The aim of this study is to identify features of change in the recent design of school buildings in Iceland, and how they might affect teaching practices. Environmental and architectonic features characterising school buildings designed and built at the beginning of the 21st century are examined in light of challenges involving architecture,…

Purpose: The paper describes the purpose of and strategies for conducting post-occupancy evaluations (POEs) as a method for assessing school building performance. Set within the larger context of global efforts to develop and apply common indicators of school building quality, the authors describe research conducted within the newest generation of…

The manual is intended to help school districts comply with federal mandates for physical accessibility and least restrictive settings for handicapped elementary school children. A general introduction to the accessibility concept in chapter 1 considers the historical background, the role of the physical environment, and existing federal…

Describes how educational facilities can be renovated to meet future changes. Examines the different ways that technology is used in teaching and what administrators should consider when planning infrastructure for communications technology. Discusses the importance of advisory committees and of collecting data regarding school staffs' levels of…

The eleven articles in the volume concern methods and techniques for designing specialized schools, institutions, and other buildings or accommodations for the handicapped and particularly for exceptional children (both handicapped and gifted). Written by architects and others in this field, the articles discuss incorporation of both psychological…

Discusses how a facilities study will allow school districts to meet current demands, as well as plan for future needs. Describes strategies for evaluating how educational programs fit into a building's existing space and offers tips for inventorying the facilities themselves. Lists items to include in a facilities study. (RJM)

There are three building-design factors vital to young children: protection, interaction, and scale. School and classroom scale (fixtures, cabinets, doorknobs, furniture) should be suited to young children. Sample designs from Scarsdale, New York, and Kansas City, Missouri, are presented. (MLH)

This issue addresses (1) growing international interest in learning environments and their effects on behavior, and (2) design education, an integrated model for visual-spatial lifelong learning. It focuses on this new and emerging integrated field which integrates elements in education, new learning environment design, and the use of more two-…

Educational facilities for handicapped children are examined in terms of environmental design planning and needs. The first of four sections reports basic findings of the project Physical Environment and Special Education: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Research, which appraised by questionnaires and site visits the present status of special…

This report describes a study conducted by the Boulder Valley (Colorado) Public Schools to determine the impact and value of the district's open-space elementary schools as compared to its traditional school buildings with self-contained classrooms. Specifically, the study sought to determine the effects of varying school designs on (1) the…

An April-May 1976 nationwide sample of more than 800 schools in rural Pakistan provides data to form composite pictures of the typical boys school and girls school. An observation checklist records such aspects as: (1) government ownership of building; (2) structural soundness and maintenance of walls, roof, veranda, steps, floors, windows; (3)…