When it comes to restrooms and locker rooms, how you divide people makes a big impact on multiple levels. The maintenance crew's efficiency hangs on how you position the partitions between stalls. And users' comfort hinges on everything from the
- By Julie Sturgeon
- 12/01/08
Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205, in Elmhurst, IL, welcomed the public to tour the newly renovated and expanded Hawthorne Elementary School. A special dedication to celebrate the completion of the school's $16M makeover was held in Septemb
Undoubtedly, audio visual and presentation system technologies are becoming increasingly embedded components of classroom instruction. Administrators must evaluate its relevance and rigor what's being used, how and why it's being used, ho
No one out there will disagree that 2008 has not been without its challenges, but those of us who have grown up in the industry have met challenges like this before and won and I am confident that we will again. In addition to the economy, there ha
Many of today's colleges and universities are thinking about building a new kind of housing one that's very different from the dorms, residence halls, suites, apartments, or anything else they've ever done before. It's retiremen
Built on the site of an 1887 school, the 1920s Lone Pine Elementary School in east Medford, OR, is about to undergo a phased renovation and construction project that will result in an eco-friendly, mostly new school.
Security experts who understand how K-12 schools work can usually prevent deadly gaps upfront and, as seen in this case, can often help correct misapplication of security technology. Clearly, the assessment process is far smoother and much less expensive
- By Russell Bentley
- 12/01/08
Merrill Community Schools, a district that serves over 800 students in Saginaw County, MI, faced tight budgets, inefficient building systems, and rising energy costs. But although the district wanted to make infrastructure improvements and cut its utility
Virtual campus tours are one of the first sources for many prospective college students to find information about not only the school itself, but also the experience of being on the campus and the image of the school. Students often go online first to fin
- By Christine Beitenhaus
- 12/01/08
Although a green roof can eventually pay for itself by reducing heating and cooling needs and by providing other benefits, these only occur if the roof is properly maintained. This usually involves several steps: pre-installation consideration and proper
- By Robert Kravitz
- 12/01/08
The inauguration of President-elect Obama in January brings not only changes to the executive branch, but also changes in Congress with a larger Democratic majority. While we have a month until that happens, much is still going on with the transition team
- By Christine Beitenhaus
- 12/01/08
Twelve years. That's the time that it took administrators and staff at California's Santa Clara University (SCU) to turn their vision for a new library into reality. And it's not just a library. The new, privately funded Harrington Learning
President-elect Barack Obama used his message of change in his successful campaign for the Oval Office. Change is a way of life, especially in our rapidly changing modern world. Change not only occurs every four to eight years in the White House, it happe
- By Michael S. Dorn
- 12/01/08
It can be argued that energy efficiency has impacted the roofing industry more than other aspect of the construction industry. Codes have been developed, organizations formed and regulations established all addressing the issue of energy-efficient
In 2006, presidents of nearly 50 colleges and universities signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), an agreement to reach climate, or carbon, neutrality on each campus. By August 2008, more than 500 presidents had
- By Peter Doo, Lorraine Doo
- 12/01/08
How do you get everything you want and need in the design of new facilities when the project budget doesn't match the shopping list? The answer comes from the experts who are in the trenches daily. They've seen technology and space
There was a time when barns and sheds were prevalent on Utah State University's (USU) main campus, and cattle were sheltered and fed in places where classrooms, laboratories, and libraries now stand. Through the years, campus expansion and the changing ne
More than ever, security remains a top priority for campuses, despite budget restrictions. When planning the resources for security, you must think about the four core elements to any security program: personnel, technology, facility design, and crime pre
- By Glenn Rosenberg
- 12/01/08
Specifying carpet in schools continues to be the subject of great debate. Finding a carpet style that meets all of the design, performance, budget, and sustainability objectives for a renovation or new construction project can seem like an overwhelming, i
- By Kieren Corcoran
- 12/01/08
The repercussions of the current economic downturn are being felt far beyond the real estate and financial markets where the problem originated; the school construction industry is certainly no exception. Budget deficits are standing in the way of schools
- By Jason Policastro
- 12/01/08
Now schools and universities installing new restrooms or redesigning old ones are viewing them with a lot of old-fashioned practicality in mind. Instead of expensive, luxury fixtures, more educational facilities are turning to sensible, long-lasting produ