Describes the building design of the Centennial College Student Centre in Toronto's suburb of Scarborough. Includes photographs and design drawings. (EV)

Based on one school district's experience, discusses raised access flooring systems for schools. Addresses the nuts and bolts of such flooring systems, integrating an air delivery system below the flooring, advantages of floor-level air supply, and design issues. (EV)

Describes the Fine Arts Interdisciplinary Resource (FAIR) Arts Middle School in Crystal, Minnesota, an award-winning school building that the architects hope will create a more conducive learning environment. Includes photographs and floor plans. (EV)

Discusses issues in designing and building a new playground, including age groups, safety, the Americans with Disabilities Act, site selection, and landscaping. Also touches on parent-volunteer building and equipment designed by kids. (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)

Explains how school media centers and libraries are transforming into bustling workrooms and why they deserve serious consideration during the design process. The main factors to consider in the planning phase of a media center are reviewed. (GR)

Discusses what education and schools may be like 10 years into the future in school design, community buildings, security, and technology. Forecasts examine how schools will return to their roots in the community, why technology will change the lives of students and teachers, and how security will largely rely on issues of school design and…

Provides examples of four university science buildings whose design fosters interdisciplinary interaction among students coupled with lab flexibility. Design concepts, innovations, and building layouts are examined. (GR)

Describes the expansion process and design of the St. Alcuin Montessori School of Dallas (Texas) which preserved the Montessori educational philosophy while adding a civic scale to the enlarged campus and a new centrally located performing arts center. Interbuilding access walkways that conform to the surrounding landscape while adding protection…

Presents descriptions and photographs of award winning education facility renovation and modernization projects for the 2001 American School and University Architectural Portfolio Contest. Included are each project's vital statistics, the architectural firm involved, and a list of designers. (GR)

Explains how New York's Niagara Falls High School, with the help of a public-private partnership, was able to create a forward-thinking school without raising taxes. Explores ways to design for school security, create a positive community relationship, and provide a healthy and effective learning environment. (GR)

Each month, "American School & University" provides a mix of thought-provoking features, how-to-articles, industry reports, exclusive surveys, new sections, insightful columns, new product introductions and case histories to assist education officials in better performing their jobs. This February 2005 issue includes the following: "Under Fire"…

Each month, "American School & University" provides a mix of thought-provoking features, how-to-articles, industry reports, exclusive surveys, new sections, insightful columns, new product introductions and case histories to assist education officials in better performing their jobs. This April 2005 issue includes the following: "Taking Pride"…

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…

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…