Describes the prototype design for four prekindergarten schools in Spring Branch Independent School District in Texas, including educational context and design goals. Includes photographs. (EV)

Describes two recent vocational education school construction projects in Quebec: a school of forestry and wood technology, and a steelwork training center. (EV)

Superintendent describes team approach to school construction or renovation. (PKP)

Describes the award-winning design of 43 specialized educational facilities. Includes construction details and photographs. (EV)

Describes the award-winning renovation of 29 educational facilities. Includes construction details and photographs. (EV)

Describes the design of 23 ongoing school building projects. Includes construction details and photographs. (EV)

Describes how sustainable educational facility design, resulting from a holistic approach to architectural design, engineering, and construction, can generate capital, operational, and maintenance savings. Offers examples related to roofing, air quality, and lighting. (EV)

Discusses the new roles to serve changing populations that schools constructed for the 21st century must fulfill. Describes a collaborative facilities planning process developed by the National Center for the 21st Century Schoolhouse. (EV)

Discusses benefits of aluminum windows for college construction and renovation projects, including that aluminum is the most successfully recycled material, that it meets architectural glass deflection standards, that it has positive thermal energy performance, and that it is a preferred exterior surface. (EV)

Describes the design of the Agnar Pytte Center for Science Education and Research at Case Western Reserve University and the School of Law building at Gonzaga University. Discusses how their atriums serve as campus landmarks and create a welcoming sense of place. Includes photographs. (EV)

Discusses the history of financing school construction, and the condition of America's school buildings, including the age of school buildings, the cost and consequences of deferred maintenance, and the relationship of educational program to facilities. (SR)

Offers tips for selecting roofing products for new or renovated buildings. Examines various site-specific design parameters such as building life, climatic exposure, water drainage, traffic resistance, and insurer's requirements. Notes points to address in preparing clear, detailed, and well-conceived specifications. (GR)

Presents awardees of the Netherland's School Building Prize: those schools that have shown they can embrace new directions in school building design while adhering to budgetary limitations. Highlights general findings of the judges on school design and construct as presented by the 41 participating schools. (GR)

Many districts are using portables as relatively permanent installations. Although permanent buildings are more expensive to construct, their operating cost is only $1.30 per square foot, compared to $5 for portables. The overall cost of using portable classrooms to solve long-term problems eventually surpasses costs of building permanent…

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)