An elementary school in a densely populated district with a heavy concentration of poor, minority, and immigrant students was scheduled for demolition because of highway construction. Kenneth L. Moffett, superintendent, took on a bureaucratic Goliath and secured a new school underground that is secure and beautiful. The school board named the…

Discusses the challenges inherent with ensuring that exit devices comply with guidelines specified in the Americans with Disabilities Act. Focuses on compliance problems with grasping the pull side trim on an exit device, the difficulties with surface vertical rods and latches in compliance with barrier-free guidelines, and other concerns. (RJM)

Discusses the ways in which schools can design for the changes in teaching and learning that new technology will bring. Examines the purpose and content of the district master plan in designing schools for the inclusion of technology as well as design considerations in each of the major technological areas of data and voice, video, and cabling…

Presents a detailed list of awards for elementary and secondary school facility designs across the United States. Awardees include entire new facilities, additions, new construction, renovations, and projects in progress. Each entry contains name and location of the school, design architects, and a description of the facility. (GR)

Presents a detailed list of awards for elementary and secondary school facility designs across the United States. Awardees include entire new facilities, additions, new construction, renovations, and projects in progress. Each entry contains name and location of the school, design architects, and a description of the facility. (GR)

Presents the opinions of five school design and construction experts on the future of school facility design and use. Issues discussed involve changes in classroom size, school facilities doubling as community-use buildings, emphasis on life cycle costing on construction projects, the future of modular school buildings, and the possibility of…

Describes a state-of-the-art community college facility (Center for Interactive Learning) that helps professors integrate technology and instruction to provide students with unique technology-enhanced learning experiences. The center's planning, distinctive features, and amenities are detailed. (GR)

Describes how the Portland (Ohio) school district selected an architect for its construction projects, and the evaluation form that was developed that helped qualify each candidate. Portland's evaluation form breaks down architectural-firm criteria into three categories: references, the firm's qualifications, and capacity to perform the work. (GR)

Describes how extraordinary collaborations between agencies, educators, architects, and others created special places to learn within the New York City school system. Discusses this group approach in fostering commitment and achieving success in creating innovative educational facility designs. (GR)

Discusses the advantages dome architecture gave to a new school technology center in Rock Port, Missouri. Advantages cover energy cost savings, lighting, storage space, aesthetics, accessibility, and convenience. (GR)

Examines a Florida Montessori school design that does not use air conditioning and is naturally lighted. Discusses design considerations that took advantage of natural surroundings, the architectural approach that helped bring the outdoors closer to the classroom, and the environmental pay-off. (GR)

Discusses how schools are meeting the athletic and recreational needs of students with multipurpose field houses. Discusses the importance of properly communicating the building's function to the architect, clarifies the difference between multipurpose and multi-use facilities and its effect on facility design, and explores how facility operations…

Provides three examples of how adaptive reuse can preserve the architectural character of a college campus while fitting older buildings to modern needs. Also revealed is how adaptive reuse can help integrate a college campus into a new community or simply save money. (GR)

Explores how school building design influences the success of children in preparing for the future. Considerations when renovating and upgrading school design to enhance learning are discussed, including issues of sustainability, collaboration, lighting, and ventilation. (GR)

Describes school library designs at four universities where each addresses different types of modernization needs. Described are designs that provide modern learning environments; knit the campus together without destroying architectural heritage of the school; compliments a 50's design while maximizing comfort, privacy, and group interaction; and…