As the designer of primary and secondary educational facilities, the author has become familiar with educational thinkers such as Sir Kenneth Robinson, Peter Senge, Ewan McIntosh, Daniel Pink and Howard Gardner--each promoting an approach based on system-thinking, self-directed exploration and multidimensional, interactive learning. In 2009, he…

Purposeful assessment of space for the understanding and improvement of the academic library is a relatively new area of inquiry. This essay offers a framework to consider different factors affecting such an assessment and insights for undertaking a meaningful inquiry about the relationship of space to an academic library's evolving purpose as…

Research on the enabling factors of innovation has focused on either the social component of organizations or on the spatial dimensions involved in the innovation process. But no one has examined the aggregate consequences of the link from spatial layout, to social networks, to innovation. This project enriches our understanding of how innovation…

Des Moines is an urban community located in the heart of Iowa. Des Moines Public Schools serves 32,000 students in a system with 62 buildings, including Central Campus--a Regional Academy. Central Campus is housed in four buildings, including the main campus at 1800 Grand located on the western edge of downtown Des Moines. As a regional academy,…

As campus renovation projects go, the Ohio State University's plan to turn its main library into "a library for the 21st century" is ambitious. The author describes the decade-long, $109 million transformation of the William Oxley Thompson Memorial Library. The overhaul calls for a complete replacement of all mechanical and electrical…

Two environments for children, and one for a couple, demonstrate flexible design solutions to user needs. (MLF)

Discusses nine of the most serious limitations of the office landscape concept: status screens, noise level, privacy problem, hazard control, security, unjustifiable changes, thermal environment, storage, and future planning. (Author/MF)

This brochure deals with three basic types of elementary schools: K-6, K-8, and senior elementary. Floor plans and sketches illustrate specifications for the school gymnasium, dressing rooms, drying rooms, boys' and girls' shower rooms, washrooms, instructors' offices, storage areas, stage, and playing fields. (Author/MLF)

This booklet illustrates a number of suggested plans, with the drawings presenting ideas for space arrangement, facilities, and equipment rather than prescribed layouts. In established schools, many of the suggestions may be applied to improve existing arrangements. Room plans are presented for combined woodwork-metalwork and separated…

The layouts and specifications in this booklet are intended to assist those involved in planning music facilities for elementary and secondary schools. Drawings, room plans, and text illustrate specifications for location; space relationship; combined and separate instrumental and vocal rooms; practice rooms; and auxiliary areas. Particular…

This booklet shows several schemes for the use of teaching spaces and quiet areas for the emotionally disturbed. There are designs for three levels of emotional disorder--severe, moderate, and mild. The schemes shown for teaching areas for severely disturbed children are fairly rigid in their design, with noisy and quiet areas being clearly…

A collection of 18 short articles dealing with the planning of programs and places for early childhood education comprise the volume. The importance of the right physical environment is stressed as a catalyst that enables a child to receive the best that people and programs can offer. Among the design parameters discussed are indoor-outdoor…

This presentation of suggested layouts and specifications for home economics facilities has been prepared to be of service to school boards, architects, teachers, and administrators who are planning new schools or making renovations to existing structures. Room layouts are shown for a foods and nutrition room, or the foods and nutrition area of a…

The findings of two studies establish some deleterious effects of unsatisfactory physical environment on school children. However, modern technology enables the exercise of total environmental control in new and existing facilities. Between the realities of today and the exceptations of tomorrow we have a transitional model--the open plan concept.…