Facility Condition

Did you know…

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there is one birth every 7 seconds, one death every 13 seconds, and one international migrant every 29 seconds — a net gain of one person every 11 seconds.

As population and enrollment increase and M&O budgets decrease, the condition of our educational facilities declines. In the "2016 State of Our Schools" report released by the Center for Green Schools, the 21st Century School Fund and the National Council on School Facilities, the nation faces a projected annual shortfall of about $8 billion for maintenance and operations.

Once-available dollars are being withheld or diverted to salaries, unfunded mandates, or more popular/visible projects.  Many institutions are left with barely enough staff and dollars to handle emergencies, let alone planned, predictive or preventative maintenance.  The consequences are facilities that are in poor condition at best. 

Case in Point... Every four years, the American Society of Civil Engineers’ "Report Card for America’s Infrastructure" depicts the condition and performance of America’s infrastructure – including schools – by assigning letter grades based on the physical condition and needed investments for improvement.  Schools scored a ‘D’ in 2013, barely a passing grade.

Research shows:

  • An increasing number of higher education leaders identified the challenges associated with “aging and expanding facilities” as one of the top reasons for change in the field.  Insufficient facilities were also listed as one of the top threats to the success of higher education.
    (Research conducted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development [OECD])
  • Studies indicate that student achievement is linked with building quality. High student achievement has been shown to be associated with newer buildings, updated and properly maintained buildings, improved lighting, thermal comfort and indoor air quality. 
    (The Walls Speak: The Interplay of Quality Facilities, School Climate and Student Achievement)
  • Recruit and Retain: Parents and prospective students often select an institution based on its facilities. (APPA)
  • Poor school building conditions are a serious threat to the health and academic performance of students. Achievement is significantly lower in schools with poor con­ditions….
    (American Federation of Teachers. Building Minds, Minding Buildings.)
Facilities condition has an impact on students, staff and institutions.

Featured

  • University of Connecticut Upgrades Basketball Facility’s AV Systems

    The University of Connecticut recently partnered with Metinteractive to upgrade the AV systems of the Gampel Pavilion basketball facility on its campus in Mansfield, Conn., according to a news release.

  • Texas A&M Adds ALPR Technology to Parking Solutions

    Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, recently integrated automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) technology into its parking services and enforcement strategies, according to a news release. The university’s Transportation Services division deployed Genetec AutoVu ALPR to manage the campus’ 36,000+ parking spaces.

  • Spaces4Learning Launches 2025 New Product Awards

    Spaces4Learning is now accepting entries for the 2025 New Product Awards! The program’s goal is to honor the outstanding product development achievements of manufacturers and suppliers whose products and services are particularly noteworthy in helping to improve K–12 and Higher Education learning environments.

  • Illinois Elementary School Breaks Ground on Campus Expansion

    Heather Hill Elementary School, part of Flossmoor School District 161 in Palatine, Ill., recently broke ground on a new addition to the school focused on student support and security, according to a news release. The district partnered with Wold Architects & Engineers for the expansion as part of a longer-term facility planning and modernization initiative.

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