Discussses the top issues facing schools as they build and renovate their facilities to meet the educational needs of the 21st Century. Issues include alternative school sites, ecologically friendly facilities, flexible spaces, outdoor spaces, schools as communities, smaller schools, security, technology, and school/community relationships. (GR)

Discusses the benefits to student learning of smaller schools and offers profiles of schools designed to offer smaller-scale learning environments: Mariner High School in Mukitea, Washington, Prairie Elementary School in Worthington, Minnesota, and High Tech High in San Diego, California. (EV)

The key to making smart decisions for school district facilities lies in comprehensive planning--a team effort that crosses lines of responsibility and expertise. A sidebar offers examples of questions that need to be asked and answered. (MLF)

Presents excerpts from a satellite town meeting where participants discussed issues common to the nation's schools. Topics include federal legislation for school construction, the planning of one school for future technology, ways school design influences learning, and community involvement in school redesign. (GR)

An experience-based exhibit emphasizes the visitor's active involvement: visitors become involved in inquiry cycles in which visitors' continued interaction with the exhibit builds upon the feedback they have received from the results of their inquiries. Presents 10 broad guidelines to consider when designing engaging experience-based exhibits.…

Defined as space, programs, staff, and involved students, graduate student centers build community among and create engagement for graduate students while also providing necessary services. This chapter explores the potential of graduate student centers to improve graduate education. (Contains 2 tables.)

Those who manage physical education, athletic, and recreation programs have a number of legal duties that they are expected to carry out. Among these are an obligation to take reasonable precautions to ensure safe programs and facilities for all participants, spectators, and staff. Physical education and sports facilities that are poorly planned,…

Each month, "American School & University" provides a mix of thought-provoking features, how-to-articles, industry reports, exclusive surveys, new sections, insightful columns, new product introductions and case histories to assist education officials in better performing their jobs. This June 2005 issue includes the following: "Raising the Bar"…

Presented here are the major reasons why an asset management system (AMS) is needed, a brief history of their evolution and a description of the initiative undertaken by Quebec to implement such a system. The appendix contains the recommended basic requirements for an asset management system. (Contains 1 figure and 4 footnotes.)

Generations ago, it was common for young students to learn their reading and writing in the same classroom as older siblings studying more advanced lessons. For those people educated in one-room schoolhouses, having separate buildings for elementary school, middle school and high school would have been considered the ultimate in specialized…

This article discusses and illustrates selected changes and trends in the way academic libraries are programmed and designed in response to changes in teaching techniques in higher education. The author draws particular attention to the new requirements for collaborative study in technology-rich spaces and makes detailed recommendations for those…

This paper constitutes the first of a three part series examining the boom in the construction and renovation of K-12 schools and the continuing challenges that communities face in getting the facilities their students and educators need. Part 1 reports on the increase of school construction and renovation that began in 2002, despite a sagging…

This directory provides information on various types of contract and outsourcing services available to colleges and universities. It contains profiles of approximately 2,000 service providers in 16 major categories: academic services, such as admissions, media and video conferencing, and testing; administrative services; advertising and marketing;…

A study was conducted at Southwest Texas Junior College (STJC) to assess current management practices used by the physical plant maintenance department (PPMD) and to develop a strategic plan for physical plant management. Procedures included an analysis of current management practices and systems that affect physical resources, and periodic and…

Noting that children spend an enormous amount of time in child care, this book illustrates the strengths of family child care and how to capitalize on these strengths by careful space design. Five chapters give advice on how to create a well-organized family day care environment. Chapter 1 discusses how to put first the needs of the provider, the…