Discusses the symbolic statement made by schools' entrances and lobbies and explores design issues of these areas. (EV)

Describes Clark County, Nevada's use of prototype school designs to respond to its rapidly growing school population. The purpose of the prototypes is to simplify designs so that schools can be built quickly and minimize the time and expense that comes with variations. (EV)

Asserts that one of the surest ways to prevent indoor air quality and mold issues is to use preventive construction materials, discussing typical resistance to dealing with mold problems (usually budget-related) and describing mold-resistant construction, which uses concrete masonry, brick, and stone and is intended to withstand inevitable…

Discusses how schools can effectively plan ahead for the rapid advancement of technology through use of wireless technology. Describes its flexibility and savings, and planning and design issues. (EV)

Using three examples, illustrates how interior design for schools is moving away from an institutional appearance, using ideas, such as a main street/neighborhood look and student art work. Schools described are Ft. Recovery Elementary/Middle School in Ft. Recovery, Ohio; Detroit Country Day School in Beverly Hills, Michigan; and Ocotillo…

Describes the design of the South Fayette Township High School outside Pittsburgh, the centerpiece of the area's 100-acre K-12 and community educational campus. The building strives to provide a balanced learning experience for both students and the community, integrating the academic, the artistic, and the physical. (EV)

When planning for a new facility, consideration of maintenance needs is crucial to successful design. Designing for maintenance needs involves considering such factors as the durability of materials used, the cost and lifecycle of the materials, and the flexibility of the maintenance staff. Stresses the importance of including key members of the…

Describes the design of two magnet schools in Connecticut: the Metropolitan Learning Center in Bloomfield, and the Performing Arts Magnet School in Waterbury. The former emphasizes global and international studies, while the latter incorporates a renovated vaudevillian theater. (EV)

Describes how one elementary school was designed to be a flexible, innovative campus that connects learning and the learning environment. The celebration of nature is carried out in many ways within the building. Students are exposed to great vistas from every interior location. Daylighting is infused throughout the school to reinforce the desire…

Describes the U.S. Green Building Council program, Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design, that has helped school districts around the country apply comprehensive environmental techniques to the design of 34 K-12 school buildings since 1999. (SLD)

Describes the development of technological design standards for a 35-school construction/renovation effort by Guilford County Schools in North Carolina. The standards encompassed the physical infrastructure, telephone systems, and paging systems. (EV)

Shows how school design can enhance study safety by facilitating supervision. Design concepts of limiting building access to outsiders, creating good traffic flow, and avoiding blind spots and informal gathering areas that resist monitoring are discussed. (GR)

Discusses how traditional high school cafeterias have changed in recent years into food courts and dining areas usually found in shopping malls. Areas examined include food court design, traffic patterns, safety and after-hours usage, and kitchens and serving areas. How one school district turned its food court system into a successful…

Offers a sampling of historic preservation projects by school districts. Examples include New York City Public School 157; Edward Lee McClain High School in Greenfield, Ohio; Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Melbourne High School in Melbourne, Florida; and Colonial High School in Orange County, Florida. (EV)

Discusses three key factors that contribute to the creation of school cafeterias as social learning spaces: access, ambience, and function. (EV)