School administrators have always labored to find ways to squeeze more value out of their limited budgets. However, in recent years, more educators and administrators have been looking at their spending decisions from a long-term perspective. Planning education facilities for the long term has led many schools and universities to adopt different…

High-quality sports facilities are an essential tool in recruiting top collegiate athletes and coaches. They enhance the school's competitiveness and enable expansion of the school's sports programs. In choosing schools, top athletes and coaches assess the quality of the stadium, playing fields, track and courts. But they also will be looking at…

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)

Explains the use of proper collaboration when planning and designing an athletic facility. Consultation with the coach and athletic staff is stressed along with an explanation of administrating the planning process. An example of one school's answer to balancing athletics and academics is provided. (GR)

Explains why schools and universities should develop well- researched and financially prudent plans for equipping their facilities with technology. Guidelines are offered for building affordable high-tech classrooms.(GR)

Examines how clear planning for designing and building facilities can help schools avoid unforeseen costs and complications. Planning tips for design planning, bidding methods, and construction are addressed. (GR)

Examines the questions schools should address when re-evaluating how to protect people, property, and assets. Questions addressed include where and how to begin to improve security in a school, getting the most protection economically, establishing where electronic security should be used, using surveillance cameras and systems, and what the role…

Like their baby-boomer parents, the echo-boom generation is reshaping the college and university landscape. At 80 million strong, this group of children and young adults born between 1980 and 1995 now is flooding the college and university system, spurring a college building boom. According to Campus Space Crunch, a Hillier Architecture survey of…

Presents four key steps in planning for school security and creating a safe, secure environment for students: deterring the possibility of crime; detecting when something potentially troublesome has occurred; delaying criminals in order to give law enforcement officials the additional time needed to catch them; and recovering and continuing the…

Examines security issues that planners must address at the programming and schematic design phase in key areas of the school building. They include the front door, safe halls and stairs, positive classrooms, and secure assembly. (EV)

Discusses the tradeoff of speed and movability versus costs when using relocatable buildings to solve educational space needs. Concluding comments address building-code compliance issues driving up expenses and impacting facility planning.(GR)

Explores using modular buildings to solve space problems in an atmosphere of decreasing budgets and how these buildings are capable of addressing multiple needs. Also discussed are what administrators should consider when adding modulars, including using suppliers as consultants, planning site visits, and using turnkey services to help ensure…

Explains how schools can take advantage of energy-saving opportunities to better meet the needs of the future without increasing energy demands. Energy-savings ideas as components of a complete energy management control system are highlighted as are tips on saving energy through equipment and classroom design selection, and energy conservation…

Many school districts and education institutions are making green facilities a greater priority. Green buildings, also called sustainable or high-performance buildings, can provide many advantages for schools and the people who use them. They cost less to operate, last longer and provide a better learning environment. Constructing sustainable…

In recent years, scores of educators and designers have been won over to the view that natural light--provided by the sun instead of bulbs or tubes--is desirable and beneficial for education facilities. Studies that show students performing better in classrooms that have the right kinds of daylighting bear out the intuitive beliefs of many…