A series of planning-like studios are described that are both interdisciplinary and strongly structured to introduce architects to the nonarchitectural subject matter of urban design and planning. The Las Vegas and Levittown studios produced descriptions of the places studied and analyses of the physical and symbolic requirements they fulfilled.…

Describes an innovative approach to college and university facility improvement--creation of learning environments that integrate the advantages of a "virtual" learning environment with traditional campus-based instruction. Offers examples from a number of colleges and universities in which telecommunications technology, multimedia…

The behavior of 80 individuals with mental retardation living in community residences was assessed to investigate the influence of architectural features identified with homelikeness. Results found that adaptive and maladaptive behavior covaried with homelikeness ratings. Associations between specific architectural features and the behavior of…

Master campus plans of the University of California at Santa Cruz and the University of California at Irvine are compared. The two plans had similar origins but very different outcomes. The former, based on an innovative academic idea, was revised several times from 1965 to 1993. The latter, similar to other University of California campuses, has…

Recent experiences of manufacturing and commercial service industries provide insights to college facilities managers for combining downsizing with quality improvement. The Service Excellence Model emphasizes creation of shared responsibility, focus on core service processes, empowerment of cross-functional process-improvement teams, performance…

A rural New York school district has a nine-member facilities advisory committee charged to assess all of the facilities for needs of renovation and/or repair and prioritize a five-year plan for facility improvements. (MLF)

Discusses the need for cooperative planning in the design of library facilities and describes the roles of the library director, library staff, architects, engineers, and consultants in the planning process. The role of children's librarians in identifying the special needs of children is emphasized. A checklist for planning spaces for children's…

Discussed are several designs for integrating computers into the instructional program of the school. Included are the classroom based computer, the laboratory model, and the mini-lab model. Floor plans and suggestions are included. (CW)

The Education Writers Association report "Wolves at the Schoolhouse Door" examines the poor condition of public school buildings. The report, utilizing data from all the states and from personal contacts and interviews, presents statistics on enrollment, maintenance budgets, safety, financing, lack of data, and potential solutions. (MLF)

Describes a project in which third and fourth graders in a special education writing skills class learned how to design a house and make blueprints. Discusses the project's beneficial effects on student writing and public speaking skills, vocabulary, telephone skills, and effective peer interaction. (SV)

Reports on a study of students' perceptions of classroom environment and learning styles among 1,733 Singapore 10th-graders. Finds that school type had the most influence on the students' perceptions of both actual and preferred classroom environment. Also finds gender had lesser influence and learning styles had the least influence. (CFR)

Describes the design plans for San Francisco Public Library's new Main Library. Highlights include administrative issues, including the role of branch libraries; funding; technology, both for the building itself and for the collections; accessibility for the physically impaired; special collections; and future plans, including an integrated…

Three California court decisions suggest that school districts should work with their cities and counties to put policies and guidelines in their general plan requiring public infrastructures, including schools, to keep pace with development. (MLF)

This paper describes a training system developed in France for occupational therapists on accessibility for people with disabilities. The system is based on a methodology of home planning designed by an interdisciplinary team comprised of an architect, an occupational therapist, people with disabilities, physical medicine and rehabilitation…

Better physical conditions produce better student outcomes. Other factors affecting a school's physical environment and academic productivity include school structure, school size, teacher-pupil ratio, school location, grade-level configuration, and classroom size. Building or remodeling schools according to obsolete images is fiscally and…