For a number of years, higher education has moved away from didactic teaching toward collaborative and self-directed learning. This paper discusses how the configuration and spatial geometry of learning spaces influences engagement and interaction, with a particular focus on hierarchies between people within the space. Layouts, presented as…

As the designer of primary and secondary educational facilities, the author has become familiar with educational thinkers such as Sir Kenneth Robinson, Peter Senge, Ewan McIntosh, Daniel Pink and Howard Gardner--each promoting an approach based on system-thinking, self-directed exploration and multidimensional, interactive learning. In 2009, he…

Des Moines is an urban community located in the heart of Iowa. Des Moines Public Schools serves 32,000 students in a system with 62 buildings, including Central Campus--a Regional Academy. Central Campus is housed in four buildings, including the main campus at 1800 Grand located on the western edge of downtown Des Moines. As a regional academy,…

A well-designed environment for maintenance and operation staff will pay for itself and will provide a morale-building atmosphere. (Author)

Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) is being used in schools and communities to improve the management of human space. Outlines CPTED concepts and strategies to implement crime reduction through environmental design of school grounds, parking lots, locker rooms, corridors, restrooms, and classrooms. (MLF)

Because of rising costs and rapid educational change, the architectural design of a school becomes important to the accomplishment of an educational program. The contemporary architect must design a building with one eye on its construction and maintenance costs and the other on new materials and products and on expanding educational programs.…

The Philadelphia Board of Education has begun to consider the purchase and conversion of commercial and industrial structures for use as teaching facilities. One such building, a six-story fireproof loft building, has been purchased for this purpose. This study investigates the possibilities and limitations of conversion and points up the…

In the preparation of written educational specifications, the content, organization and method of presentation of materials are far from standardized with no one pattern being advocated. There are, however, certain standards or criteria which are desirable for guidance. The educational specifications should provide the architect with all of the…

A study which was concerned with establishing data and a criteria basis for evaluating and designing research and science facilities is overviewed with suggestions for facility design. The surveying method, organization, and results are all included, revealing statistical information for science facility planners. Problems and misconceptions of…

In building a recent series of innovative community schools, Boston has created more diverse outdoor spaces than typically surround urban elementary schools. Being more complex both in program and design, the community schools have created complex patterns in use that were not anticipated. This research was commissioned to determine what has been…

High schools need new kinds of spaces to accommodate the many different ways students will work in the future. Floor plans show a 1,600-student high school that organizes students as a large school, a house, an academy, a small family, studios for 5 students, and, finally, individual study spaces. (MLF)

Architectural solutions to some educational problems are explored and a systematic method is presented for designing schools as learning environments for children. Classroom environments and outdoor play areas are considered as functional art forms and seen as three-dimensional textbooks. The book demonstrates a way of using curriculum as a design…

Two articles discuss the management of space in library facilities. The first focuses on three general aspects of space management: how to organize for space management; necessary data collection; and human factors. The second article focuses specifically on space requirements for library technical processes. (CLB)

The objectives of this study include the development of (1) guides for the planning and the remodeling of new school kitchens and lunchroom facilities and (2) standards of labor utilization for three sizes of cafeterias. The data reflect the results of over six weeks of observation and measurement of operations in various school kitchens,…

The present bulletin deals with the evolution of the school auditorium, and presents recommendations for the planning of the auditorium, with particular reference to the stage, so that the auditorium can be used as a theater, concert hall, for forums, for motion pictures, and for radio programs. The auditorium is one of the most important units in…