Describes how three buildings one completed (library), one under construction (music facility), one in predesign (science building) are infusing the University of Minnesota Duluth with a renewed identity and aesthetic. Photos and a floor plan are included. (GR)

Discusses how the educational reform movement in Italy demands new types of schools to accommodate new school cycles and maximize facility flexibility. Reviews ways that today's school construction approaches are attempting to meet these new requirements for the future. (GR)

Camp health center management begins with assessing the population served, camp areas impacted, and the contract of care with parents. That information is used to plan the size of the center; its location in the camp; the type of equipment; and considerations such as medication management, infectious disease control, size of in- and out-patient…

Describes how two school districts--one in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; the other in Yorktown, Virginia--involved their communities in a school building and renovation planning process called discovery through viewpoint and diagram (DVD). (PKP)

Describes the new San Pasqual Union School, designed to blend with its surrounding agricultural community in California; serving grades K-8, the 26-acre compound resembles a working farm, but buildings include 21st-century technology. Includes photographs, project data, and a sidebar on whiteboard technology products. (EV)

A review of more than 100 educational facilities designs revealed common themes: desire for small communities of learners even in large schools, facilities that reflect the community they serve, and larger, more flexible classroom spaces that serve a variety of subject areas. Also noted was an "everything old is new again" trend and attention to…

Describes the planning process and changes needed for converting an elementary school prototype design into a prototype design for a middle school. Three key influences that affected design are examined: the educational program; the instructional methodology; and the social concerns of an adolescent population. (GR)

Key requirements for a successful music program include a supportive environment, constructive communication, an effective floor plan, and quality equipment.Unless music education's value is recognized, adequate resources, funding, and equipment will not be committed. Music programs require substantially more space and soundproofing than regular…

Discusses a type of orienteering developed in Great Britain to allow people with physical disabilities to compete on equal terms. Sites are viewed from a wheelchair-accessible main route. The main skill is interpreting the maps at each site, not finding the sites. Describes differences from standard orienteering, how sites work, and essential…

Examines the school-within-a-school approach to middle-school design in creating multiple specialized learning environments for students. Discusses planning and designing these types of school environments, with emphasis on not confining or restricting students from experiencing the larger school environment's other functions and activities. (GR)

Discusses using consumer-focused techniques in school construction and renovation. Explains the idea of allowing community stakeholders to direct the design of a school, its value in design development for both the school and the community, and how this cooperation can inspire architects and designers. (GR)

A collaborative program of Indiana University and the National Park Service, the National Center on Accessibility provides research, training, and technical assistance to link the needs and preferences of people with disabilities to practitioners designing facilities and planning programs in parks and recreation. Research and recommendations…

In school construction projects a great deal of work and planning needs to happen before ground breaking starts. Lists consistent factors that should always be considered when setting up a facility-design timeline. (MLF)

Campus chapels once bespoke a school's curriculum, defined the student body, contributed to ambiance, and served as a recruitment tool for parents looking to religion to influence their children's character. As schools strayed from their religious roots, encountered pressing program needs, and faced funding concerns, many of these rarely used…

This article offer guidance for selecting and hiring an architect or planner, as well as insight regarding consultant fees and what can be expected for the money. This article is dedicated to planning--specifically, what to look for and how to find a planning professional. Furthermore, it is stated that in the qualifications-based process,…