The author traces the growth of public library building in Finland, discusses the role of public subsidy legislation, and expresses the need for better library planning. (MF)

The article discusses building design for handicapped persons, focusing on the special needs of those with mobility, sight, and hearing impairments. (DLS)

The Terraset school design in Reston, Virginia, has met with immediate acceptance by students and the community. Its low energy consumption has made it a model for similar schools in Fairfax, Virginia, and Forth Worth, Texas. (MLF)

Some ideas about planning now for facilities that will be needed tomorrow for technical education at the postsecondary level are presented, with the facility arranged for modularized teaching materials. A drawing illustrates this concept. (MF)

The Brooklyn Children's Museum, the world's oldest children's museum, has a new home underground. The museum's teaching collection of artifacts is particularly strong in the areas of ethnology, natural history, and technology. Objects relating to these fields are organized according to the historic physical divisions of fire, air, earth, and…

Industrial materials are used in the new gymnasium at St. Mary's College, a Catholic women's affiliate of the University of Notre Dame. (Author/MLF)

A therapeutic recreation center for the retarded and handicapped is proving that barrier-free design has come of age. (Author/MLF)

The design of the Sherman Fairchild Center for the Life Sciences at Columbia University emphasizes the lightness necessitated by the building's placement on an existing five-story podium structure. (Author/MLF)

Black artisans and craftsmen constituted a specialized labor force in colonial America. Without their achievements it is difficult to see how the colonist would have survived. As producers of goods, contributors to building trades, manufacturers of furniture, and designers of household objects and decor, they also aided America in her aesthetic…

The tight urban site of St. Peter's College in Jersey City, New Jersey, suggested a rooftop sports and recreation area, and the bubble permits year-round use. (Author/MLF)

The nation's school buildings are generally in poor repair. This article summarizes the 1987 Council of the Great City Schools Report's observations, statistics, and list of budgetary considerations associated with technology, educational programs, building utilization, equipment needs, and priority-setting. Toledo's (Ohio) experience and a recent…

A brief background on indoor radon and the health risks associated with radon exposure, with special emphasis on nonresidential buildings. One school district's experience in radon testing and monitoring is included. (MLF)

Analysis of school utility bills is a good business practice for administrators. Efficient energy management of equipment is measured by the "load factor"--the ratio of average demand to maximum demand. An audit enables control of this factor. (CJH)

Provides step-by-step instructions on how to choose a design consultant for developing building renovation or new building plans. Includes a sample interview form and a sample group evaluation form. (MD)

Faced with deteriorating buildings, overcrowding, an inadequate budget, and government regulations, Columbia University needed data to support facility management decisions. After contacting organizations with similar facilities, the unviersity chose a space inventory database program developed by MIT for a consortium of academic, medical, and…