Education, community, and business organizations are now organizing public forums to address school repair and modernization. This report discusses the need for school modernization assistance, the impact of inadequate school facilities on student learning, school construction planning to receive construction bond allocations, and examples of ways…

CCC Kei Wai Primary School (Ma Wan) is a 30-classroom 7-story primary school located at Ma Wan Island. The campus was completed in 2003. There are three arrays of photovoltaic modules installed on the roof with an expected annual yield of 5600 kWh a.c. electricity. This system is supported by a research project called "Building Integrated…

This paper draws on the experience of the Sebastopol Union School District, a small school district in California, which formed a team to manage facilities renovation. The team was comprised of the district superintendent, the architect, a construction manager, and a facility/financial consultant; it allowed the district to succeed at the school…

This document offers 19 case studies that show how people across the United States have kept historic schools as vital parts of their communities. The case studies address the most important challenges to the continued use of historic schools as educational facilities. They offer concise summaries of information that architects, contractors, and…

The Model Schedule for a Capital Improvement Program described in this paper encourages school leaders to consider a more holistic view of the planning process. It is intended to assist those responsible for educational facility planning, who must assure that all important and relevant tasks are accomplished in a timely manner. The model's six…

An outline and worksheets are provided for developing school design specifications that will meet the educational needs of students. The outline lists and briefly describes the key elements required of an educational specifications report, including a brief description of the community, the curriculum and support plans, building space…

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, the result of the committee's efforts, examines school room specifications for each grade level and administrative area.…

Describes an approach to new school design that looks at architectural issues from a different angle: channeling a wide range of information into a targeted collection of ideas on which the architect can then base a design. It includes the collection of both factual and emotional components that are brought together into a final design. (GR)

Describes how the Denver Public School District used detailed planning and precise fiscal management to build 10 schools rather than just the 9 approved by voters in a bond issue, as well as to renovate 22 other schools. (EV)

Describes how the energy savings, low cost, and near-absolute protection from tornadoes provided by monolithic domes is starting to appeal to school districts for athletic and other facilities, including the Italy (Texas) Independent School District. Provides an overview of monolithic dome construction. (EV)

Answers frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to planning for renovating or building school library media centers (SLMCs). Topics include the role of the school library media specialist, advance planning, importance of a written long-range plan, library consultants, courses on planning, design compromises, planning resources, professional…

Describes the award-winning designs of 13 campus master plans. Includes construction details and photographs. (EV)

Recounts what school district facilities managers learned from the flood and fire disaster in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Examines the clean-up effort, such as locating sufficient architectural and construction crews to meet repair demands, and unforeseen problems, such as toxic biological growth. Also describes the damage and repair expenses. (RJM)

Describes four operating libraries located at Union Theological Seminary in Virginia, Emory University in Georgia, Kean College in New Jersey, and Community College of Philadelphia. Their size, cost, date completed, architect, and various features are provided. Despite technological advances, the college library is a feasible part of higher…

Describes how two school districts--one in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; the other in Yorktown, Virginia--involved their communities in a school building and renovation planning process called discovery through viewpoint and diagram (DVD). (PKP)