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Café hopping…

Standards Indiana

Bowling and Billiards

https://peaches.caes.uga.edu/research.html

College Bowl Games

Football Stadium Facility Standards

🏈

Standards Indiana

 

 

Winter Sport

 

“Indians Playing Lacrosse on the Ice” 1934 Yale University Art Gallery

The literature for designing, building and maintaining sport and recreation related spaces in education settlements cuts across so many safety and sustainability risk aggregations that, starting 2024, we begin breaking up the topic according to four seasons; mindful that not all seasons are present in all settlements at all times of the year and in different age groups.

Volleyball at the high school level in the USA is a winter sport but a fall sport at the collegiate level.  Rifle and Fencing is only a collegiate sport.  Swimming “short course” (25 meter) competition is a winter sport depending upon regional facilities. (e.g. University of Southern California, University of North Carolina Wilmington, University of Michigan)

Join us today when we sort through the literature and any live public consultations on proposed changes to the most frequently referenced titles.

Hockey

Ice Hockey Arena Lighting

Figure Skating

Rifle

Recreation

Darts

Ice Fishing

Curling

Billiards

Swimming

Coetzenburg Swimming Pool

Related:

Readings / Sport, Culture & Society

Maths and Sport

National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security

Virtual reality technology in evacuation simulation of sport stadiums

 

Curlin’

Sport and Wellbeing | Standards Scotland

The term “curling” is thought to derive from the way the stone moves and “curls” as it travels over the ice. The key feature of curling that sets it apart from other ice sports is the deliberate rotation, or “curl,” applied to the stones as players release them. This rotation causes the stone to curve or “curl” on its path down the ice, adding an element of strategy to the game.

The precise origin of the term is not definitively known, but it likely emerged organically as people described the action of the stones on the ice. The word “curling” has been associated with the sport for centuries, and as the game evolved and gained popularity, the term became firmly established.

The concept of curling is integral to the sport’s strategy, as players use the curl to navigate the stones around guards and other stones strategically placed on the ice. The unique way in which the stones move and interact with the playing surface is one of the defining characteristics of curling, and the name captures this distinctive feature

World Curling Mixed Championship 2024

Scientific American: Why Do Curling Stones Curl?

A curling facility typically consists of several key components to support the sport and provide a suitable environment for players and spectators:

  • Flooding equipment, refrigeration for 3 degrees C, fine mist sprayers, ice planer, infrared thermometers.
  • The playing surface is called a “sheet,” and it is a rectangular area of ice where the game is played. Each sheet is divided into several sections called “curling houses,” which are the target circles.
  • Curling stones are made of granite and weigh around 38 to 44 pounds. Each team has eight stones, and players take turns sliding them down the ice towards the target area, known as the House.
  • The house is the target area with concentric circles marked on the ice. The center of the house is the “button,” and the circles are used for scoring points.
  • The hacks are footholds on either end of the sheet where players push off to slide the stones. The player in control of the stone uses the hack as a starting point for their delivery.
  • Brooms, also known as brushes, are used by players to sweep the ice in front of the sliding stone. Sweeping can affect the stone’s trajectory and speed.
  • A scoreboard is essential for keeping track of the score in a curling game. It typically displays the current score, the end in progress, and other relevant information.
  • Players use locker rooms for changing into their curling attire and storing their personal belongings.
  • A designated area where players can warm up before a game. It may include stretching space and possibly a small practice sheet.
  • A facility usually has a clubhouse or main building that includes amenities such as viewing areas, meeting rooms, a bar, and possibly a restaurant.  In the case of the Windsor Curling Club: Scotch Whiskey
  • Equipment like ice resurfacers or Zambonis are used to maintain the quality of the ice surface between games.

The origin of curling is sketchy but this much is agreed upon:  Curling is thought to have originated in Scotland, and its roots can be traced back to medieval times. The first written record of curling dates back to 1541 in the records of the Scottish city of Paisley, where a challenge was issued for a contest on the ice between two rival churches.

