Provides tips for determining which school design is best for meeting the unique needs of a particular school district. Building toward educational goals and weighing the use of a prototype design versus a site-specific design are examined. (GR)

Discusses the influence of residence halls in supporting a college's admissions and recruiting process for attracting highly qualified students. It explores the trends in student housing needs and how a school can meet those needs, and examines possible funding solutions for dormitory renovations. Recommendations for developing housing strategies…

Explores locker-room design concepts that can be used to accommodate multipurpose athletic facilities and make the locker room more efficient and user friendly. Spaces are described that can be added to the typical locker room that will complement expanding facility functions. (GR)

Discusses how school design/planning can help a school double its life span. Examined are the importance of insightful planning and detailing by the architect, the need for quality workmanship by the construction team, and the value of proper maintenance of the building by the owners and maintenance team. (GR)

Examines the use of school relocatables to address the demands of increasing student enrollment and space utilization. Considerations involving location selection and building continuity are discussed as are preparatory planning for power hook-ups and inspections. Reasons for using relocatables are highlighted. (GR)

Identifies the 10 most common carpet problems in school facilities and offers solutions. These include: transition areas, moisture, spot removal, recurring spots, cleaning agents, allergens, wicking, biological contamination, equipment selection, and cleaning methods. Ensuring a successful maintenance program results in satisfactory appearance,…

Discusses six considerations when designing and building computer and technology features into modern educational facilities. Issues include selecting a location, adapting to next generation technology, and planning for networking and wiring needs. Suggests that planning efforts should make certain that the technology acquired coincides with the…

Discusses school site planning and policies and the problem of school sprawl. Cutting down on free parking to help reduce school sprawl is explored as is why planners and educators should think about public accessibility when designing schools. (GR)

Compares how Los Angeles Unified School District (California) and Las Vegas (Nevada) are meeting the increasing demand for highly functional school facilities in an era of growing student populations, limited funding, and tight schedules. (GR)

Discusses how an architectural firm took an abandoned mini-mall in Los Angeles and converted it into a charter school that helped revive the neighborhood in the process. (GR)

Presents results of informal research on smart homes and appliances, structured home wiring, whole-house audio/video distribution, hybrid cable, and wireless networks. Computer network wiring is tricky to install unless all-in-one jacketed cable is used. Wireless phones help installers avoid pre-wiring problems in homes and schools. (MLH)

Inadequate school facility planning carries fiscal, human, and academic costs. Building a responsive school requires that future inhabitants participate in the planning process. The accommodation of various building-use patterns, teaching methods, and learning styles reflects how satisfactorily a school building performs for its users. New…

Most facility and finance managers cannot adequately handle school infrastructure issues because they lack the tools to describe the problem appropriately. Facility accounting gives managers accurate deferral and projected replacement costs, using nationally recognized life-cycle and cost data. Facility accounting enables proper management of…

Discusses how one school district saved money while adding long- term value to its capital improvement project. Planning issues involving square footage requirements, quality of material to be used, and heating and cooling system selection are discussed as are concepts to increase student learning capacity for the same construction dollars. (GR)

Discusses the need to determine which construction approach best fits a school's unique needs before deciding how to design and build their facilities. The design-bid-build, construction management, and design-build approaches are examined; and tips for selecting a delivery method are listed. (GR)