In response to anticipated problems of declining enrollment, a pilot project in the city of St. Albert, Alberta, was the design and construction of a new school that could be converted to a senior citizen housing facility. (MLF)

Explores the major problems with many of the new state-of-the-art buildings designed to house child care programs and concludes that the buildings are too small. (BB)

This paper formulates guidelines for the design of children's play environments to optimize children's creativity during play. The paper defines "play," discusses Jean Piaget's work on cognitive adaptation, discusses creativity in the context of cognitive adaptation, and proposes designs for play environments to produce behavioral adaptation that…

Discussion of changes in school building design focuses on a conference held at Prairie School (Racine, Wisconsin) that included architects and educators who discussed what is happening in schools and in what directions school design should be moving. New environments needed for new learning styles are described. (LRW)

Culturally sensitive schools reflect the customs and heritage of the community served. Examples of such schools are presented, and considerations for planning culturally sensitive school facilities are described. (13 references) (MLF)

The school design process depends on open communication and the participation of various constituencies or customers. Today's architects use a variety of strategies to make sure they build the schools communities want. Describes approaches used by three architects. (MLF)

According to responses to a survey of 197 older adult learners, access, comfort, and convenience were better in College of the Emeriti classes held in continuing education centers than in main campus classes. Class location and design of the physical environment should be considered to ensure their appropriateness for the growing numbers of adult…

Describes how learning environments can be more educationally and optimally useful if the architecture of the built, natural, and cultural environments are used as teaching tools. Discusses how structures and the surrounding landscape can be used to teach physics, geometry, and other disciplines, enabling students to learn how to evaluate the…

Presents responses from the nation's leading educational architectural firms concerning design ideas anticipated to have an important role in the design of future school facilities. Ideas on classroom and flexible-learning-environment designs, schools as community resources, generic lab modules, and designs that integrate technology are included.…

Discusses the benefits of dome architecture for a community's middle- and high-school multi-purpose facility. The dome construction is revealed as being cost effective in construction and in maintenance and energy costs. (GR)

Presents solutions to architectural challenges in school interior design; these solutions made the indoor environments more conducive and attractive for learning. Addresses four challenges: making a long corridor look less like a tunnel; maintaining tradition and minimizing cost in a new athletic facility; designing a kindergarten that is secure…

Examines renovation efforts involving an old urban, magnet high school (North Fort Myers, Florida) that transformed it into an up-to-date school facility without interfering with the school's operation. Discusses design and planning strategies, materials used, and the environmental concerns that needed to be addressed. (GR)

Examines the design of a new library/art facility at a San Francisco high school that complemented the school's contemporary academic program and reputation for excellence. Discusses the planning and architectural strategies and the technological and convenience additions designed to meet greater student needs. (GR)

Describes the differences in design and materials involved when designing today's early-education center compared to its older counterparts. Also discussed are the importance of proper interior circulation, scale design, and incorporating areas for community participation in the center. (GR)

Advances a notion of decent school buildings as necessary to quality education, considering a perspective that balances science with the art of designing, constructing, and renovating schools. The article illustrates the issue by examining one urban elementary school's renovations, additions, and history. It contends that educators should view the…