The early form of the game involved players sliding stones across frozen ponds and lochs, attempting to reach a target. Over time, the sport evolved, and rules were established. Early versions of curling stones were likely rudimentary compared to the polished granite stones used today.

Curling gradually gained popularity in Scotland and spread to other parts of the world, especially among Scottish immigrants. The sport found a home in Canada in the 18th century, where it has become particularly popular. The first curling club in North America, the Montreal Curling Club, was established in 1807.  The Detroit Curling Club was established in 1840; one of the oldest curling clubs in the United States, owing much to its across the river relationship with Windsor Canada.

 

 

Quadrivium: Winter

John Hopkins University: Dry January

ANSI Standards Action January 2, 2026

@usedgov: A Teacher Defines Classical Education

Michigan Dept. of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential

Inside the tiny Highland school with just two pupils | BBC Scotland News

Intercollegiate Studies Institute: Immigration and the State of Cheating in Universities

Trending | Engagements, Weddings & Births | Sport News | Carillons

MORE

Winter Week 1 | December 29 – January 4 (Home for the Holidays)

 

“…O chestnut tree;, great rooted blossomer,
Are you the leaf, the blossom or the bold?
O body swayed to music, O brightening glance,
How can we know the dancer from the dance?”

— Among Schoolchildren, 1933 William Butler Yeats

We sweep through the world’s three major time zones; updating our understanding of the literature at the technical foundation of education community safety and sustainability in those time zones 24 times per day. We generally eschew “over-coding” web pages to sustain speed, revision cadence and richness of content as peak priority.  We do not provide a search facility because of copyrights of publishers and time sensitivity of almost everything we do.

Readings:

“The Advancement of Learning” Francis Bacon (1605)

“The Allegory of the Cave” 380 BCE | Plato’s Republic, Book VII

Thucydides: Pericles’ Funeral Oration

IEEE Access: Advanced Deep Learning Models for 6G: Overview, Opportunities, and Challenges | Xidian University

“Albion: The Origins of the English Imagination” (2002) Peter Ackroyd

“Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System” Satoshi Nakamoto

“Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds” (1841) | Charles Mackay

Cognitive Science: An Introduction to the Study of Mind

“Kant’s Categorical Imperative” | Hillsdale College Introduction to Western Philosophy

“The Natural History of Stupidity” (1959) Paul Tabori

“The College Idea: Andrew Delbanco” Lapham’s Quarterly

Distributed Representations of Words and Phrases and their Compositionality | Google, Inc. et, al

Our daily colloquia are typically doing sessions; with non-USA titles receiving priority until 16:00 UTC and all other titles thereafter.  We assume policy objectives are established (Safer-Simpler-Lower-Cost, Longer-Lasting).   Because we necessarily get into the weeds, and because much of the content is time-sensitive and copyright protected, we usually schedule a separate time slot to hammer on technical specifics so that our response to consultations are meaningful and contribute to the goals of the standards developing organization and to the goals of stewards of education community real assets — typically the largest real asset owned by any US state and about 50 percent of its annual budget.

1. Leviathan.  We track noteworthy legislative proposals in the United States 118th Congress.  Not many deal specifically with education community real assets since the relevant legislation is already under administrative control of various Executive Branch Departments such as the Department of Education.

We do not advocate in legislative activity at any level.   We respond to public consultations but there it ends.

We track federal legislative action because it provides a stroboscopic view of the moment — the “national conversation”– in communities that are simultaneously a business and a culture.  Even though more than 90 percent of such proposals are at the mercy of the party leadership the process does enlighten the strengths and weakness of a governance system run entirely through the counties on the periphery of Washington D.C.  It is impossible to solve technical problems in facilities without sensitivity to the zietgeist that has accelerated in education communities everywhere.

Michigan Great Lake Quilt

Michigan can 100% water and feed itself.  Agriculture is its second-largest industry.

2.  National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

3. American National Standards Institute (ANSI)

4. Fast Forward  

The Year Ahead 2026

5. Rewind

Retrodiction

Lights Out

6. Corrigenda

 

“The world will never starve for want of wonders;

but only for want of wonder.”

