Flooring for institutional, commercial, and industrial use is described with regard to its selection, care, and maintenance. The following flooring and subflooring material categories are discussed--(1) resilient floor coverings, (2) carpeting, (3) masonry floors, (4) wood floors, and (5) "formed-in-place floors". The properties, problems,…

The principles and problems of designing new building mechanical systems are discussed in this reference source in the light of data on the functions and operation of mechanical systems. As a practical guide to understanding mechanical systems it describes system types, functions, space requirements, weights, installation, maintenance and…

The middle school concept is explained for educators and architects. Discussion of the general considerations is centered around the choice of transfer age of 12 or 13. The building regulations which were formerly established for a transfer age of 11 are now being updated to 12 and 13. Floor plans of new schools and extensions to existing schools…

Much of the innovative work in the design and application of heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems is concentrated on improving the cost effectiveness of such systems through optimizing energy use. One approach to the problem is to reduce a building's HVAC energy demands by designing it for lower heat gains and losses in the…

The report of an international seminar on educational technology emphasized the distinction between learning and being taught. A change to active learning associated with the provision of resources to which the learner has direct access is seen as the new goal of education. These resources can take the form of "packages" consisting of texts,…

A study of the relationship between the behavior of preschool children (3-5-year age group) and the physical near environment has been initiated at Cornell. The illumination and sound levels, color, equipment, and spatial configurations in a nursery school room are to be varied, and systematic observational records will be kept of the level of…

The purpose of this article is to examine issues related to the design of training programs for educational personnel. An educational training program consists of sets of planned experiences offered in a prescribed sequence and manner but involves other factors as well, since a training program is an environment going beyond the explicit content…

Five privately owned homes and two university owned homes were examined by architecture students in order to formulate design alternatives to fit the houses with solar collection, storage, and control devices for supplementing domestic space and/or water heating. General principles advanced include why energy conservation and solar retrofitting…

A series of articles reviews current trends in library furniture, including designs to accommodate computer equipment and workstations, children's furniture, shelving, and display aids. Design requirements and evaluation criteria are discussed, and a directory of furniture suppliers is provided. (CLB)

Presents a decision model for planning learner feedback in distance education courses with emphasis on college-level teaching. Knowledge components in information processing models of learning are described, task analysis for learning from text is discussed in terms of comprehension, and criteria for designing learner feedback are examined. (LRW)

Describes the creation and development of a computer software package called SPIRIT which assists secondary students in all phases of the writing process. (NKA)

A library now in the final planning stages at Lehigh University is described. The new building will also house the university's computing center and related activities. The planning process is traced, indicating the relationships among various aspects of the process--academic, physical, fiscal, and political. (MLW)

Discusses design, development, and use of a database to provide organization and access to a computer software collection at the University of Hawaii School of Library Studies. Field specifications, samples of report forms, and a description of the physical organization of the software collection are included. (MBR)

Described is an index method that will help art teachers design, maintain, and control art classroom settings. The following topics are also discussed: the historical background for environments, the emerging role of the classroom environment, humane qualities in the classroom, and flexible qualities in the classroom. (RM)

Discusses the impact new technologies (particularly those of computers and telecommunications) and networks (bibliographic utilities, distributed networks, local area networks) will have on academic library buildings in terms of collection space and access, staff space and organization, user needs, changing functions and functional relationships,…