Presents planning guidelines for wiring specifications for K-12 schools by reviewing advantages and disadvantages of using copper, fiber-optic, and coaxial wire. Addresses the future of network wiring and educational technology, and makes recommendations. A sidebar describes the physical appearance of different types of wire and a table compares…

School leaders striving to comply with federal laws that mandate access to classrooms and playgrounds for children with disabilities can learn from the experiences of the Oliver Wendell Holmes Elementary School in Oak Park, Illinois. A sidebar summarizes schools' obligations to disability law and lists resources for more information on accessible…

One aspect of the Architects and Building Branch (A&B) at the British Department for Education in London, England, is a program of "development projects" in which new ideas designed to meet changing educational and technical requirements are tried out. For these projects, in which (A&B) architects provide a full architectural…

A screening and ranking procedure for selecting school sites in California is based on the criteria of safety, environment, size and shape, location, soils, topography, accessibility, utilities, political implications, public services, cost, and availability. An explanation of these criteria is included along with a list of secondary criteria.…

Argues that barrier-free designs should be incorporated in the first steps of school facility planning to avoid the difficulties in meeting Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines during renovations. Explains why not all barriers need be removed to make a facility accessible to everyone. Discusses issues involving ADA guidelines and child…

Discusses the planning process of renewing old school facilities through the imaginative use of a district's existing resources. The following five planning and implementation steps are examined: the evaluation of existing resources; reconfirming the district's educational philosophy; compiling key facility program information; recognizing the…

Presents examples of school capacity assessment worksheets. Worksheets provide areas for listing classroom numbers, size, and capacity figures for all grades. The high school worksheet, unlike the other grades, breaks out classroom figures by specific room function. (GR)

Discusses the areas to consider when renovating a school to enhance student learning and achievement. The following areas are covered: structural condition, environmental quality, size and capacity, safety and security, site location, and symbolic value and aesthetics. (GR)

Discusses how newly built schools are becoming community activity centers with input from the community. Gives several examples of how communities were involved in the school planning and redesign process that also created room for community use of the school. (GR)

Describes an enrollment-forecasting process in which technical experts and local community stakeholders worked together to produce cost-effective, yet fairly accurate data. The large Oregon district employing the process gained insights to guide its attendance-zone and facilities-planning decisions and to garner community support. (MLH)

Examines an Albanian suburban school design whose structure is intended to meet the community's present and changing needs, and to stimulate learning. Examines design planning, the school's role in the community, and project costs and includes a drawing of the school's ground floor plan. (GR)

Discusses school design trends for increasing student populations and accommodating new teaching paradigms and technology. Also discussed is school planning and the question of whom the school of the future should serve and its role in the community. (GR)

Owners of public building projects are increasingly turning to Interdisciplinary Coordination and Constructibility Reviews prior to going out to bid. The ICCR is a methodical quality-assurance process designed to make building projects more cost effective, constructible, and of better quality. This article describes the Preconstruction ICCR…

Details the design of a distance-learning facility through analysis of its functions, paper-handling requirements, and current and future communications-technology needs. It also lists special features the facility should have, including up-to-date wiring capacities for telecommunications, uplink and downlink capabilities to satellites, and…

The reviewed book summarizes successful school designs and recommends directions for planning of new school buildings, both large and small. Criticisms of the book include an introduction that predicts future trends; a critical tone toward teachers and certain aspects of education; limited information on certain topics such as portable buildings…