–  G.K Chesterton, The Spirit of Christmas (1905)

 

Mike Anthony with colleagues since 1982 @ UM Ross School of Business Executive Dining Room

 

Downtown Ice Arena

Standards Illinois | Capital Projects | University Bond Data 

The University has been exploring options for its aging Ice Arena (built in 1931) since at least 2022, including potential renovations or a new off-campus facility. The current arena requires significant upgrades for ADA compliance, structural repairs, windows, roof, and ice mat replacement to serve its users (hockey clubs, figure skating, public skating, etc.). It’s funded primarily by student fees, and decisions involve student referendums. So early in the concept phase numbers fly — recently $50 million.

Ice Hockey Arena Lighting

National Collegiate Athletic Association: August 2022 IRS Form 900 Tax Filing

"People don’t notice whether it’s winter or summer when they’re happy" -- Anton Chekhov

After athletic arena life safety obligations are met (governed legally by NFPA 70, NFPA 101, NFPA 110,  the International Building Code and possibly other state adaptations of those consensus documents incorporated by reference into public safety law) business objective standards may come into play.For almost all athletic facilities,  the consensus documents of the Illumination Engineering Society[1], the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers[2][3] provide the first principles for life safety.  For business purposes, the documents distributed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association inform the standard of care for individual athletic arenas so that swiftly moving media production companies have some consistency in power sources and illumination as they move from site to site.  Sometimes concepts to meet both life safety and business objectives merge.

 

During hockey season the document linked below provides information to illumination designers and facility managers:

NCAA Best Lighting Practices

Athletic programs are a significant source of revenue and form a large part of the foundation of the brand identity of most educational institutions in the United States.   We focus primarily upon the technology standards that govern the safety, performance and sustainability of these enterprises.  We collaborate very closely with the IEEE Education & Healthcare Facilities Committee where subject matter experts in electrical power systems meet 4 times each month in the Americas and Europe.

See our CALENDAR for our next colloquium on Sport facility codes and standards.   We typically walk through the safety and sustainability concepts in play; identify commenting opportunities; and find user-interest “champions” on the technical committees who have a similar goal in lowering #TotalCostofOwnership.

"People don’t notice whether it’s winter or summer when they’re happy" -- Anton Chekhov

Issue: [15-138]*

Category: Electrical, Architectural, Arts & Entertainment Facilities, Athletics

Colleagues: Mike Anthony, Jim Harvey, Jack Janveja, Jose Meijer, Scott Gibbs

LEARN MORE:

[1] Illumination Engineering Handbook

[2] IEEE 3001.9 Recommended Practice for Design of Power Systems for Supplying Lighting Systems for Commercial & Industrial Facilities

[3] IEEE 3006.1 Power System Reliability

 

* Issue numbering before 2016 dates back to the original University of Michigan codes and standards advocacy enterprise 

Current Issues & Recent Research

“The day science begins to study non-physical phenomena,

it will make more progress in one decade

than in all the previous centuries of existence.”

—  Nikola Tesla

​​

IEEE Southeastern Michigan Section Welcome August 2024

 

 

IEEE & SWE Student Tour of Michigan Stadium Scoreboard | April 2024

IEEE SEM Student Activity 2025

Trending

 IEEE Education & Healthcare Facilities Committee December 23 Minutes 

Electrical Power System Research

NFPA Electrical Standards Landing Page  Ω NFPA Standards Council  Ω NFPA Fire Safety Landing Page

ASHRAE Landing Page |  ASTM Electrical & Electronics

Draft IEEE Paper Abstracts | Mike Anthony Short Biography | Electrotechnology OEMS

We examine the proposals for the 2028 National Electrical Safety Code; including our own. The 2026 National Electrical Code where sit on CMP-15 overseeing health care facility electrical issues should be released any day now. We have one proposal on the agenda of the International Code Council’s Group B Committee Action Hearings in Cleveland in October. Balloting on the next IEEE Gold Book on reliability should begin.

