Reader Survey
COVID-19 has changed and will continue to change every aspect of education in K–12 and higher education for the foreseeable future. We polled our readership to learn of the experiences taking place across the nation and get a glimpse of what's being planned going into the spring 2021 semester and beyond.
Learning Spaces
Facility Focus
Interiors
Contests
AT&T, in collaboration with non-profit Connected Nation, launched an online application for the AT&T K-12 Connected Learning Program, which offers free wireless internet service and mobile Wi-Fi hotspots for marginalized students nationwide.
- By Yvonne Marquez
- 11/30/20
Cleaning/Maintenance
This year, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, reducing the spread of respiratory illnesses like the flu is more important than ever.
Lab Equipment
HEMCO, a laboratory equipment manufacturer, released its CleanAire II Ductless Hoods. The hood is designed to meet DH I requirements as defined by SEFA 9.
- By Yvonne Marquez
- 11/30/20
Building Solutions, a real estate and facility assessment advisor, announced their “Building Solutions for Brighter Futures” campaign, an initiative that helps make improvements in underserved Dallas-Fort Worth area schools with the hope it will help achieve better outcomes for K-12 students.
- By Yvonne Marquez
- 11/17/20
Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District will break ground on a new elementary school at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18 in Baytown, Texas.
- By Yvonne Marquez
- 11/17/20
Adaptive Reuse
As the education industry assimilates to a new and uncertain future, we can take one lesson from 2020 with us: we must embrace innovative solutions and have the courage to try new things as we plan for the future. Adaptive reuse can support this endeavor.
- By Shelby Hinchliff and Paul Vanderheiden
- 11/16/20
PODCAST
In this episode of Schools In Focus, Turan Duda and Jeff Paine, founding principals of Duda|Paine Architects, discuss how architectural design is shifting to better address the mental and physical health needs of students.
- By Yvonne Marquez
- 11/10/20
The FreshAir1 Smoking Detection System is capable of monitoring up to 500 square feet and is suited for educational facilities to enforce no-smoking policies.
- By Yvonne Marquez
- 11/09/20
Classroom Spaces
With a curriculum centered on connection to nature and environmental stewardship, Linden Waldorf School's vision for the pavilions were to move all classes completely outdoors where students get to be in nature throughout the whole school day.
- By Yvonne Marquez
- 11/06/20
Sustainability
Colorado State University signed a deal that will move the Fort Collins institution closer to its goal of shifting all of its energy needs to renewable electricity by 2030.
- By Dian Schaffhauser
- 11/05/20
Construction
Construction workers are five times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 than other kinds of workers.
- By Dian Schaffhauser
- 11/05/20
Technology
An education technology company better known for its payment solutions is promoting functionality within its software to help schools manage the number of students allowed in a specific space.
- By Dian Schaffhauser
- 11/05/20
The structure will include a multicultural center and a rooftop auditorium and will largely replace the campus' Rice Memorial Center.
- By Dian Schaffhauser
- 11/05/20
Cleaning
The Cleaning Industry Research Institute (CIRI) will host a three-part webinar series called “COVID-19: The Second Wave,” beginning Thursday, Nov. 12.
- By Yvonne Marquez
- 11/04/20
Furniture
MiEN Company, a furniture company serving the education industry, debuted four new furniture products to help institutions outfit active learning spaces.
- By Yvonne Marquez
- 11/04/20
Sustainability
Sustainable flooring is a smart choice for schools interested in providing a healthy learning environment and demonstrating their commitment to a better global environment.
Sustainability
A community college in northern California has projected a savings of $4.2 million over the next 20 years from an implementation of solar.
- By Dian Schaffhauser
- 10/22/20
Career Tech
A South Carolina university has just set up a three-acre site to give their construction students a permanent space for hands-on learning.
- By Dian Schaffhauser
- 10/22/20
Accessibility
Northern Arizona University is working with Quantum Spatial, a geospatial data company, to develop an accessibility map to help people with mobility issues more easily navigate the hilly campus.
- By Dian Schaffhauser
- 10/21/20
Rennovation
The University of Central Missouri has gone public with an update on a multi-year masterplan for renovating the Elliott Student Union, dubbed as the "campus living room," by the university's community.
- By Dian Schaffhauser
- 10/21/20
Cleaning
How do you create a hygienic and safe environment equipped to handle everyday usage and increased handwashing activity by students, faculty, administration and staff? And, how do you improve the restroom experience to make it more appealing to its users?
Podcast
In this episode, we spoke to Tom Saccenti, a former campus police chief and security expert, about active shooter response planning in schools. His first piece of advice is to walk through an active shooter scenario with all teachers, janitors, staff members, etc. at the school.
- By Yvonne Marquez
- 10/13/20
Acoustics
When a physical space offers a little passive noise control, such as high cubicle walls, private offices or softer, sound-absorbing materials, the effects on the well-being of each person — as well as their productivity — can be profoundly impacted.
Spaces
Faculty, staff and students at Grand Canyon University's College of Fine Arts and Production have constructed an outdoor theatre for use this play season, which addresses COVID-19 restrictions while still allowing students (and their audiences) to enjoy live productions.
- By Dian Schaffhauser
- 10/07/20
Cleaning
Floors are too often overlooked when it comes to fighting the spread of infection. For many years, many hospital administrators did not even believe it was necessary to disinfect floors. Now we know better. Floors, as well as the tools used to clean floors, deserve close attention when it comes to minimizing the spread of coronavirus.
- By Robert Kravitz
- 10/06/20
COVID-19
Two new reports by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conclude that COVID-19 is spreading on college campuses due to congregate housing, the increase of social gatherings, and disregard for mask wearing.
- By Yvonne Marquez
- 09/30/20
New Construction
A private for-profit university in northern California has received city approval to build a new on-campus dormitory for its medical students.
- By Dian Schaffhauser
- 09/29/20
New Construction
St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, TX is nearing completion of new drone lab, which is on target to be done in October.
- By Dian Schaffhauser
- 09/29/20
Cleaning
Imagine a Roomba with a plastic pillar on top, roaming through a room dispensing disinfectant onto chairs, table-tops and other surfaces.
- By Dian Schaffhauser
- 09/28/20
HVAC
A building’s HVAC technology can help decrease the transmission rate or mitigate the risk of exposure. Thus, schools must consider their HVAC system as part of their overall COVID-19 mitigation strategy, in addition to social distancing, cleaning, screening, signage and operational practices.
Learning Spaces
A Colorado non-profit will launch a mobile preschool experience in October for families with children ages 3 to 5 years old who do not attend a traditional preschool program.
- By Yvonne Marquez
- 09/28/20
New Construction
The three-story, 75,000 square-foot expansion and renovation of the campus provides added capacity to a rapidly growing population in the Northwest Independent School District. The project was headed by Perkins & Will.
- By Yvonne Marquez
- 09/23/20
Contest
The eight-month campaign recognizes the work of K-12 custodians across the country and honors them and their school with a $15,000 prize package.
- By Yvonne Marquez
- 09/22/20
As part of a phased ramp-up in its return to full operations, Northwestern University Athletics and Recreation has installed filtration systems in the locker and weight rooms and other high-traffic spaces in its athletic facilities.
- By Dian Schaffhauser
- 09/21/20
Media Centers
If the global pandemic sidelined your plans for creating a very inviting, collaborative, nurturing media center space, get your vision back on track with these five success tips.
- By Christina Counts
- 09/21/20
Classrooms
Middle school students began classes on Monday at the newly constructed building at Roberts Academy, a private school for students with dyslexia.
- By Yvonne Marquez
- 09/14/20