When the University of Maryland needed a high-performance, campus-wide, code-compliant, integrated fire alarm monitoring system, they took the time to research the options and plan for the best solution.
In today's economy it's becoming increasingly difficult for graduates to find that elusive first job. Employers have cut back significantly on internship programs, which means that many graduates are attempting to enter the workforce without any
It takes a village to raise a child, but that's nothing compared with designing spaces on a college campus. A variety of voices need to be heard to pull off a successful project. How do you know if the right players are on your team?
A handful of designers and suppliers offer their combined knowledge and experience so that designers and administrators can better know what to consider when making decisions about which doors and windows to use in new building or renovation projects in o
As schools implement sustainable initiatives across campus, many are looking at renewable energy sources as a way to uphold green practices and save money. While some campus initiatives can cost little, short of students volunteering their time, the cost
Facility personnel have hundreds of choices when it comes to selecting the best insulation for a project. Some products have been on the market for decades, while others are relatively new. Following some key points will help to ensure that the selected i
Despite the negative effects of the economy, the one factor that has helped students thrive in school this past year is an increased emphasis being placed on engagement. Engagement is fostered in many ways. It is about building connections students
The Global Positioning System (GPS) that has now become so commonplace began with the launch of the system's first navigational satellite in 1978. GPS was originally developed for the military, but has since become widely used for civilian purposes.
Increasingly popular, digital signage performs a number of tasks on campus.
While today's market offers exceptional buying opportunities for colleges and universities, it is also fraught with peril. What's a Facility Department to do? How can you take advantage of available savings, while ensuring quality? Here are some
Since the basic idea of bidding out campus safety consulting or equipment purchase project is for the client to obtain the highest quality services and/or products at the lowest price, the way a request for proposal (RFP) or other bid solicitation documen
Life is full of choices. Thankfully, that includes the hundreds of green flooring products available in the marketplace. Facility professionals have much more to choose from than bamboo, including luxury vinyl tile, rubber flooring, tile, wood, and carpet
A moment of silence as libraries of old morph from a single-student model to a group learning setting. What technologies and configurations are needed in these new learning commons? College Planning & Management takes a look.
Partnerships, interactive marketing, and social media are converging to change the face of advertising and that's a gift for many university athletic departments seeking ways to keep the dollars flowing.
The 1987 Brundtland Commission report, Our Common Future, presented a model for successful economic development in which the importance of identifying and minimizing the adverse impact of economic development on the environment is addressed. At the heart
AEDs have become so commonplace that the public expects access to the devices in most places. In fact, laws, regulations, or other legislation may eventually require the placement of these devices at specific locations. A centralized program is necessary
Traditionally, libraries are chosen as important venues because these majestic buildings represent knowledge. On occasion, libraries have also served as community gathering locales where individuals converge and, in the face of injustice, make their voice
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Some analysts consider netbooks to be merely small, cheap, and underpowered laptops. But that dismissive regard fails to recognize the most important point about netbooks: they are designed to be small and highly portable computers. That's one of the
Anonymous hotlines play an important role in campus security, even if no one actually uses them.
One institution taking steps to integrate sustainability into its curriculum to better prepare students for green building jobs is Edison State College in southwest Florida. Edison State was recently awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant for $
Not all campus furniture and furnishings live a comfortable, indoor life, protected from wind, snow, dirt, rain, mud, and one of the most unpredictable forces of nature students.
By the end of last school year, swine flu and its effects had made a full circle through the news. Schools quickly set plans in place to deal with a possible pandemic, a vaccine was put in the works, and then everyone went on summer break. With a vaccine
As today's urban colleges and universities rethink their place in the city, they shift their mindset from their own narrow needs to the greater public interest. They move from scientific enclaves to drivers of public agendas with great force. Accordi
Despite the recession, many colleges and universities have building and renovation projects planned or in progress. But, are the recession and shrinking budgets affecting the choices institutions make in these projects?
Space management involves efforts to improve human supervision through placement of legitimate activities in an area of risk or, more commonly, through simply locking doors. Unlocked and unoccupied spaces on higher education campuses create opportunity fo
We are accustomed to wireless coverage, particularly for cell phones, that works well almost anywhere at anytime. However, there are still many areas where coverage is spotty, and college and university campuses are not immune. One solution is to install
As you think about strategically positioning your presidency and your institution for regional leadership and beyond, consider ways in which your new alliances will add value, especially for alumni. How can you capitalize on potential partnerships to incr
Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology is a software-based approach to building design that incorporates 3D data, performance data, and more. BIM is not new technology. It is, however, just now "rising to the consciousness of a substantial nu