“Tomorrow’s Girls” | Donald Fagan

Policy:

OUTERNET: Crossing over data gap using cubesats

Department of Energy Portfolio Analysis & Management System

Department of Energy Building Technologies Office

FERC Open Meetings | (Note that these ~60 minute sessions meet Sunshine Act requirements.  Our interest lies one or two levels deeper into the technicals underlying the administrivia)

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Federal Communication Commission Michigan Public Service Commission
August 7 Open Meeting
July 24 Open Meeting July 25 Open Meeting
June 16 Open Meeting January 22: Newly Appointed FCC Chairman Announces Staff Changes June  12 Open Meeting
May 15 Open Meeting May 15 Open Meeting
April 17 Open Meeting April 24 Open Meeting
March 20 Open Meeting
February 20 FERC Open Meeting March 3 Open Meeting
January 16 FERC Press Conference February 27, 2025 Open Meeting

January 23: NARUC Congratulates New FERC, FCC and NRC Chairs

January 22: Newly Appointed FCC Chairman Announces Staff Changes | Related: Falsus in uno, Falsus in omnibus

January 6: City of Ann Arbor Postpones Phase II Study to Municipalize DTE Energy distribution grid

January 27, 10 AM Low-Income Energy Policy Board Meeting: Michigan Public Service commission

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission: January 16, 2025 Open Meeting

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Notice of Request for Comments (Posted November 25, 2024)

Interregional Transfer Capability Study: Strengthening Reliability Through the Energy Transformation Docket No. AD25-4-000

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission | November 21, Open Meeting

Press Conference

Michigan Public Service Commission Meetings

Michigan Public Commission Meeting  February 27, 2025

MPSC DTE CMS Electric Power Reliability Case No. U-21305

Michigan Electrical Administrative Board Meeting February 13, 2025

FCC Open Meeting | November 21 

[Mike Anthony Opinion] on the gales of innuendo against limited federal government voices in federally financed National Public Radio

National Infrastructure Advisory Council: Addressing the Critical Shortage of Power Transformers to Ensure Reliability of the U.S. Grid

H.R. 9603 (September 16): To amend the Federal Power Act to prohibit the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission from issuing permits for the construction or modification of electric transmission facilities in a State over the objection of the State, and for other purposes.

Technical: (Also Electrical Power System Research)

Empower Pre-Trained Large Language Models for Building-Level Load Forecasting

Uptime Institute (via NEXT DC) : AI Inference in the Data Center

Majorana Nanowires for Topological Quantum Computing

Linearized Data Center Workload and Cooling Management

Oxford Researchers Discovered How to Use AI To Learn Like A Genius

Lex Fridman: DeepSeek, China, OpenAI, NVIDIA, xAI, TSMC, Stargate, and AI Megaclusters 

IEEE: Experts Weigh in on $500B Stargate Project for AI

IEEE: AI Mistakes Are Very Different Than Human Mistakes .  We need new security systems designed to deal with their weirdness

High-Performance Tensor Learning Primitives Using GPU Tensor Cores

Department of Electrical Engineering, Columbia University, New York

Causes and Consequences of Widespread Power Blackout Across Taiwan on 3 March 2022: A Blackout Incident Investigation in the Taiwan Power System

Department of Electrical Engineering, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei City, Taiwan

 

First Draft Proposals contain most of our proposals — and most new (original) content.  We will keep the transcripts linked below but will migrate them to a new page starting 2025:

Electrical Safety

2026 NEC Standards Michigan proposals | Public Input Report CMP-1

2026 NEC Standards Michigan proposals | Public Input Report CMP-2

Public Input Report CMP-3

2026 NEC Standards Michigan proposals | Public Input Report CMP-4

2026 NEC Standards Michigan proposals | Public Input Report CMP-5

Public Input Report CMP-6

Public Input Report CMP-7

Public Input Report CMP-8

Public Input Report CMP-9

2026 NEC Standards Michigan proposals | Public Input Report CMP-10

2026 NEC Standards Michigan proposals | Public Input Report CMP-11

2026 NEC Standards Michigan proposals | Public Input Report CMP-12

2026 NEC Standards Michigan proposals | Public Input Report CMP-13

Public Input Report CMP-14

2026 NEC Standards Michigan proposals | Public Input Report CMP-15

2026 NEC Standards Michigan proposals | Public Input Report CMP-16

Public Input Report CMP-17

2026 NEC Standards Michigan proposals | Public Input Report CMP-18

Related:

2026 National Electrical Code

N.B. We are in the process of migrating electric power system research to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers bibliographic format. 

