Preliminary evaluations of learning that takes place in such found spaces as a converted garment factory, a fallout shelter, a milking machine factory, and a hotel provide evidence that, while children may not learn better, their reactions to these places is positive. The results are low rates of vandalism, high attendance, parent involvement, and…

Discusses ideas for adapting old school buildings to meet current needs. (JF)

In a pinch for spaces a New Jersey school district turned an abandoned supermarket into an open plan school -- in two short months, for less than $1.40 per square foot. Remodeling was accomplished by a few vocational education students, their teachers, and parents. (Author)

Describes how a Michigan school district transformed several free-standing, "warm-weather" high school buildings into clustered areas connected by enclosed corridors. Space is now grouped by instructional area or the use of related equipment, and the building shell is tight and energy-efficient. (MLH)

Some solutions to surplus space usage in school buildings. (MLF)

Briefly describes each of 56 exemplary school modernization and renovation projects throughout the U.S. and lists a person at each site to contact for more information. (JG)

Stanford University erected a multi-use sports pavilion in 1972. This year, the old basketball pavilion was redesigned to house the school's personnel offices and architectural planning department. (Author/MLF)

An old U.S. Mint building is the answer to a college's search for downtown space and the nucleus of a future 8-acre campus area near the city center. (Author)

Addressed to arts organizations and public school districts, this guide comprises questionnaires and work sheets for step-by-step planning to use surplus schools for arts projects. An introduction alerts planners to the complex forces involved in reuse of surplus school space and outlines four common planning situations: an arts group actively…

Declining enrollments in many geographic areas result in space being available for a community school in many existing school buildings. Describes community school facilities that have been developed from found space. (Author/DN)

An architectural design competition for the conversion of an urban junior high school is described. The program emphasized development of--(1) space and flexibility to accommodate new educational concepts, (2) semi-autonomous sub-schools for different school population cross-sections, (3) enlarged resource amenities and guidance facilities, and…

School districts with surplus space and those wishing to obtain space more economically than by constructing conventional additions will obtain insights from this collection of eight abstracts of references in the ERIC system. (MLF)

Describes how renovation and a little imagination can convert a city's older commercial buildings into sensitive, supportive quarters for education. The demographic changes within New York are offered as an example to other cities of the need for new kinds of facilities, rather than the need for new additional structures. (Author/WM)

Describes a community planning laboratory process held to resolve the issue of reuse of excess school facilities. (Author/MLF)