Discusses studies showing that color and light have a significant influence on how students learn and retain information (for example, daylight is much more beneficial than fluorescent light). Describes how many architects and designers are now incorporating these findings into their work in schools. (EV)

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare student achievement with three school design classifications: movement and circulation, day lighting, and views. Design/methodology/approach: From a sample of 71 schools, measures of these three school designs, taken with a ten-point Likert scale, are compared to students' outcomes defined by six…

Examines telecommunication technology's influences on interior school design and effective learning, and discusses how to implement this technology into the school. Building the infrastructure to support telecommunications in an educational setting and the importance of effective lighting are discussed. (GR)

Uniform illumination levels in the classroom and focused brightness on the "teaching wall" made good sense for students in Henry Ford's era. If you were training to take your place on the assembly line, you needed to focus on the work at hand and ahead to your supervisor, but the future no longer belongs to students who look only straight ahead.…

Explains why the architectural design of school facilities is the first step in the process of making safer schools. School areas examined include the front entrance design; the design of corridors, stairwells, and restrooms; and building placement. Other safety considerations discussed include lighting and other visibility enhancements, and the…

Examples of how open-plan systems allow architects both better flexibility and greater creativity. (Author/MLF)

Presents solutions to architectural challenges in school interior design; these solutions made the indoor environments more conducive and attractive for learning. Addresses four challenges: making a long corridor look less like a tunnel; maintaining tradition and minimizing cost in a new athletic facility; designing a kindergarten that is secure…

Schools vary in the way they choose to deliver their art curriculum, and this affects their accommodation needs. This document provides guidance on accommodation for art and design in secondary schools, concentrating on the needs of 11- to 16-year-old pupils. (No specific advice on the specific needs of special education students is provided.)…

Discusses design factors for using one-way video and audio, one-way video with two-way audio, and two-way video and audio in adult education. Considerations for audio quality, lighting, room arrangement, seating comfort, and decor are presented with illustrations. (SK)

This bulletin discusses the use of color in school buildings and describes those colors specifically designed for use in schools. Part I discusses the difficulty of using color in physical environments where many different and often conflicting needs must be met, encourages the systematic consideration of these needs, and suggests principles or…

The aim of good lighting is to not only provide proper illumination for building users to perform their allotted tasks, but also to pleasantly enhance the indoor environment. This document guides architects and engineers through the process of lighting design in the context of the recommended constructional standards for schools and the various…

The failure of the "open classroom" concept of the 1960's has not diminished the need for researchers to continue to look at learning and teaching to better understand how educational spaces can be improved for everyone that uses them. This document summarizes presentations made at the 1997 American Institute of Architects (AIA)…

As interest in green building grows, much discussion has focused on aligning a project with the principles of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification: (1) cost savings through energy and water conservation; (2) improved worker productivity; (3) health, insurance and risk-management benefits; and (4) enhanced building…

Reviews design factors to consider when planning library media centers. Highlights include planning teams; planning for more than one kind of learning; considering community as well as school use; planning for existing technology rather than future possibilities; considering ease of supervision; traffic patterns; lighting and sound damping; and…