Schools and universities throughout the United States now appear to be embracing green roofs as one of many environmentally friendly initiatives. However, once a green roof is in place, school managers soon realize they are not the same as typical landscaping. Although they tend to be relatively low-maintenance, the location and highly specialized…

A brief discussion of the need for innovation in modern school design. (AA)

THREE SCHOOLS WERE BUILT WITH EXTENSIVE USE OF GLASS INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR WALLS. AFTER ABOUT TWO YEARS OF USE, RESPONSE TO THESE FACILITIES BY TEACHERS, STUDENTS, ADMINISTRATORS, PARENTS, AND MAINTENANCE PEOPLE WAS DETERMINED BY QUESTIONNAIRE AND INTERVIEW. THE REPORTED REACTIONS WERE OVERWHELMINGLY FAVORABLE. (JT)

Schools must be considered as designed environments where individuals should be given maximum opportunity to engage in task activities with a minimum of adverse influences from elements in the designed surroundings. (Author)

This review explores which facility attributes affect academic outcomes the most and in what manner and degree. The research is examined in six categories: indoor air quality, ventilation, and thermal comfort; lighting; acoustics; building age and quality; school size; and class size. The review concludes that school facilities affect learning.…

Describes attributes of educational facilities that (1) influence occupants' performance (physical factors, task-related factors, user-friendliness, organizational qualities); (2) convey subtle messages (design statements, accessibility, spatial factors, aesthetics); and (3) influence programs and their delivery (technology, learning-style…

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…

Behavioral Path Analysis is both a theory and a methodology for studying person-environment interactions. It is designed to be applicable to the evaluation of both environments in use and proposed designed environments. This paper presents the basics of the theory, and some examples of recent applications that have guided its development. The…

Eighth-grade students were studied to learn how their interpretations of school situations are influenced by behavior and visual space attributes and settings. A variety of studies support the importance of relationships between the person and the learning environment. In this study, it was hypothesized that students would evaluate as more…

Topics of economical designing and planning are examined in both general and specific terms. Diagrams and photographs illustrate general conditions and principles while the text outlines criteria and provides specific suggestion. Subjects covered include--(1) building design fundamentals, (2) cost comparisons, (3) efficient design, (4) basic plan…

The proceedings of a conference called to institute a dialogue between the architectural and educational professions are summarized. Areas considered include deterrents to efficient dialogue, the need for research, parameters of research (foundational questions; flexibility; furniture, materials, hardware, and teaching equipment; information…

This annotated bibliography focuses on the effects of the physical environment on education. Topics covered include school size, architectural design, seating arrangement, environmental stressors, alternative learning environments, enhancing learning through environmental change, and special groups of students within the school. The first section…