Since it is impossible to separate the effect of the museum on the student from the museum setting itself, it is only natural that school administrators and educators might begin to consider how techniques used in designing museums might be incorporated i
- By Chris Sullivan, Adam Sullivan
- 05/01/11
Over the past decade we have learned a great deal from the relatively small number of campus employees who properly detect our presence while conducting these types of assessments. Consistently, we find that the people who report us to security and police
Replacing unsustainable energy sources with clean wind collection will reduce UNT's carbon emissions, as well as energy costs. Ultimately, the turbines will help UNT meet its goal of becoming a carbon-neutral institution by producing clean, renewable elec
In general, schools need to have at least three kinds of spaces classrooms, group collaboration spaces and commons spaces. The key to furnishing these spaces is to determine the instructional activity first, and then design the room layout and furn
Institutions of higher education are putting more emphasis than ever before on the physical plant that serves their students, faculty, and administrators. Instead of some small classrooms with moveable seats and some large auditoriums with fixed seats, wh
- By Michael Prifti
- 05/01/11
There is no question that having a good education has a profound and positive impact on the individual student, the community, the labor market, the economy and the country. Not having an adequate education increases unemployment rates and decreases earni
Now is a great time to perform a facilities checkup. This is not so much a full facility audit per se, but more of a systems or functions check. The intended outcome here is exactly the same as when a person goes to the doctor for a physical to make sure
- By Michael G. Steger
- 05/01/11
Take a look at three different systems deployed on different campuses: GateWay Community College in Phoenix uses a fire alarm system with a voice public address system as well as a network-based mass notification system; Gettysburg College in Gettysburg,
- By Michael Fickes
- 05/01/11
Mass notification for parents has become an absolute necessity in K-12 schools. When a serious emergency strikes, reports quickly appear on television and the Internet based on the best available information. If you have paid attention to media reporting
- By Michael Fickes
- 05/01/11
Working with the facilities and construction professionals who support them, educators and administrators in school districts across the nation are striving to create high performance schools that use less energy, have a smaller environmental impact and c
- By Bill Harris, Chip Lambert
- 05/01/11
As buildings age, budgets tighten, and tuitions rise, colleges and universities need to stretch their dollars through dual-purpose solutions that create environments to attract and retain students and faculty. The design of educational facilities is shift
- By Jennifer Hoskins
- 05/01/11
Let's face it, over the last few years everyone's budget has been optimized and right-sized till the eagle screams. But if a school doesn't stay on the cutting edge of technology it will lose its competitive edge. How does an IT department
Career education and high school academics have a history of being mixed together, but there are new methods of learning that offer students the well-rounded education and strong technical skills needed for the 21st-century job market and post-secondary e
- By Christine Beitenhaus
- 05/01/11
The way we teach and learn has dramatically evolved during the past decade. And yet, too often, our school facilities lag behind our understanding of how to best educate our children. To truly take advantage of the benefits of STEM, New Tech and other typ
- By Carla Remenschneider
- 05/01/11
Though the media regularly reports how challenging is it for Republican and Democratic elected officials to solve problems together, there was recently an example of a school safety success story that can be attributed to both parties. The results of this
The benefits to utilizing sustainable planning, design and construction are numerous. A great example is found in River Crest Elementary: It provides an educational tool for eco-friendly behavior for the entire community, while simultaneously serving as a
- By Miles Girouard
- 04/01/11
In light of tight capital and operating budgets, more districts are aggressively pursuing ways to reduce energy consumption in their new schools. Because heating and cooling is a primary driver of energy use, many project teams are focusing on ways to imp
Sedona administrators were fortunate to have bond money to invest in their solar equipment and program. Not all school districts can afford to do the same. For those districts, there is a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).
Duke University is no stranger to commissioning sustainable structures. With 290 buildings on more than 8,000 acres, the Durham, NC-based University boasts 25 U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certifi
- By Paul O. Manning, William A. Browne
- 04/01/11
Due to its offsite, factory-controlled process where skilled trades apply efficient, assembly-line techniques, the modular industry is able to build and deliver healthy, safe, durable, budget-friendly, green classrooms within a short time frame that meet
Suffolk University is a recognized leader in the campus sustainability movement, being named a City of Boston Green Business Award recipient in 2008, Massachusetts Wastewise Partner of the Year for 2009 from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental P
- By Erica H. Mattison
- 04/01/11