Describes demographic trends, rationale, and challenges related to the planning and design of schools and facilities that accommodate the needs of older adults. Includes descriptions of several schools and school-related facilities built with older adults in mind such as the Fairhill Center, an intergenerational school in Cleveland, Ohio. (PKP)

Describes the design of Hungary's new German School of Budapest, recipient of the 2002 Building of the Year award from Hungary's government. (EV)

Discusses issues involved in planning an athletic playing field, including player safety and the selection of artificial turf or grass. (EV)

Describes the award-winning design of the Centennial Middle School (Minnesota) that was built to hold 1,800 students but designed to not seem impersonal or institutional. Explains a design approach that helped give the school a small feel despite its large size while also complementing the surrounding community. (GR)

Describes the redesigned features of the Edison Schools of New York, a for-profit company which runs 113 public charter schools in "partnership" with local school districts. Designs are modular assemblies focused on technology with no blackboards, bookcases, or windows. Photos are included. (GR)

Highlights Stanford University's 220,000 square-foot Center for Clinical Sciences, the design of which represents a high-quality architectural departure from the old building styles and creates an elegant, solar-protected gathering place for scientists. Includes photographs, sectional drawing, and site plan. (GR)

Explains how architect Mathias Klotz skillfully exploited qualities of Santiago, Chile's, urban landscape, including mountains, low buildings, wide streets, modest houses, and cars to create a simple elementary and high school building that provides occupants with a sophisticated and rich environment. Includes nine photographs, three plans, and a…

Discusses the past and current organizational structure of Greece's School Building Organisation, a body established to work with government agencies in the design and construction of new buildings and the provisioning of educational equipment. Future planning to incorporate culture and creativity, sports, and laboratory learning in modern school…

Presents the fourth article in a series on the Longview Community College (Kansas City, Missouri) Liberal Arts building project. How architects are revising floor plans, evaluating building systems, deciding on furniture, and dealing with building codes are discussed. (GR)

Discusses the design of playgrounds to maximize play value and minimize risk. Considers four major risk factors--lack of supervision, inappropriate design for children's ages, falls to hard surfaces, and poor equipment maintenance--and discusses ways to design the playground to minimize these risks. (JPB)

Examines the design concepts behind the Manassas Park High School (Northern Virginia) that created the National School Board Association's grand prize for best new school in the country. Design features are discussed along with floor plans and photos. (GR)

Presents design features of the Oak Mountain High School (Alabama) consisting of an academic side of classrooms, administration, and media center; and an activity side consisting of cafeteria, gymnasium, practice gym, and a theater. The school's floor plan and photos are included. (GR)

Presents an architectural description of the Edmonds-Woodway High School (Washington), winner of the James D. MacConnel Award from the Council of Educational Facility Planners, International. Photos, floor plans, and project data and school statistics are included. (GR)

Presents 30 winners of the Council of Educational Facility Planners, International award for elementary school design. Photos, floor plans, and project data and school statistics are included. (GR)

Presents 10 winners of the Council of Educational Facility Planners, International award for middle school design. Photos, floor plans, and project data and school statistics are included. (GR)