Presents three examples of campus sports centers whose design and construction had to overcome some challenging location problems. Photos and project costs are included. (GR)

More colleges are turning to famous designers for new buildings, banking on the publicity and prestige a star architect will bring. This has led some critics to focus on cost overruns and poor planning, questioning the priorities behind the big expensive projects. Describes this controversial building design at several campuses nationwide. (SM)

Monolithic domes are less costly to build than traditional structures and can cost as much as 50 percent less to heat and cool. Districts across the country that have opted for monolithic-dome school facilities say their decision was a cost-effective alternative to conventional construction. (MLH)

Discusses life cycle cost analysis when deciding on flooring finishes and examines operations and maintenance cost effectiveness relative to hard, resilient, and soft flooring. A chart of evaluated flooring materials' characteristics, appropriate maintenance procedures, and recommended frequency is included. (GR)

Provides steps school administrators can take to ensure safe construction: stay visible, update students, separate students and construction workers, engage workers in the educational process, monitor student movement, observe construction workers, barricade work areas, watch for stored materials, check emergency exits daily, conduct fire drills,…

Depicts how Cornell University renovated its civil engineering and architecture building to include space for musical performances, teaching, and rehearsals. The article highlights the facility's contemporary design, which also compliments the form and massing of the original building. (GR)

Advises schools on keeping roofs healthy, thereby saving costly repairs to both the roof and the entire building. Discusses inspections, preventive-maintenance programs, weather, and when to re-roof. (EV)

Describes the Hawthorn Court Community Center at Iowa State University, Ames, and the HUB-Robeson Center at Pennsylvania State University. Focuses on the food service offered in these new student-life buildings. Includes photographs. (EV)

Explains the importance of knowing what condition the school's roof(s) is in and how to design a preventive maintenance program that is cost effective and will help extend the roof's lifecycle. Cost calculation techniques to value a roof maintenance program, maintenance documentation requirements, and roof surveying are discussed. (GR)

Describes the architectural planning for a new engineering and science building at the University of Texas-Pan American (Edinburg) where the campus design (Louis Kahn architectural concept) emphasizes an extensive and expressive use of brick and strongly geometric forms. How the new building retained the flavor of the old campus design while…

Explores the designs of three university residence halls that are intended to stimulate social and academic interaction, create a sense of community, and foster a feeling of belonging among students. Includes eleven photographs and a typical floor plan. (GR)

The seminar on "Creating 21st Century Learning Environments" was organized by the United Kingdom's Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and the OECD Program on Educational Building (PEB). The seminar was posed as a networked learning experience with professionals from throughout the world presenting their accomplishments and…

College and university administrators, especially the directors of admissions, who are on the frontline of the competition for prospective students, understand that college today is much more than an education: it is a lifestyle. They know that the size of the applicant pool and the eventual admissions yield frequently depend on one factor: the…

Many teaching and learning strategies are based on a deficit/gap analysis approach to student needs. Our capacity-building approach is a modest attempt to focus on what students already know and can do, and concentrates on building on that knowledge and skill in order to accelerate learning that becomes, deep, meaningful and enjoyable. Student…

The extent to which school buildings support education has been an important topic for policymakers. One issue is the physical condition of the buildings, particularly as school buildings age. Another is the ability of the buildings to accommodate shifts in the nation's population: some communities have experienced decreases in school-age…