Schools and colleges see plastic bubbles as education's newest bag. (Author)

Recent developments made preengineered buildings attractive -- both aesthetically and from a cost standpoint. (Author)

Seven examples of prefabricated components that permit custom design and lower construction costs than do traditional buildings. (MLF)

Describes the design of the gymnasium of York (South Carolina) Comprehensive High School, a circular 12,000 square foot structure with a prefabricated domed roof constructed of steel hubs and curved wooden beams. (JG)

Mississippi College was able to construct a 48,000-square-foot multipurpose gymnasium/auditorium for $27.25 per square foot by using a prefabricated dome of gold and anodized aluminum. (JG)

Air structures can be erected quickly, cover large areas, cost substantially less than conventional buildings, and use less natural resources. Air structures are economically utilized for many facilities, such as athletic fields, swimming pools, high schools, day care centers, and college campuses. The literature on air structures covered in this…

The history, advantages, and disadvantages of component building systems are discussed. Application of the scientific method to the building industry forecasts the use of prefabrication and on-site erection of factory-made subsystems of buildings. Educational facilities in the United States, Canada, and England have made use of many different…

Describes the design and construction of a permanent 220-foot by 140-foot field house utilizing sloping concrete walls and an air-supported polyester fabric roof. (JG)

Describes the design and construction of relocatable modular classroom units that will be used in Florida to provide individual classrooms when and where needed, as well as to construct several complete schools. (JG)

AT THE END OF WORLD WAR II, ENGLAND EXPERIENCED A SHORTAGE OF TRADITIONAL BUILDING MATERIALS WHILE HAVING TO FACE THE PROBLEM OF PROVIDING MORE THAN 1 MILLION PLACES FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN IN 7 YEARS. IN 1946, THE COUNTY OF HERTFORDSHIRE BEGAN USING PREFABRICATED STANDARDIZED MATERIALS FOR SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION TO MEET THIS NEED. STANDARDIZATION HAS SO…

Describes design and construction of a new physical activities center at Dayton University that utilized a design/build approach and pre-engineered building systems to substantially reduce construction costs. (JG)

Because of structural or financial limitations, many existing school buildings cannot be rebuilt to accommodate the flexible space requirements of such innovations as open plan teaching, individualized instruction, or modular scheduling. Schools with such buildings can keep pace with educational change by using relocatables. At the present time,…

This review presents an analysis of the literature concerning the growth of systems building programs in education and reports on the conclusions of numerous architects and educators that the systems-built school may well be the only cost-effective answer available to today's educational facilities needs. The terms "building systems" and "systems…

This paper reviews briefly the literature concerned with the use of modular components in the construction of educational facilities. Fourteen of the documents reviewed have previously been cited in RIE. The essence of the material found in the reviewed literature is organized into and discussed under the topics (1) modular components and…

A COLLECTION OF 40 ARTICLES DISCUSSES VARIOUS ASPECTS OF SCHOOL PLANNING PROBLEMS. THOSE ON PRELIMINARY PHASES REVIEW--(1) ARCHITECT SELECTION, (2) DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, AND (3) SCHOOL COSTS. ARCHITECTURALLY-)RIENTED ARTICLES COVER--(1) CONSTRUCTION AND STRUCTURAL TYPES, (2) STANDARD SCHOOL PLANS, (3) FLEXIBILITY, (4)…