Recap of the May meetings of the  Industrial & Commercial Power Systems Conference in Las Vegas.  The conference ended the day before the beginning of the 3-day Memorial Day weekend in the United States so we’re pressed for time; given all that happened.

We can use our last meeting’s agenda to refresh the status of the issues.

IEEE E&H Draft Agenda 28 May 2024

On site conference agenda:

IEEE E&H Conference Agenda 21 May 2024

NESC & NEC Cross-Code Correlation

We typically break down our discussion into the topics listed below:

Codes & Standards:

While IAS/I&CPS has directed votes on the NEC; Mike is the only I&CPS member who is actually submitting proposals and responses to codes and standards developers to the more dominant SDO’s — International Code Council, ASHRAE International, UL, ASTM International, IEC & ISO.  Mike maintains his offer to train the next generation of “code writers and vote getters”

Performance-based building premises feeder design has been proposed for the better part of ten NEC revision cycles.  The objective of these proposals is to reduce material, labor and energy waste owed to the branch and feeder sizing rules that are prescriptive in Articles 210-235.  Our work in service and lighting branch circuit design has been largely successful.  A great deal of building interior power chain involves feeders — the network upstream from branch circuit panels but down stream from building service panel.

Our history of advocating for developing this approach, inspired by the NFPA 101 Guide to Alternative Approaches to Life Safety, and recounted in recent proposals for installing performance-based electrical feeder design into the International Building Code, appears in the link below:

Access to this draft paper for presentation at any conference that will receive it — NFPA, ICC or IEEE (or even ASHRAE) will be available for review at the link below:

Toward Performance-Based Building Premise Feeder Design

 

NFPA 110 Definitions of Public Utility v. Merchant Utility

NFPA 72 “Definition of Dormitory Suite” and related proposals

Buildings:

Renovation economics, Smart contracts in electrical construction.  UMich leadership in aluminum wiring statements in the NEC should be used to reduce wiring costs.

Copper can’t be mined fast enough to electrify the United States

Daleep asked Mike to do a Case Study session on the NEC lighting power density change (NEC 220-14) for the IAS Annual Meeting in October.  Mike agreed.

Exterior Campus & Distribution:

Illumination.  Gary Fox reported that IEEE 3001.9 was endorsed as an ANSI accredited standard for illumination systems.

2024-ICPSD24-0012 PERMANENT DESIGN OF POWER SYSTEMS Parise

This paper details primary considerations in estimating the life cycle of a campus medium voltage distribution grid.   Some colleges and universities are selling their entire power grid to private companies.  Mike has been following these transactions but cannot do it alone.

Variable Architecture Multi-Island Microgrids

District energy:

Generator stator winding failures and implications upon insurance premiums.  David Shipp and Sergio Panetta.  Mike suggests more coverage of retro-fit and lapsed life cycle technicals for insurance companies setting premiums.

Reliability:

Bob Arno’s leadership in updating the Gold Book.

Mike will expand the sample set in Table 10-35, page 293 from the <75 data points in the 1975 survey to >1000 data points.   Bob will set up meeting with Peyton at US Army Corps of Engineers.

