In today's economic climate, Americans must find creative ways to do more with less. School and university administrators are challenged with stretching budgets to compensate for the increased costs of construction, maintenance and operations. Furniture is a tempting place to save money. It is one of the last things put in place in a construction…

Explores planning and design issues that should be considered when selecting school furniture, fixtures, and equipment, including aesthetics, function, and flexibility. (EV)

Discusses the many factors schools and universities should consider when purchasing furniture, including its impact on the learning environment. (EV)

Discusses key factors to consider when selecting furniture for offices and other administrative areas, including flexibility, ergonomics, aesthetics, and cost. Includes a sidebar on dealing with bulky wiring at computer workstations. (EV)

Discusses choosing the right floor for an athletic facility based on the types of games that will be played there and the age of the players. (EV)

Discusses the issues colleges and universities face when choosing furniture for residence halls, including aesthetics, durability, student expectations, technology-friendliness, and encouragement of community. (EV)

Discusses factors identified by educational facilities managers as critical to selecting roofing systems. Describes the recent trend toward considering energy conservation when selecting roofing materials. (EV)

Discusses how selecting and properly installing audiovisual equipment and systems is critical to ensure that schools most effectively meet their educational objectives. (EV)

Discusses the factors that educational facilities managers must consider when selecting doors and windows for their buildings. These include finding a balance in terms of security, energy efficiency, accessibility, aesthetics, and durability; cleaning and maintenance; and noise issues. (EV)

Provides advice on purchasing classroom furniture at all educational levels, discussing the balance between comfort, aesthetics, and durability that must be struck depending on a school or college's particular needs. Also discusses features to look for in furniture for various grade levels. (EV)

Examines the selection process for an architectural firm in new school design and the importance of the firm including the philosophy of the school and its surrounding neighborhood into the design. An example is provided of a school design exemplifying the community vision. (GR)