An interview with Dr. William DeJong, editor of "School Construction News," is presented concerning his thoughts on new teaching models, the advent of computers, and the media hype surrounding school safety. Dr. DeJong addresses what the space requirements are for departmentalized versus interdisciplinary education; what problems he sees affecting…

The U.S. Department of Energy's Rebuild America EnergySmart Schools program provides school boards, administrators, and design staff with guidance to help make informed decisions about energy and environmental issues important to school systems and communities. This document is part of the suite of products developed to promoteenergy efficiency…

This book addresses the administrative procedures associated with planning and managing school facilities. As noted at the outset, practitioner interest in school facilities has been growing rapidly in recent years because decades of neglect, poor planning, and cost cutting have created a situation in which large numbers of America's school…

The educational specifications included in this document were prepared by the Madison, Connecticut public schools for Connecticut's State Department of Education School Facilities Unit. The result of a school facilities study, the specifications were prepared to serve two purposes: first, to fulfill state requirements regarding reimbursement for…

This guide for enhancing wildlife habitats on school grounds provides students and teachers the opportunity for direct, hands-on learning in the environment of their schoolyard. Geared towards grades K-8, all activities are developmentally appropriate to involve students on every level, resulting in student ownership of the project and a greater…

In accordance with the Connecticut General Statutes Sec. 10a-6 and 10a-8, the Board of Governors' prepares and presents to the Governor and General Assembly a consolidated capital budget request and five-year plan with recommendations for public higher education. Through passage of the UConn 2000 legislation, the University of Connecticut…

The development, content, and implementation of a space model at the University of Minnesota are detailed. Its objectives were to (1) obtain a management tool for assessing current space utilization and projecting facility needs; (2) assess quality of existing facilities; and (3) identify and assimilate the university's unique space needs.…

Notes that the location of any child care center is a key factor in its success. Provides four major objectives to consider when siting a center: (1) the center as a part of the community; (2) access and visibility; (3) desirable and undesirable surroundings; and (4) characteristics of the site itself. (SD)

Examines the notion of an early childhood education center organized as a series of houses around a common core of shared facilities. Discusses examples of child-care centers in Sweden and explores ideas that can promote functional facilities. Suggestions include ideas about physical-motor activities areas, administration offices, centralized…

Before 14 new lecture halls and 25 classrooms were designed, faculty at the University of Hong Kong were surveyed to determine their needs and preferences. Discusses results of the survey, design specifications for a "smart" classroom, computerized theater control systems, problems in the implementation of design requirements, and…

Cites the daunting need for school construction and repair funds. Explains how the federal Qualified Zone Academy Bonds and the America's Better Classrooms Act allow certain schools to finance the renovating and/or equipping of school facilities on an interest-free basis through the allocation of federal tax credits. Tables list the state…

Describes a computer network developed at the City University of New York Law School that uses device sharing and local area networking to create a simulated law office. Topics discussed include working within a multi-vendor environment, and the communication, information, and database access services available through the network. (CLB)

Educational planners must work within the same definitions and assumptions as their clients so that future facility planning will be based on educational programs incorporating equity, adequacy, and efficiency as inherent concepts rather than designs that respond to legal strictures. (MLF)

Lease-purchase finance is a viable alternative for school districts that cannot or do not want to employ traditional financing techniques. Outlines the advantages and disadvantages of lease-purchase financing compared to outright purchase; operating leasing, which is taxable; and traditional tax-exempt bond financing. (MLF)

Through rapid expansion, some city universities have run out of land. This forces a new approach to campus master planning involving collaboration with the city owning adjacent land. This approach is more politically charged, requires different planning skills, and usually requires consultants. San Jose State University (California) is an example.…