When it comes to fundraising, universities have not tapped out all of their revenue streams, as several campuses are proving. Breaking into new audiences to reach students and patents isn't a cakewalk, but if you go with the myth that young people aren't
When a roof begins to show signs of fatigue or potential failure, it's easy to assume that a replacement is in order. In easier economic times, facility managers would proceed accordingly. But today's tough economy is encouraging many to conside
The current stock of more than 83,000 college and university buildings presents significant opportunities to save energy and "go green" by improving environmental sustainability. The simplest change involves replacing these lamps and ballasts wi
The economy may be causing schools to tighten their belts, but many companies are stepping up to the plate and helping to fill the gap. Over the past few weeks, I've been hearing about a number of exciting projects that have gotten underway, all gear
Your bid/proposal preparation must be made with a view to purchasing the best service for the lowest expenditure of resources. Cheap is not the same as cost effective.
Have you noticed that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), aka the Stimulus Bill, contains no direct grant funding for school construction? While there is substantial construction funding in the form of bond and other programs in the Stimulu
A significant obstacle along the way has been the perceived economic challenges associated with building green. The vast majority of these challenges have been debunked or resolved, but understandably much of the dialogue around the topic of green schools
What makes a residence hall a healthy place to live and learn? When creating student living environments, campuses must adopt a holistic view of how building elements impact the physical and emotional health of the students living there.
Whether building student lifestyle housing, a university classroom, a wellness center, or a performing arts theatre, there are practical sustainable/green solutions that won't break the bank and could save you and your community resources and
Your campus cards already do so much. They identify your students; let them into their residence halls and classrooms; and allow them to make copies, do laundry, and buy meals from the commons. Some schools have taken it one step further by inviting local
When evaluating campus safety and crisis plans almost every week, one cannot help but note certain patterns. One concern I have developed in reviewing hundreds of these plans over the years is the use of language that could be interpreted as a promise to
Next to salaries, energy is often the next-highest expense for educational facilities. To effectively manage this precious resource, it is necessary to understand how and when it is being used throughout the facility. The majority of K-12 schools have onl
Furniture provides the crucial element for today's higher education pedagogy. What does your school need to know about your classroom furniture program? Jack Bullo, AIA, principal, Harley Ellis Devereaux national education studio, explains the new pa
Whether through the adoption of better visitor management procedures, such as the credential exchange, or the purchasing of a visitor management software system, effectively protecting students, staff and visitors in our schools depends greatly on improvi
In order to furnish a cutting-edge facility, it's important to find a vendor that can supply custom solutions.
Mention the word "green" today and people often think of environmental responsibility. Green is also the color of our nation's paper money, and the mechanical systems department staff at St. Norbert's College in De Pere, WI, have found
Creating community schools involves more than letting adults use the gym at night. It involves starting the planning of new or remodeled buildings with the question, "what is this school's place in this community?" What are the services the
Recently, growth has slowed and enrollment is declining. With easing pressure to house students, it is time to think long term. It is time to create a vision of what the built educational environment or healthy schools will look like in 20, 40 or 60 years
In the perpetual desire to get more money in the classroom, school officers around the country have looked to contracting out support services to private companies. The idea, taken right out of business books, is that districts need to focus on their core
Many colleges are turning to continuous improvement approaches that manage costs while protecting and even improving facilities. These approaches, however, require an investment in facilities program expertise and resources that go beyond the in-house cap
Time is of the essence when disaster looms. Weather-related tragedies and terrorist activities of the past decade have created increased demand from public and private stakeholders for a reliable means of communicating critical information to large groups