Author Archives: [email protected]

  1. Home
  2. Articles posted by [email protected]
    3. (Page 8)
Loading
loading...

Lovely Day

Recorded January 2015

Mathieu Manach : Percussions

Jean-Michel Warluzelle : Bass & background vocal

Bruno Thivend : Guitar & background vocal

Pierric Tailler : Vocal & guitar

Bill Withers Official Site

Université de Lyon | Fête des Lumières 2019 – Les Rêveries Lumineuses de Léonard

Sichere Kinderspielplätze mit Standards

Austrian Standards International

During the construction of the new “Christine Nöstlinger Education Campus,” great care was taken to not only make the site accessible to schoolchildren and students, but also to involve the entire neighborhood in its use. We spoke with Rudolf Leber from MA 56 about how standards specifically contribute to making the outdoor facilities safe and robust.

Key points about how Austria cares for its children in kindergarten, based on its early childhood education system:

Compulsory Kindergarten Year: Since 2009, Austria has mandated a free, compulsory kindergarten year for all children who turn five by August 31, requiring at least 20 hours of attendance per week over four days. This ensures early education access and prepares children for primary school.

Variety of Kindergarten Options: Austria offers diverse kindergarten types—public (free, government-subsidized), private (partially subsidized, costing around €250/month), parent-run (costing about €100/month with parental involvement), and company-run

(Betriebskindergarten)—catering to different family needs and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Focus on Development: Kindergartens aim to support physical, mental, and emotional growth through play-based learning and group interaction, complementing family care. The Nationwide Framework Curriculum emphasizes holistic development without formal school-like instruction.

Accessibility and Subsidies: Public kindergartens are free, though parents may pay for meals (around €60/month), while private options remain affordable due to government subsidies. Many facilities operate long hours (e.g., 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.) to accommodate working parents.

Decentralized Governance with Quality Standards: The nine federal provinces oversee kindergarten legislation and operations, allowing regional flexibility, while national agreements (e.g., 15a B-VG) and frameworks ensure quality, such as trained pedagogues and reasonable child-staff ratios (e.g., max 25 children per teacher in public settings).

ISO 4980:2023 – Benefit-Risk Assessment for Sports and Recreational Facilities, Equipment, and/or Activities

  • This standard provides a framework for assessing both the benefits and risks associated with playground equipment and activities. It introduces a dual-assessment process to balance the developmental advantages of play against potential hazards, ensuring safer design and use.

ISO/TS 24665:2023 – Playground and Recreational Areas — Framework for the Competence of Playground Inspectors and Playground Maintenance Technicians

  • This technical specification outlines the competencies required for inspectors and maintenance technicians of playgrounds. It covers routine visual inspections, operational checks, annual main inspections, and post-installation or post-accident assessments, ensuring outdoor playgrounds remain safe and functional.

ISO 23659:2023 – Sports and Recreational Facilities — Trampoline Parks — Safety Requirements

  • While primarily focused on trampoline parks, this standard includes provisions relevant to outdoor playgrounds with trampoline features, addressing safety requirements for design, installation, and operation to protect children during play.

Finding a Kindergarten in Vienna

 

Day Care

2024 Complete Change Monograph (2658 Pages)

2025 ICC Leadership Week + Hearings Committee Action Hearings – Group B #1 | April 26 – May 6 | Orlando, Florida

Link to April Committee Action Hearing Videos

“Kindergarten” c. 1885 / Johann Sperl

Safety and sustainability for any facility begins with an understanding of who shall occupy the built environment and how.  University settings, with mixed-use phenomenon arising spontaneously and temporarily, often present challenges.   Educational communities are a convergent settings for families; day care facilities among them.  First principles regarding occupancy classifications for day care facilities appear in Section 308 of the International Building Code, Institutional Group I; linked below:

2018 International Building Code Section 308 Institutional Group I-4 (Superseded in some jurisdictions)

The ICC Institutional Group I-4 classification includes buildings and structures occupied by more than five persons of any age who received custodial care for fewer than 24 hours per day by persons other than parents or guardian, relatives by blood, marriage or adoption, and in a place other than the home of the person cared far.  This group includes both adult and child day care.

We maintain focus on child day care.  Many educational communities operate child day care enterprises for both academic study and/or as auxiliary (university employee benefit) enterprises.

Princeton University Child Care Center

Each of the International Code Council code development groups fetch back to a shared understanding of the nature of the facility; character of its occupants and prospective usage patterns.

The 2024 revision of the International Building code is in production now.   Ahead of the formal, market release of the Group A tranche of titles you can sample the safety concepts in play during this revision with an examination of the documents linked below:

2019 GROUP B PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE I-CODES ALBUQUERQUE COMMITTEE ACTION HEARINGS

2019 REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ACTION HEARINGS ON THE 2018 EDITIONS OF THE GROUP B INTERNATIONAL CODES

Search on the terms “day care” and “daycare” in the link at the top of this page to get a sample of the prevailing concepts; use of such facilities as storm shelters, for example.

