Just as technology has changed the way teachers teach and students learn, so too has technology transformed the way our industry manages school construction programs. Gone are the days when a school construction project had to be planned around the limitations of the contractor rather than the needs of students. Also different are the ways schools…

The rapidly rising cost of steel and other construction materials is forcing some districts that are building new schools to scramble for more money, delay work, or redesign projects. Nationwide, contractors and architects are finding it harder to give accurate estimates on projects, and some have even had to renegotiate contracts with districts.…

This book discusses building commissioning, which is the process of certifying that a new facility meets the required specifications. As buildings have become more complex, the traditional methods for building start-up and final acceptance have been proven inadequate, and building commissioning has been developed, which often necessitates the use…

The application of modern construction techniques resulted in 15 schools built in less time and at a lower cost than previously done in Puerto Rico. (Author/MLF)

Different, but related, services that consulting engineers have been furnishing to clients for years have been consolidated into a full-service concept to handle the project from start to start-up. (Author)

The ideas behind cost-conscious schools. (Author)

Construction management on educational facility projects provides boards of education with documentation showing the project is on track. Eight "myths" surrounding construction management are explained. (MLF)

This paper describes the Nordic "School of Tomorrow" network of educational buildings. It is commonly agreed among the Nordic countries that no one optimal school exists, but that there are many suitable architectural answers. The Network, established in 2000, meets once a year to exchange and discuss knowledge, experience, and ideas…

This guide addresses the most common considerations when building school facilities in Kentucky. Included are the regulations for the Capital Construction Process, the Kentucky Department of Education's Project Review Process, and a suggested document filing system. Additionally, it features common questions and answers regarding the Kentucky…

Florida Junior College turned to construction management to build at three locations on schedule and within budget. (Author)

The most common delivery systems for school construction projects are general contracting and the more proactive construction-management and program-management approaches. The most beneficial aspect of construction management, with simultaneously selected construction managers and architects, is its system of checks and balances. Program…

Discusses four steps to take before starting a major design and construction expansion program: (1) prepare a space program; (2) prepare a detailed conceptual estimate; (3) rank projects in order of importance; and (4) organize the institution to act effectively. (EV)

Examines the planning, renovation and enlargement, and funding of a new University of Utah football stadium that would also be used in the 2002 Winter Olympics. Contractor selection, solutions to construction challenges, and the steps taken to minimize risk and guarantee success of the projects are discussed, including the fact that the stadium is…

Shares some of the success stories of the University of Alabama's Design Build Services Department and the keys to achieving that success. The evolution of the school's in-house construction management is detailed along with the department's history. (GR)

Except for unusually large and complicated school building projects, it is more cost-effective to use consultants and in-house personnel for project administration than it is to retain an outside construction-management firm. (MLF)