Examines the trend at many institutions of higher education to construct unified science centers which stress the integration of the scientific disciplines. Offers examples of building design and design challenges, such as the integration of older buildings within a new science center. Suggests guidelines for the planning process. (DB)

Describes the building design of the York University Honour Court and Welcome Centre. Includes photographs and design drawings. (EV)

Describes the building design of the Centennial College Student Centre in Toronto's suburb of Scarborough. Includes photographs and design drawings. (EV)

Based on one school district's experience, discusses raised access flooring systems for schools. Addresses the nuts and bolts of such flooring systems, integrating an air delivery system below the flooring, advantages of floor-level air supply, and design issues. (EV)

Describes the Fine Arts Interdisciplinary Resource (FAIR) Arts Middle School in Crystal, Minnesota, an award-winning school building that the architects hope will create a more conducive learning environment. Includes photographs and floor plans. (EV)

A first of its kind in the state of Florida, the Seminole Community College's Center for Building Construction was constructed as a partnership project between Seminole Community College, industry persons and the state of Florida. A training facility for students in the Construction Trades Apprenticeship Program, the building stands on the SCC…

In the world of project execution, "design/build" is the convention. With its emphasis on the benefits of early involvement (integration of design, engineering execution, design-build, procurement, and construction decisions), it has become the dominant mode (Rothman, 2004). In this project, students explore the design/build principle of…

Explores the planning, funding, engineering, designing, and construction of the Elmer L. Andersen Library at the University of Minnesota that combined eight archives and special collection units into a single building. Considers how internal library planning meshes with the architectural design process and how the political process can affect…

Facilities that accommodate technology are much in demand today and nowhere more so than at colleges and in other learning environments all over the country. But the cry for "high-tech facilities" rings false: Buildings designed simply to look high-tech will be outdated more quickly than ever. It is no surprise that the very best…

Innovative teaching methods and organisational change make new demands on our future learning environments. The Brink and the Laak Clusters are two related examples of a new type of building for a community in the Netherlands. The Firebird School ("Vuurvogel"), a primary school for students from ages 4 to 12, is currently housed in the…

This article reports reactions to the detention of a man in Iraq who possessed computer disks containing information about crisis planning, emergency procedures, and possibly even floor plans for several U.S. schools. The laws and issues surrounding restricted access to this information are discussed. Experts say that in most states, documents,…

Going through the building process could take up to five years--five of the toughest and most satisfying years of an administrator's career. In going through this process, one can learn a great deal about the community and staff involved, and about onself. But even when the building project is completed, there is still work to be done: now is the…

This updated annotated bibliography of 93 items is intended for people who design spaces and facilities to be accessible for people with disabilities and for those who assure that such facilities are in compliance with regulations. It cites books, chapters in books, articles, and pamphlets, most of which were published from 1988 to 1993. It also…

The first universal library in history, the Alexandrian Library, was established in the fourth century B.C. in Greece and disappeared in the third and fourth centuries A.D., according to various accounts. In an attempt to preserve Egypt's historical heritage, the Egyptian government has decided to build a new library in its place--the Bibliotheca…

The second of two articles, describing how auditoriums could be divided with different types of operable walls, covers the rotating turntable technique of dividing auditoriums and the conflicting acoustical requirements for different uses. (MLF)