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…

Conflict often occurs between architects and superintendents during the school building process. Expanding the "Standard Form of Agreement between Owner and Architect, "provided by the American Institute of Architects, to include terms written specifically for the protection of the owner can help resolve such conflict. (MLF)

In 1993, 12 school buildings were honored by the Association of School Business Officials' Architectural Exhibition. Projects for the exhibition were divided into four categories, and entries were evaluated on numerous points. The buildings that won integrated contemporary challenges that many districts are faced with in their building designs.…

High-growth school districts can learn from Park City, Utah, about the adoption of school facility impact fees. These fees are levied against new residential units to offset the additional costs to a school district. A sidebar summarizes variation in state laws pertaining to impact fees and cites some legal challenges to their imposition. (MLF)

Describes changes in the construction, renovation, and utilization of school buildings to accommodate several new trends in education: Technological intervention, specialized facilities, schools as the center of the community, instructional areas, unneeded excess space, leases, and build-to-suit. (PKP)

Demographic changes and the obsolescence of many existing school buildings have led to an all-time high in the construction of educational facilities in 1989. Case studies discuss the different needs and design solutions of four communities. (MLF)

Outlines crucial administrator responsibilities during the planning and construction phases of a new or remodeled school building. Includes designing the program, contracting the architect, and establishing and selling a bond issue. (MLF)

A study based on policy data from 50 state education departments revealed that all states (except Hawaii) have policies and laws providing moderate or high potential for exercising local control over financing school construction. Liberty has remained a dominant value for school-finance policy despite legal interventions favoring equity. (Contains…

An examination of statutes and case law reveals that in most states the employment of architects and engineers by public school districts is exempt from competitive bidding procedures. (MLF)

Lease-purchase finance is a viable alternative for school districts that cannot or do not want to employ traditional financing techniques. Outlines the advantages and disadvantages of lease-purchase financing compared to outright purchase; operating leasing, which is taxable; and traditional tax-exempt bond financing. (MLF)

Costs that may increase the original school construction estimates include school-design inefficiency, architect fees, and costs for land, site development, technology, demolition, consultants, and security. A quality-review team can plan to avoid hidden costs and ensure that the new facility will meet instructional needs at the least possible…

In 1999, the 21st Century School Fund interviewed seven large school districts regarding management of capital-improvement programs. Researchers found three basic models: in-house management, other-public-agency management, and private-sector management. Systematic oversight and quality-control approaches will protect school systems from…

A long-range facilities plan includes anticipated large expenditures and contingencies. The plan should include an overview of existing facilities, enrollment projections, program changes, and projected capital improvements. A school-planning checklist is provided. (MLF)

Education remains a top priority in governors' 1998 state-of-the-state addresses. Most governors favor increased school funding, dedication of some budget surpluses to new school construction and long-postponed maintenance and repair, and funding for technology. Many advocate early schooling, reading programs, smaller class size, school choice,…

Constructing school facilities requires a multitude of considerations. Outlines a suggested sequence of processes and events that will be helpful in the three- to four-year planning phase. (MLF)