To help determine how limited funding resources might best improve school facilities, the Beaufort County (South Carolina) Schools instituted a broad-based citizens' facilities planning committee. After assessing needs, visiting schools, and gathering sufficient information, a coherent plan was adopted and a countywide bond referendum introduced…

Program management is the complete management of all phases of all educational facility projects including control of procedures, schedules, costs, finances, and quality. (MLF)

Presents points to consider when organizing a computer laboratory. These include the lab's overall objectives and how best to meet them; what type of students will use the lab; where the lab will be located; and what software and hardware can best meet the lab's overall objectives, population, and location requirements. Other factors include time,…

Planning new construction is an opportunity to recognize indoor environmental quality (IEQ) issues. Provides an overview of some common IEQ issues associated with construction projects. A building's heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system is by far the single most common cause of IEQ problems and complaints. (MLF)

Provides an update on progress from the Lake Charles (Louisiana) library building project. Design activities related to selecting colors and checking drawings and samples are described; reasons for changes in original plans are discussed; and floor plans for nine of the buildings are included. (LRW)

Discusses 10 library roles that need to be taken into consideration when planning for a new facility: study hall, workplace, distribution center, cost center, part of a community, a museum, part-time parent, a store, an evolving organism, or something more. It is noted that different roles help determine the type of facility needed. (LAE)

A master plan for school facilities should be brought up to date at least every five years. Outlines sections of a master plan and describes ways to project future enrollment figures. (MLF)

For the postoccupancy evaluation of a Colorado high school, four instruments probed different aspects of the total facility. Tables show responses from different groups regarding the overall quality of primary space, building design, and site facilities. (MLF)

Highlights the questions to ask when designing or retrofitting the lighting needs for a multipurpose campus facility. Issues addressed include the tasks the facility is expected to accommodate, the benefits of available lighting sources, the facility's layout and dimensions, aesthetics and functionality, and budgetary considerations. (GR)

Discusses how one community middle school, whose creation was the result of involvement of the town it resided in, became a lifesaving facility for many of the town's residents when disaster struck. Examines the community-wide effort in the school's construction planning and its benefits to the community after its completion. (GR)

Reveals how one Chicago school district was able to build a new elementary school a full two and one-half years before a traditional funding process would have allowed it. Examines a planning process that included using the Council of Educational Facility Planners, International guidelines for developing a business plan, partnering with needed…

Examines the planning behind renovating the University of New Hampshire's multi-building athletic/recreational facility to accommodate additional sports use. Particularly addresses the challenges and solutions for adding a hockey arena in a facility with limited expansion options. (GR)

Discusses services architects can offer to those planning to build recreation centers and advice on planning the selection process for hiring an architectural firm. Concluding comments address important steps in the interview process during the final selection phase.(GR)

Discusses the tradeoff of speed and movability versus costs when using relocatable buildings to solve educational space needs. Concluding comments address building-code compliance issues driving up expenses and impacting facility planning.(GR)

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…