Reliability of merchant utility distribution systems remains pretty much a local matter.  The 2023 Edition of the NESC shows modest improvement in the vocabulary of reliability concepts.  For the 2028 Edition Mike submitted several proposals to at least reference IEEE titles in the distribution reliability domain.   It seems odd (at least to Mike) that the NESC committees do not even reference IEEE technical literature such as Bob’s Gold Book which has been active for decades.  Mike will continue to propose changes in other standards catalogs — such as ASTM, ASHRAE and ICC — which may be more responsive to best practice assertions.  Ultimately, improvements will require state public utility commission regulations — and we support increases in tariffs so that utilities can afford these improvements.

Mike needs help from IEEE Piscataway on standard WordPress theme limitations for the data collection platform.

Mike will update the campus power outage database.

Healthcare:

Giuseppe Parise’s recent work in Italian power grid to its hospitals, given its elevated earthquake risk.  Mike’s review of Giuseppe’s paper:

Harvard Business School: Journal of Healthcare Management Standards

Mike and David Shipp will prepare a position paper for the Harvard Healthcare Management Journal on reliability advantages of impedance grounding for the larger systems.

The Internet of Bodies

Forensics:

Giuseppe’s session was noteworthy for illuminating the similarity and differences between the Italian and US legal system in handling electrotechnology issues.

Mike will restock the committee’s library of lawsuits transactions.

Ports:

Giuseppe updates on the energy and security issues of international ports.  Mike limits his time in this committee even though the State of Michigan has the most fresh water international ports in the world.

A PROPOSED GUIDE FOR THE ENERGY PLAN AND ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE OF A PORT

Other:

Proposals to the 2028 National Electrical Safety Code: Accepted Best Practice, exterior switchgear guarding, scope expansion into ICC and ASHRAE catalog,

Apparently both the Dot Standards and the Color Books will continue parallel development.  Only the Gold Book is being updated; led by Bob Arno.  Mike admitted confusion but reminded everyone that any references to IEEE best practice literature in the NFPA catalog, was installed Mike himself (who would like some backup help)

Universities with Quantum Computing Facilities

Papers in Process:

Impedance Grounding Papers 1 and 2 with David Shipp.  Previous Discussion:

https://ieeetv.ieee.org/channels/ieee-region-events/uc-berkeley-s-medium-voltage-grounding-system

Over Coffee and Beers:

Mike assured Christel Hunter (General Cable) that his proposals for reducing the 180 VA per-outlet requirements, and the performance-base design allowance for building interior feeders do not violate the results of the Neher-McGrath calculation used for conductor sizing.  All insulation and conducting material thermal limits are unaffected.

Other informal discussions centered on the rising cost of copper wiring and the implications for the global electrotechnical transformation involving the build out of quantum computing and autonomous vehicles.  Few expressed optimism that government ambitions for the same could be met in any practical way.

Are students avoiding use of Chat GPT for energy conservation reasons?  Mike will be breaking out this topic for a dedicated standards inquiry session:

GPT Power Grid

Education & Healthcare Facility Electrotechnology Committee

Workspace IEEE 1366: Guide for Electric Power Distribution Reliability Indices

Largest U.S. Electric Utility Companies Ranked by Generation Capacity  For IEEE 493 update we seek outage data from the 100 largest campus power system experts.

Throwing Stones

Standards Massachusetts | Wintersport

MIT Curling Club

Related:

MIT Chapel,1954

Keeping MIT Weird

Varieties of Innovation

Haystack Observatory

Climate Science: What Does it Say?

Community Hub Schools

Donegan Acoustics

The larger part of using the global standardization system to make the real assets of educational settlements safer, simpler, lower-cost and longer-lasting is to make every effort to use those spaces and occupancies effectively.  Today we examine a few case studies and explore possibilites mapped in safety and sustainability catalogs of standards developers whose titles become the basis for government regulation.  Use the login credentials at the upper right of our home page at the usual hour.

The topic is necessarily cross-cutting and technologically interdisciplinary so we draw from the syllabi of colloquia we previously covered.

Ædificare & Utilization

Data Points: National Center for Education Statistics

Child Day Care

Kitchen Wiring

Laundry

Case Study: Center Grove Community School Corporation Security

Clery Act

Summer Sport

Related:

Here are 10 current trends in the construction of K-12 education facilities in the United States, based on recent industry insights and developments. These trends reflect a focus on safety, sustainability, technology, and evolving educational needs, drawn from sources like architectural firms, construction reports, and educational design analyses.

