40 years ago today, “The Big Chill,” a movie about a group of U-M grads written and directed by alum Lawrence Kasdan, debuted in theaters. 🎥 pic.twitter.com/fUVDNGXSNW
— Alumni Association of the University of Michigan (@michiganalumni) September 28, 2023
“Ironically, on the 200th anniversary of our Bill of Rights, we find free speech under assault throughout the United States, including on some college campuses. The notion of political correctness has ignited controversy across the land. And although the movement arises from the laudable desire to sweep away the debris of racism and sexism and hatred, it replaces old prejudice with new ones. It declares certain topics off-limits, certain expression off-limits, even certain gestures off-limits.”
…”Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts, For they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls, For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Northern Kentucky University officials broke ground on an expansion of the Dorothy Westerman Herrmann Science Center in a ceremony at the Highland Heights campus on Thursday.https://t.co/Qecc3Lfutt#NorseUppic.twitter.com/ggVpoIAxLa
‘O God Beyond All Praising’ was sung at Winston Churchill’s funeral on January 30, 1965, to the tune Thaxted by Gustav Holst. The hymn, with lyrics by Michael Perry, uses the same melody as ‘I Vow to Thee, My Country’, which was also associated with Churchill’s funeral, contributing to its patriotic resonance.
Citizens of the Earth depend upon United States leadership in this technology for several reasons:
Development: The GPS was originally developed by the US Department of Defense for military purposes, but it was later made available for civilian use. The US has invested heavily in the development and maintenance of the system, which has contributed to its leadership in this area.
Coverage: The GPS provides global coverage, with 24 satellites orbiting the earth and transmitting signals that can be received by GPS receivers anywhere in the world. This level of coverage is unmatched by any other global navigation system.
Accuracy: The US has worked to continually improve the accuracy of the GPS, with current accuracy levels estimated at around 10 meters for civilian users and even higher accuracy for military users.
Innovation: The US has continued to innovate and expand the capabilities of the GPS over time, with newer versions of the system including features such as higher accuracy, improved anti-jamming capabilities, and the ability to operate in more challenging environments such as indoors or in urban canyons.
Collaboration: The US has collaborated with other countries to expand the reach and capabilities of the GPS, such as through the development of compatible navigation systems like the European Union’s Galileo system and Japan’s QZSS system.
United States leadership in the GPS has been driven by a combination of investment, innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to improving the accuracy and capabilities of the system over time.
Hosting open-air celebrations such as graduations and cultural requires sensitivity to audio standards that ensure high-quality sound and audience safety. Today at the usual hour we examine the standards covering sound system design, noise control, loudness levels, equipment specifications, weather and local environmental considerations.
Surprisingly, there are many even without approaching the not insignificant cabling system standards. We pick three representatives titles which cross reference one another:
World Health Organization recommendations for limiting exposure to leisure noise (e.g., concerts) to a level exceeding 80 dBA for 24 hours or 140 dB peak sound pressure to prevent hearing loss. Recommendations for speech heavy events will defer from musical events.
Height and Angle: Line array speakers are often elevated (e.g., on trusses or poles) and angled to cover the audience while reducing sound spill to non-audience areas.
Distance: Main speakers should be placed to avoid excessive sound pressure near the front (e.g., 95–100 dBA max for audience safety) and ensure clarity at the back.
Acoustical Society of America ASA-2010 Acoustical Performance Criteria, Design Requirements, and Guidelines for Schools. While primarily for schools, this standard’s principles can apply to open-air educational or community events, emphasizing background noise control and speech intelligibility. For open-air audiences at events like outdoor lectures or festivals, speaker placement should minimize interference from environmental noise (e.g., traffic, wind). The standard suggests maintaining a signal-to-noise ratio where speech is at least 15 dB above background noise for clarity.
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“Center Grove Schools enters the 2022/2023 school year with a new high-tech safety partner — Centegix CrisisAlert — purchased in part with school safety grant money that pairs with their Emergency Operations Center that opened in January 2022. The CrisisAlert program puts security at the fingertips of all teachers and staff.
Both systems address what the district learned it had to work on from a school safety assessment back in 2018 – live monitoring and faster response times in an emergency. Seven-hundred cameras will scan every school in real-time from the district’s Emergency Operations Center. — More”
Qualified Zone Academy Bonds (QZABs) are a U.S. government debt instrument created by Section 226 of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997. It was later revised and regulations may be found in Section 54(E) of the U.S. Code. QZABs allow certain qualified schools to borrow at nominal interest rates (as low as zero percent) for costs incurred in connection with the establishment of special programs in partnership with the private sector…
…Funds can be used for renovation and rehabilitation projects (including energy projects), as well as equipment purchases (including computers). QZABs cannot be used for new building construction. The school district must obtain matching funds from a private-sector/non-profit partner equal to at least 10% of the cost of the proposed project. Information on the two QZAB federal mandates, 10% match and academy, can be obtained by visiting the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) school financing toolkit (see resources below).
…The normal annual allocation each year has been $400,000,000. However, during 2008, 2009, and 2010, the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) increased these amounts to 1.4 billion. The 2011 allocation has returned to the $400,000,000 level. The allocation is divided up by all fifty states and US possessions. QZABs are a temporary program, subject to reauthorization. The last authorization was for the calendar years 2012 and 2013. Authorizations must be used within two years following the year for which they were given, meaning that authorizations given in 2012 must be used by December 31, 2014. As of July 21, 2014, the reauthorization of the QZAB program for years 2014 and 2015 has not been passed by the U.S. Congress. [Emphasis added*]…
…Schools usually fund large projects, like building renovation or construction, through debt mechanisms such as tax-exempt bonds or loans. School districts must then pay a substantial amount of interest on this debt. For schools serving low income students, QZABs reduce the burden of interest payments by giving financial institutions holding the bonds (or other debt mechanism) a tax credit in lieu of interest. The school district must still pay back the amount of money it initially borrowed, but does not have to pay any interest — typically about half the cost of renovating a school. The credit rate for QZABs sold on a given day is set by the Treasury Department…
With the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting education facility construction projects — and the prospect of at least 10 percent of the built environment rendered redundant for all time — it is enlightening to review the several sources of financing for these construction projects.
We review education industry construction project status and financing at least twice a month during our US Census Bureau Monthly Construction and Finance teleconferences. See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting; open to everyone. Use the login credential at the upper right of our home page.
New update alert! The 2022 update to the Trademark Assignment Dataset is now available online. Find 1.29 million trademark assignments, involving 2.28 million unique trademark properties issued by the USPTO between March 1952 and January 2023: https://t.co/njrDAbSpwBpic.twitter.com/GkAXrHoQ9T
