-storage system, window placement, double or triple window glazing, air-curtain windows, and the use of earth berms and trees as wind breaks. (MLF)