  1. Enhanced Security Systems
    Schools are prioritizing advanced security measures, such as wearable panic devices for staff, access control systems, secure vestibules, surveillance technology, and remote hallway gate controls. Many districts are proactively upgrading security as standalone projects rather than waiting for renovations, aiming to create safer environments without highly visible fortifications. For example, Solomon-Solis Cohen Elementary in Philadelphia integrates park-like settings with security features to balance safety and community appeal.

  2. Flexible and Adaptable Learning Spaces
    Traditional static classrooms are being replaced with modular, flexible spaces that support diverse teaching styles and learning needs. These include movable partitions, demountable walls, and multi-purpose areas like learning stairs, which serve as seating or presentation spaces. Schools like Warsaw High School use learning stairs as dynamic hubs for collaboration, allowing easy reconfiguration for group work, individual study, or CTE programs.

  3. Sustainability and Net-Zero Energy Design
    Schools are adopting eco-friendly designs, such as energy-efficient HVAC systems, solar panels, and green materials, to achieve net-zero energy goals. The transition to electric vehicle (EV) bus fleets with charging infrastructure is also growing, as seen in districts incrementally upgrading transportation facilities. These designs educate students about sustainability while reducing operational costs.

  4. Improved Indoor Air Quality and HVAC Upgrades
    With 38% of U.S. public schools built before 1970, upgrading HVAC systems is a priority to improve air quality and prevent health issues like mold. The American Society of Civil Engineers noted in 2021 that 41% of districts need HVAC updates in at least half their schools, costing billions. Post-COVID, schools are using federal relief funds to enhance ventilation, as seen in Clark County School District’s UL Verified Ventilation mark.

  5. Career and Technical Education (CTE) and STEAM Facilities
    There’s a resurgence in CTE and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) spaces, with schools building specialized labs for robotics, welding, automotive, and filmmaking. For instance, Merrillville Community School Corporation added a 57,000-square-foot CTE addition with state-of-the-art labs. These spaces prepare students for skilled trades and tech careers, reflecting a shift away from college-only pathways.

  6. Technology Integration and Wi-Fi Optimization
    Schools are designing comprehensive Wi-Fi coverage using predictive modeling to eliminate dead zones, ensuring access for all users (students, staff, parents). Classrooms are equipped with IT infrastructure for digital learning, including VR/AR tools and BIM (Building Information Modeling) for design precision. Santa Ana High School’s transformation of a library into a digital media lab exemplifies this trend.

  7. Health and Wellness-Focused Design
    Designs prioritize mental and physical well-being with natural lighting, ergonomic furniture, and outdoor learning spaces like gardens or courtyards. The “One Health” movement, cited by PBK Architects, emphasizes environments where students and buildings are holistically healthy. Twin Buttes High School in North Dakota incorporates food sovereignty programs with greenhouses and culinary labs to promote wellness.

  8. Community-Centric Facilities
    Schools are being designed as community hubs, hosting events and serving as emergency shelters or voting places. Flexible designs allow spaces to be used by the community year-round, generating revenue. For example, Eddy & Debbie Peach Elementary School includes outdoor art and science labs that double as community spaces, fostering engagement and connection.

  9. Resilient and Durable Construction
    New builds and renovations use resilient materials to withstand high-traffic use and extreme weather, adhering to updated building codes for fire resistance and accessibility. Designers assess existing structures for “good bones” to repurpose them cost-effectively, as seen in HED’s redesign of Santa Monica High School with adaptable, demountable walls.

  10. Collaborative Design with Stakeholder Input
    Construction projects increasingly involve teachers, parents, and students in the planning process through public meetings and surveys to align facilities with community needs. Transparent communication, as emphasized by Bryan Construction, ensures designs reflect educational goals, such as sustainable curricula or flexible spaces, enhancing teacher and student satisfaction.

 

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