Capital expenditure at United Kingdom (UK) universities is rapidly rising, with new buildings erected on the premise that national and international competitiveness must be maintained. We examine students' engagement with and conceptualisation of university estate, and explore broader questions about the extent to which building design can…

Intentionally temporary housing environments, like student housing, where residents know they will settle for a short period may lack the social and physical factors that inspire a sense of home and community. Yet, these environments compete with traditional housing options to retain residents and therefore, universities want to create housing…

"Space, like language, is socially constructed; and like the syntax of language, the spatial arrangements of our buildings and communities reflect and reinforce the nature of gender, race, and class relations in society" (Weisman, 1992, p. 2). While institutions of higher education have granted physical access to African-American women over the…

Foothill College owes its tremendous popularity to the fact that it neither fits into the tradition of the modern movement of architectural art, with its in-group language of heroic forms constructed in brute concrete, nor the more esoteric world that sees high art in commercial strip development and A & P parking lots. (Author)

Urban universities present an inherent conflict for administrators who oversee campus planning and development. Some see the need to withdraw and create an academic refuge. Others believe a campus must integrate physically with the city in order to stay relevant. The two approaches cannot be more dramatically different, and they have profound…

The connections between the design and use of space in higher education, and the production of teaching and learning, and of research, are not well understood. This paper reports on a literature review on these topics, and shows that higher education spaces can be considered in various ways: in terms of campus design, in terms of how space can…

Some construction projects that colleges and universities have recently undertaken--residence halls, dining halls, student centers, athletic and recreation centers--have attracted significant criticism. Critics have taken issue with the proliferation and design of buildings intended to structure the use of students' free time and attract…

Since physical environment has such a pronounced effect on mental attitude, all efforts should be made to create pleasant buildings. This can be done by paying attention to the views, colors, textures, greenery, art objects, inviting places for small group discussions, special features such as fireplaces and outdoor areas, etc. (Author/LBH)

A study investigated the purpose, composition, procedures, breadth of responsibility, and effectiveness of campus design review boards at seven public universities. The boards' primary objective has been to protect the existing quality of the campus environment and ensure all new construction contributes to the desired quality of campus life. (MSE)

The new student union at George Mason University (Virginia) integrates traditional functions (food services, meeting rooms, offices, study areas, bookstore) with recreational activities (movie theater, dance studios) and academic uses (library, department offices, classrooms). Administrators hope the facility will bring faculty, staff, and…

Many of the references in this bibliography are followed by a listing of ERIC descriptors to indicate the contents. The items are listed in six sections: (1) residential learning facilities; (2) user research and implications for student housing design; (3) environment of residence hall and its effect on student performance and behavior; (4)…

Emphasis in this manual is on translating an institutional plan into the activities required for the capital expansion of an institution of higher education. The total institutional planning function is described and analyzed in detail in order to implement facility construction plans in an orderly and cost-effective manner. Four major categories…

Enhancing the learning environment and physical features of the college classroom are discussed in the light of educational programing. Concepts and principles for planning academic facilities and programs are given, including the instructor jurisdiction principle in classroom usage. The physical and psychological design needs for a learning…

The status of institutional efforts to overcome physical barriers for the handicapped is reviewed in this bulletin, based on SREB-sponsored questionnaire responses of representatives from southern colleges and universities. Recommondations for planning new construction or modifying existing facilities are offered, with some emphasis on using…