Proper planning of school facilities is critical for all school districts no matter how large or small, whether major construction is in the works or the district is managing enrollment declines. When school districts properly plan for their school facilities they have better schools, more public use and higher value for public spending. This…

This paper addresses construction that takes place in or near the school building while school is in session--the most difficult kind of construction to manage. Success largely depends upon the preparation, competence, and goodwill of the school district's facility staff, the project architect/engineer, the contractor, and local school…

All private colleges and universities make strategic capital investments and consider the use of debt to fund those investments. From the commonplace purchase of photocopiers to the construction of new academic buildings or dormitories, investment decisions that yield long-term financial benefits must follow on the heels of careful analysis. To…

Managing complex capital construction projects provides formidable challenges to school leaders. Increasing enrollment, new state mandates, aging schools and the need for technology-rich environments are issues that require both more space and better quality facilities. Short-handed district leadership teams already find themselves more than fully…

Describes the array of contractual features between the project owner and the main contractor that can lead individually or in permutations to expediting the construction process and reducing the financial risks and expenditures of the project owner. (MLF)

Study of trends in financing public library buildings reviews data on federal, state, local, and private funding sources since the Carnegie era, and discusses statistics on expenditures by category, including construction, equipment, and site. Data are presented in 12 tables and graphs. (30 references) (MES)

As the leaders of the construction team, owners should (1) become knowledgeable about the construction industry, or hire someone who has that knowledge; (2) use familiar, tested, and fair contract forms; and (3) hire the most competent architects and engineers, and pay them fairly. (MLF)

Postoccupancy evaluation is a careful, systematic, and reliable process intended to ensure that findings can be applied to future buildings. Some of the important issues about postoccupancy evaluation are explored using questions that are often asked about this new component in the building delivery system. (MLF)

Describes construction process principles and discusses problems school owners experience: (1) laws that require selection of the lowest bidder, (2) decisions that must be made by the duly elected governing body, and (3) school board members who often lack knowledge about the construction process. Includes a quiz for owners and attorneys. (MLF)

Postoccupancy evaluation is a set of procedures and tools used to learn how well design ideas have worked in real buildings. Explores some of the important issues about postoccupancy evaluation using questions that are often asked about this new component in the building delivery system. (MLF)

This checklist outlines the basic steps to be followed from the time of the recognition of the need for a new building until the actual start of construction. (Author/CLB)

A school construction guide offers key personnel in school development projects information on the complex task of master planning and construction of schools in Australia. This chapter of the guide provides advice in the area of managing the construction process, covering such topics as consultant appointment and management, various contracting…

Guidelines for administrators concerning installation of a new campus telephone system address these issues: where to start; location and emergency power; the project team; paperwork; communication among those involved in installation; working with the local operating company; existing wiring; the external cable plant; special needs; and training…

This bulletin is intended as a resource for school system facility planners and architects who design schools. Ways in which decision makers can incorporate environmental concerns in the design of school buildings are detailed. Focus is on the design of interior partition systems. Partition systems in schools serve several purposes; they define…

Six City Technology Colleges (CTCs) were all site selected, built, and opened in under 2 years without being compromised by expense or loss of quality. This document examines this "fast-track" method of building projects using case studies of each school that illustrate the CTC concept and process. The CTC initiative is described…