Value Engineering (VE) is a cost-optimizing technique used to analyze design quality and cost-effectiveness. The application of VE procedures to the design and construction of school facilities has been adopted by the state of Washington. This technical manual provides guidance in developing the scope and applicability of VE to school projects; in…

Among the nine steps developed by the Elloree Public Schools in Orangeburg County, South Carolina, are taking a crash course in school construction, considering hiring a consultant, defining goals, developing a management plan, creating a project description, drawing up a list of prospective architects, and soliciting presentations. (JBM)

This guide offers a detailed listing of the key practices and technologies that can help create a sustainable school. The document includes hundreds of cost-effective recommendations that can improve the energy performance and environmental quality of school designs. Each design and construction phase is addressed, from site selection through…

Schools that are planning to renovate, redesign, or construct a media center face many challenges. To help in these efforts, this booklet offers suggestions for planning and executing a media center project. It includes tools and resources that school personnel will need before mounting such a major project. Guidelines provided by the Library…

This manual contains current legal requirements and information on school building construction and inspection in the state of Utah. Major topics include facilities long-range planning; the role and responsibilities of the School District Building Official; school site issues such as size and location, impact, and acquisition and development; as…

The Georgia Department of Education has developed submittal requirements for planning and construction of educational facilities that cover such areas as project funding sources, copies required, and format; site plan; floor plans; elevations and sections; and heating, air conditioning, and ventilation requirements. Requirements also focus on…

This publication is intended to assist school lawyers, business officials, board members, and administrators in making sound decisions, understanding the legal implications, and securing the maximum contractual protections for the school district before a school construction project begins. The first chapter examines the necessity of investigating…

The National Science Teachers Association, in response to the emergence of new science curricula and the need for updated science facilities in the nation's public schools, convened a task force to develop guidelines for K-12 science facility design and use. This guide, a result of NSTA Task Force on Science Facilities and Equipment, includes…

This manual addresses the errors that occur during new construction that subsequently contribute to indoor air quality (IAQ) problems in newly constructed buildings in hot and humid climates, and offers guidelines for preventing them during the design and construction phases. It defines the roles and responsibilities of the design team, the…

An Educational Specification Committee was convened to determine the design specifications required for a new K-5 (and temporarily 6-8 grade) elementary school in Roseville, California's Dry Creek District. This report presents revisions to an earlier document that examined school room specifications for each grade level and administrative area.…

Examines an Albanian suburban school design whose structure is intended to meet the community's present and changing needs, and to stimulate learning. Examines design planning, the school's role in the community, and project costs and includes a drawing of the school's ground floor plan. (GR)

Owners of public building projects are increasingly turning to Interdisciplinary Coordination and Constructibility Reviews prior to going out to bid. The ICCR is a methodical quality-assurance process designed to make building projects more cost effective, constructible, and of better quality. This article describes the Preconstruction ICCR…

The Construction and Building Subcommittee of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) has established seven National Construction Goals for the construction industry and is developing baseline measures for current practices and progress with respect to each goal. This document provides a detailed set of baseline measures for the NSTC…

School enrollment is increasing in record numbers but the average public school is 42 years old, rapidly deteriorating, and technologically inadequate. The President's FY2000 budget includes two proposals for the nation's public school modernization: $25 billion in bonds for school construction and renovation (up to 6000 public schools); and $10…

Procedural and technical guidelines are offered for cost-effective planning and construction of new public school physical plant facilities for the state of Washington. The manual provides a chronological guide of the many phases of planning, financing, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating school plant facilities. In addition, the…