Examines the trend at many institutions of higher education to construct unified science centers which stress the integration of the scientific disciplines. Offers examples of building design and design challenges, such as the integration of older buildings within a new science center. Suggests guidelines for the planning process. (DB)

Classroom density may be a more important planning consideration than size. The lower middle range for human social distance is 7 feet--not met in most classrooms containing 20 to 25 students. Students need ample space, since crowding causes behavior problems and increased maintenance costs. (Contains 10 references.) (MLH)

Provides estimates on school construction completed in 2001, construction projected to be completed in 2002, and projects identified as starting in 2002. Several data tables present profiles of what is included in buildings, expenditures by building type, and building activity by region. (EV)

Discusses planning and designing schools that serve fifth and sixth graders. This combination of grade levels is seen by many to be the school's greatest strength: fifth graders have the opportunity to transition from the elementary environment, while sixth graders are removed from the adolescent peer pressure of seventh and eighth graders. (EV)

Discusses survey results from 269 colleges, including 96 two- year, 85 four-year, and 88 universities about their use of technology in running and operating their facilities. Results show that colleges get high marks for thinking about automating various facility functions, but low marks on implementation. Technology use in security, building…

Discusses basis for the June 2001 U.S. Supreme Court's 6-3 decision in New York case "Good News Club v. Milford Central School," wherein Court held that the Christian religious club for students had the Constitutional right under Free Speech Clause of First Amendment to use public school facilities after school hours. (PKP)

Reviews basis for U.S. Supreme Court's June 2001 decision in "Good News Club v. Milford Central School," where Court held that the Christian religious club for students had the Constitutional right under the Free Speech Clause to use public school facilities after school hours. Explains impact of decision on board of education policy.…

Describes how, despite a series of fatal fires on campuses a few years ago, state and federal proposals to require sprinklers or other safety features on campuses have gone nowhere. (EV)

Although new understandings of career decision-making processes are emerging, the prevailing rhetoric points to careers imbued with new worker attributes--flexibility, job mobility, and constant upskilling. This discussion of the pragmatics of youth career decision making draws on a series of transition studies with Western Australian youths, many…

Pedagogy, the art and science of teaching, should be the driving force behind the design of any teaching facility. What is taught and how it is taught should determine the size, type, and configuration of educational space. The statement seems obvious, but often miscommunication and ill-considered compromises can divert a capital project from an…

Ortiz begins with research showing that safe, healthy, and uncrowded school facilities are a basic ingredient of a good educational program. When teachers work in well-designed and highly functional school buildings, they are able to be more effective than when they must teach in inadequate facilities. Ortiz sets these findings against the…

Explores the planning, funding, engineering, designing, and construction of the Elmer L. Andersen Library at the University of Minnesota that combined eight archives and special collection units into a single building. Considers how internal library planning meshes with the architectural design process and how the political process can affect…

Facilities that accommodate technology are much in demand today and nowhere more so than at colleges and in other learning environments all over the country. But the cry for "high-tech facilities" rings false: Buildings designed simply to look high-tech will be outdated more quickly than ever. It is no surprise that the very best…

Laval University is launching a series of major development projects aimed at meeting the needs of an institution that currently offers over 350 academic programmes to more than 36,000 students. This article will focus on three of the most important construction projects that are already under way or about to start: the Wood Processing Centre,…

These four articles relate to science and technology infrastructure for secondary and tertiary institutions. The first article presents a view on approaches to teaching science in school and illustrates ideal science facilities for secondary education. The second piece reports on work underway to improve the Science Complex at the "Universite…