The LEED-Gold certified renovation of Oregon State University's (OSU) Kearney Hall demonstrates how to successfully balance history and sustainability within a modern learning environment designed so that the building itself becomes a teaching tool.
If you've never thought about the idea of green or sustainable or eco-friendly IT, you may be surprised to learn that green computing has a huge and growing following among IT directors generally and a number of K-12 school district IT directors.
The design and construction industry had a difficult year in 2009, to say the least. However, green building has been a bright spot in an otherwise lackluster year, and there is no sign of that changing in 2010. Eco-friendly school design is on the radar
As part of its campus-wide sustainability initiatives, Luther College brings vermicomposting to residence halls.
The annual energy bill to operate America's primary and secondary schools totals nearly $8 billion more than is spent on textbooks and computers combined. With rising operating costs and tighter budgets, a growing number of school districts ar
Green cleaning for hard surfaces has progressed on a continuum from reducing toxic chemistries to eliminating them wherever possible. Now technology and cleaning science have helped us to return to the most essential of cleaners and solvents water
A design strategy was developed to maintain an exceptionally compact building footprint, maximize shared public spaces, utilize renewable and recyclable building materials and incorporate teaching tools within the architecture. The new campus supports the
Green cleaning for hard surfaces has progressed on a continuum from reducing toxic chemistries to eliminating them wherever possible. Now technology and cleaning science have helped us to return to the most essential of cleaners and solvents water
Master planning begins with creating appropriate standards for world-class facilities. A comprehensive condition and educational suitability assessment will bring focus to district facilities that fail to meet these standards. The condition of a single fa
From energy economics and sustainable building designs to water conservation and biofuels made from algae, sharply higher numbers of UC San Diego undergraduates are opting for majors and minors, classes, internships, and research projects that emphasize e
As the use of technology grows, we have enjoyed increased capabilities, global networks and faster results within personal, professional and educational realms. Unfortunately, this shift to a technologically based global culture has introduced one of the
In the wake of the tragic event at Virginia Tech, there have been significant changes at the University, as well as other institutions of higher learning, and also within the architecture profession. Among the lessons of the Virginia Tech tragedy, archite
We all know young children learn through play and discovery. The coordination of intellectual and physical development, with guided play and fun activities, is vital to their development and must be one of the focal areas of elementary schools. Good movem
Mercy College recently announced a notable expansion in enrollment for the 2009-2010 academic year, as its total number of quality students approaches 10,000. Deirdre Whitman, vice president of enrollment management, cited a number of reasons for this gro
Numerous studies have indeed shown that, under some circumstances, a building's air conditioning-related energy consumption can be reduced through the use of reflective roofing. These studies, along with some overly enthusiastic marketing efforts, ha
During the last 10 years, the modern high-performance schools movement has invited design elements focusing on energy conservation and occupant comfort. Multi-level lighting systems have allowed teachers to switch lights on only when needed, day lighting
In security, risk minimization is everything. You can never completely eliminate the possibility of a school shooting or other types of breakdowns in security, but you can make the system as secure as possible by using your resources efficiently and using
The pursuit of energy efficiency and sustainability is a major focus in the U.S. today, influencing our choice of everything from automobiles to windows to the foods we eat. The higher education community is immersed in this drive toward environmental res
What can be learned from a school building that earned the first sustainability award of its kind from the U.S. Green Building Council? School administrators are increasingly aware that sustainable buildings can reduce an institution's water and ener
Through the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) network, more than 675 institutions have come together to provide leadership-by-example for other sectors by pledging to take immediate actions, create longer-term
Recently I was asked how many fires really occur in kindergarten through high school occupancies. The context of the question was in relation to how much time should be spent on fire and life safety issues in schools given all the other responsibilities o