Design flexibility allows a new auditorium at an Illinois high school to be three theaters in one. While the large auditorium supports 1,200 seats, two rotating platforms can divide the large space into a 240-seat small theater and a 240-seat recital hall, leaving a 720-seat auditorium in the center. (MLF)

Examines security issues that planners must address at the programming and schematic design phase in key areas of the school building. They include the front door, safe halls and stairs, positive classrooms, and secure assembly. (EV)

Discusses planning, specification, and installation of student lockers, asserting that for the two basic types of lockers, corridor student lockers and athletic lockers, design considerations must focus on space requirements and ease of supervision. Discusses centralized versus decentralized configuration and locker size and type. Includes a chart…

The fourth in a series of articles on library buildings completed in the 1980s describes and evaluates new and remodeled buildings in Australia and New Zealand. The types of library buildings evaluated include state, public, academic, parliamentary, national, and special libraries. (30 notes/references) (Author/CLB)

Outlines several ideas for organizing the work area of a school newspaper. Lists steps for the organization of the room, the supplies, the work, and the staff. Assesses the benefits of this organizational scheme. (PA)

Eight elementary school teachers describe how they organized their classrooms to make unique, effective learning environments. There are ideas for creating a reading garden, shared spaces, more work space, more storage space, desktop folders, confined block areas, magnetic display holders, and effective room layouts. (SM)

Explores using modular buildings to solve space problems in an atmosphere of decreasing budgets and how these buildings are capable of addressing multiple needs. Also discussed are what administrators should consider when adding modulars, including using suppliers as consultants, planning site visits, and using turnkey services to help ensure…

Discusses the steps in preparing performance space in schools that can serve both students and the community, including its shape, the stage, and storage. Reducing background noise and considerations when making use of other school spaces for performance events are also explored. (GR)

Presents tips to help teachers best use their preparation time before school opens. Suggestions include making multiple student lists; designing classroom desk arrangements; reviewing cumulative records; adding desktop names and numbers; checking texts; posting correctable schedules; decorating only one bulletin board; creating box-trays for…

Discusses research on how much an average K-12 school should devote to student traffic versus programming space. Detailed space utilization data from the New Bedford Elementary School (Temperance, MI) is illustrated. (GR)

Discusses the need for furniture in college residence halls to be flexible, durable, aesthetically pleasing, and able to support technology. Explores what students prefer, customizing student space, and furniture finishes. (EV)

Describes how the University of Cincinnati, with the help of architects and a master planner, improved the architectural quality of its buildings, left more open space on campus, created pedestrian connections between campuses, and changed parking lots into green areas. Considerations on the costs associated with major architectural improvements…

In this article, the author talks about art in the classroom. He urges teachers to envision their classroom as a balance between inspiration and meditation, clutter and clarity, excitement and introspection. Remember that each student has a unique threshold for stimulation--what inspires one student to productive creativity may well trigger the…

This article describes a method for attributing research expenditures directly to assigned space that avoids the difficulties with traditional approaches that have arisen from the growth of interdisciplinary research activities where the attribution of research to the faculty member or unit is not strongly correlated with the location where the…

The basic dilemma in creating performance spaces in secondary schools is that such spaces often must serve multiple functions. Ideally, there should be three different spaces: one to present dramas; another for musical performances; and a third for assemblies--lectures, movies, political and community events. Often, the unsatisfactory solution to…