Provides guidelines to follow in drawing up a contract with a school architect. Once the architect has been selected, a clear definition of mutual expectations and schedules must be outlined and documented in the contract. (TE)

Special learning environments for severely handicapped students can seldom be justified. Specially designed and often extravagantly costly physical space, which does not provide adequate opportunity for the generalization of functional skills to unmodified settings, should be viewed skeptically. The use of natural environments, without expensive…

The authors describe many current school design responses to mainstreaming as limited in scope, focusing mainly on barrier free environments. This approach, they suggest, is an incomplete one to a wide range of problems in mainstreaming. An analysis of the literature is seen to demonstrate that barrier free design is casually substituted for the…

With a new round of school construction on the horizon, planners must consider such energy conservation measures as placing energy consumption limitations in design specifications, retaining experienced engineers, using staff expertise, considering boilers offering fuel options, seeking outside assistance, resisting use of existing plans, and…

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)

Discusses the need for school buildings that are flexible and adaptable to any educational situation, rather than rigidly "self-contained" or rigidly "open." Such buildings are not tied to any educational fad that may become unfashionable, and they can accommodate many educational approaches, as well as noneducational uses. (JG)

A music education and performance facility for students, 90 percent of whom are legally blind, demonstrates that it is possible to produce exciting design for the handicapped. (Author/MLF)

With school enrollments fluctuating, educational administrators need to do a more thorough job of planning for future educational facilities. Educational specifications can provide a helpful planning foundation for the educator and the architect. The specifications should provide specific objectives that consider the teaching/learning process to…

Intended for special educators and architectural designers, the book provides specifications and lists of resource materials on facility design for handicapped children and adults. In an overview, R. Vosbeck discusses the need for cooperation between architects and educators and relates his experiences in planning facilities for exceptional…

The concept of environmental design cybernetics is explained, and its use by special educators and architects in creating learning environments is discussed. A proposed habitability framework is defined, and its applications to buildings and building occupants/users are offered. Research on architectural design applied to special education…

In this article, the author talks about legibility as an essential component of education facility design. Legibility is concerned not only with stylistic consistency, but also with other design factors that help make a building understandable. Reconfigured interiors and multiple additions can create confusing paths. Illogical assortments of…

Listed in the document are specific building needs for the handicapped. It is explained that the detailed survey forms can be used to determine building accessibility for a wide range of handicapping conditions. Survey information includes the specific building need (e.g. 12 foot wide parking space) and the letter code for affected function. Space…

This publication discusses the need to design school buildings that are both flexible (i.e., responsive to frequent slight changes in use) and adaptable (i.e., responsive to infrequent major changes in use) and examines three actual school buildings that illustrate different approaches to achieving building flexibility and/or adaptability. Part 1…

The conclusion of a six-part series on planning and designing media facilities deals with problems of security. (Author/MLF)

This document presents the process of radon diagnostics and mitigation in schools to help educators determine the best way to reduce elevated radon levels found in a school. The guidebook is designed to guide school leaders through the process of measuring radon levels, selecting the best mitigation strategy, and directing the efforts of a…