A review of more than 100 educational facilities designs revealed common themes: desire for small communities of learners even in large schools, facilities that reflect the community they serve, and larger, more flexible classroom spaces that serve a variety of subject areas. Also noted was an "everything old is new again" trend and attention to…

Discusses why and how K-12 schools of the future will return to the community and become more of a focal point in urban planning. How information flow and technology will decentralize the way education is delivered is explored. (GR)

Describes the planning process and changes needed for converting an elementary school prototype design into a prototype design for a middle school. Three key influences that affected design are examined: the educational program; the instructional methodology; and the social concerns of an adolescent population. (GR)

Describes Saint Joseph University's (Philadelphia) construction and renovation project that created state-of-the-art facilities while preserving the historical appearance. Focuses on the renovation of Mandeville Hall, a residence facility, describing the special challenges that had to be overcome and the unique features that help the building…

Presents the 1998 architectural award citations for outstanding designs of K-12 school and university buildings, as well as specialized educational facility designs and works in progress. Cites each architectural firm along with the school name and location. (GR)

Examines the school-within-a-school approach to middle-school design in creating multiple specialized learning environments for students. Discusses planning and designing these types of school environments, with emphasis on not confining or restricting students from experiencing the larger school environment's other functions and activities. (GR)

Discusses using consumer-focused techniques in school construction and renovation. Explains the idea of allowing community stakeholders to direct the design of a school, its value in design development for both the school and the community, and how this cooperation can inspire architects and designers. (GR)

Discusses how including the community in the decision-making process for school design helps prioritize design needs in new school construction and inspires customization and creativity. Highlights an example of how community inclusion can help sell new-construction bond issues. (GR)

Provides expert guidelines on ways to keep schools and children safe from building fires, such as maintenance of exits for easy egress in emergencies, maintaining fire-protection systems, and utilizing evacuation planning and drilling. Highlights fire-safety ideas as part of school-building and renovation projects. (GR)

Recognizes 14 architectural firms for their innovative designs, which helped solve real-world problems in K-12 school facilities. Designs for retrofits, safety and security, and specialized learning environments are profiled and critiqued. (GR)

While many aspects of school design have changed over the years, unfortunately the process to find the best architect is the same in many ways today as it was 20 years ago. Design teams announce how many schools they have designed, show lots of pretty photographs and list what each team member will do on the project. Education is a business and…

Embedded in the public mind and school architectural design is a deeply rooted image of teaching. This traditional image, established well over a century ago, persists despite a continued interest and repeated efforts on the part of educators to change the every day experiences of teachers and students. Indeed, examinations of teacher practices…

Some construction projects that colleges and universities have recently undertaken--residence halls, dining halls, student centers, athletic and recreation centers--have attracted significant criticism. Critics have taken issue with the proliferation and design of buildings intended to structure the use of students' free time and attract…

The restoration of an historic school building in Battipaglia, Italy, will provide new public facilities and is hoped to boost urban renewal. The municipality of Battipaglia, in the province of Salerno, held an architectural competition for renovating the E. De Amicis Primary School and the surrounding area. The winning project, submitted by a…

Detecting cancer at a pre-cancerous stage, identifying chemical-warfare agents, removing contaminants from ground water: these and many more efforts are underway as the era of nanotechnology dawns. The newest of the new technologies, nanotechnology is this century's gold rush to build manmade machinery from microscopic particles. The…