Discusses the selection process when using outside professionals for school construction projects. The drawbacks of using competitive bidding for professional services are highlighted followed by tips on using a qualifications-based selection method that includes work-experience evaluation and conducting interviews for professional services. (GR)

The U.S. Department of Energy's Rebuild America EnergySmart Schools program provides school boards, administrators, and design staff with guidance to help make informed decisions about energy and environmental issues important to school systems and communities. "The National Best Practices Manual for Building High Performance Schools" is a part of…

Going through the building process could take up to five years--five of the toughest and most satisfying years of an administrator's career. In going through this process, one can learn a great deal about the community and staff involved, and about onself. But even when the building project is completed, there is still work to be done: now is the…

These guidelines highlight some important administrative and legal aspects of school construction projects (particularly under Alaskan law) and propose ways to address these issues during the process of selecting and contracting with school architects. The document first emphasizes the role of the architect, then reviews activities that should…

This guide from the San Jose Unified School District describes recommended procedures to promote and maintain a healthy and safe school environment during maintenance, modernization, or construction. Guidelines are presented in the following areas: (1) construction safety; (2) communication; (3) material selection; (4) heating, ventilation, and…

This document contains policies and standards to guide the design and evaluation of elementary schools in the Santa Fe Public School District. These policies and standards can be used for a variety of purposes: to serve as a checklist to evaluate existing schools, to identify capital outlay needs to bring all schools to minimum standards, and to…

This guidebook was developed by California's Office of Public School Construction (OPSC) to assist school districts in applying for and obtaining "grant" funds for the new construction and modernization of schools under the provisions of the Leroy F. Greene School Facilities Act of 1998 (Senate Bill 50). It is intended to be an overview…

Successful school construction projects require careful planning. School boards and administrators should consider architectural firms and contracts carefully. Reduce costs by hiring subcontractors, requiring documentation for proposed changes, negotiating frequent site visits by architect, organizing board subcommittee to review work, and…

Outlines a selection process for school districts seeking to hire an architect. Discussing choosing the selectors, questions the district should ask itself, the interview, and checking references. (EV)

Provides the historical background and process towards decentralization of Mexico's Administrative Board of the Federal School Construction Programme (CAPFCE), a decentralization that transfers responsibility for educational building to Mexico's 32 states. Lists key points of the decentralization agreement and explains the new role of the CAPFCE.…

The tenth in a series of articles exploring a single building project from commission through occupancy (the expansion and renovation of Longview Community College's Liberal Arts Building), this article explores how the architect can help to raise funding. (EV)

This booklet offers suggestions to those involved in planning school construction efforts, in order to help them better understand the process of designing and building such facilities, particularly with regard to the role of the architect. The text defines what good architecture is and what it should accomplish. It considers the services needed,…

This report describes new and innovative approaches to school facilities as they relate to their communities by exploring the trends towards smaller schools, presenting the pros and cons of smaller schools, and examining the solutions and strategies in smart growth planning. The report addresses the following questions: if school leaders,…

This guide addresses the most common considerations when building school facilities in Kentucky. Included are the regulations for the Capital Construction Process, the Kentucky Department of Education's Project Review Process, and a suggested document filing system. Additionally, it features common questions and answers regarding the Kentucky…

This publication recommends that school districts include a legal plan in every school construction project. The author discusses negotiating agreements with the project architect and construction manager early on; exercising due diligence in selecting the project team; determining proper levels of professional liability insurance; clarifying…