“The Country School” | Winslow Homer

We encourage our safety and sustainability colleagues to participate directly in the ICC Code Development process.   We slice horizontally through the disciplinary silos (“incumbent verticals”) created by hundreds of consensus product developers every week and we can say, upon considerable authority that the ICC consensus product development environment is one of the best in the world.  Privately developed standards (for use by public agencies) is a far better way to discover and promulgate leading practice than originating technical specifics from legislative bodies.   CLICK HERE to get started.  Contact Kimberly Paarlberg ([email protected]) for more information.

There are competitor consensus products in this space — Chapter 18 Day-Care Occupancies in NFPA 5000 Building Construction and Safety Code, for example; a title we maintain the standing agenda of our Model Building Code teleconferences.   It is developed from a different pool of expertise under a different due process regime.   See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting; open to everyone.

 

Issue: [18-166]

Category: Architectural, Healthcare Facilities, Facility Asset Management

Colleagues: Mike Anthony, Jim Harvey, Richard Robben

Recent concepts in play in transcripts:

  • Tempered water for public hand-washing facilities
  • Walking surfaces
  • Exit signage for non-resident, non-English speaking children
  • Fire rating of corridors 
  • Bathing privacy concepts
  • Water heater controls and monitoring; mixing valves

LEARN MORE:

cdpACCESS Hearing Video Streaming Service

 

Evensong “Lullabye (Goodnight, my angel)”

Goodnight my angel, time to close your eyes
And save these questions for another day
I think I know what you’ve been asking me
I think you know what I’ve been trying to say
I promised I would never leave you
Then you should always know
Wherever you may go, no matter where you are
I never will be far away
Goodnight my angel, now it’s time to sleep
And still so many things I want to say
Remember all the songs you sang for me
When we went sailing on an emerald bay
And like a boat out on the ocean
I’m rocking you to sleep
The water’s dark and deep, inside this ancient heart
You’ll always be a part of me
Goodnight my angel, now it’s time to dream
And dream how wonderful your life will be
Someday your child may cry, and if you sing this lullaby
Then in your heart there will always be a part of me
Someday we’ll all be gone
But lullabies go on and on
They never die
That’s how you and I will be

— Billy Joel

Evensong: Lullabye (Goodnight My Angel)

Split Pea Soup & Ham

Oklahoma Commercial Kitchen Requirements

Ingredients:

1 pound dried split peas, rinsed and picked over
1 ham hock, ham bone, or 1 pound diced ham
1 onion, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
8 cups chicken or vegetable broth
2 bay leaves
Salt and pepper to taste
Optional: thyme, parsley, or other herbs for flavor

Instructions:

Prepare the ingredients: Rinse the split peas under cold water and pick out any debris. Chop the onion, carrots, and celery. Mince the garlic.

Sauté aromatic vegetables: In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat some olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, carrots, celery, and garlic. Sauté until softened, about 5-7 minutes.

Add split peas and broth: Add the rinsed split peas to the pot, along with the ham hock, ham bone, or diced ham. Pour in the chicken or vegetable broth. Add bay leaves and any other herbs you’re using.

Simmer the soup: Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Let it simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the split peas are tender and the soup has thickened, about 1 to 1.5 hours. If using a ham hock or bone, remove it from the soup once the meat is falling off the bone; shred the meat and return it to the pot.

Season to taste: Taste the soup and season with salt and pepper as needed. Adjust any other seasonings to your liking.

Serve: Remove the bay leaves before serving. Ladle the soup into bowls and enjoy hot. Optionally, you can garnish with chopped fresh parsley or a drizzle of olive oil.


Tips:

You can customize the soup by adding other vegetables like potatoes or leeks.
For a vegetarian version, omit the ham and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
Split pea soup tends to thicken as it sits, so you may need to add more broth or water when reheating leftovers.

Standards Oklahoma

Family Names

BSI Group: The Role of Standards in Shaping Careers and a Fairer Future

Growth for tech innovation in Bristol as Future Space expands

“Immoderate Greatness: Why Civilizations Fail, and Apologies to the Grandchildren” | William Ophuls

What is Happening to the Family, and Why?

“The family is nature’s masterpiece”

— George Santayana

 

Educated at Yale College, Somerville College, the University of Pennsylvania, Harvard Medical School and Columbia Law School, Amy Wax speaks to the Buckley Institute, founded by William F. Buckley (Yale 1950). Links to National Centers at Bowling Green State University, the University of Virginia and the University of Nebraska.

Inside Higher Ed (September 24, 2024): Amy Wav Update

In popular culture:

The Anthropology of Karens

People grow up in a web of relationships that is already in place, supporting them as they grow. From the inside out, it includes parents, extended family and clan, neighborhood groups and civic associations, church, local and provincial governments and finally national government.

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 

Naming & Signs

Most educational settlements are not overloaded by signage by design but distracted management (overlapping temporary signs, inconsistent styles) or large footprints supports the perception.  Today at the usual hour we explore the literature covering exterior and interior signage with emphases on coherence and necessity.

 
ANSI Z535.2-2023: Environmental and Facility Safety Signs

Consistency with Institutional Branding

  • Signage must align with the educational institution’s brand identity, including logos, colors, and typography (e.g., Helvetica font is often specified, as seen in some university standards).
  • Corporate logos are typically prohibited on primary exterior signage to maintain institutional focus.

Compliance with Local Zoning and Building Codes

  • Signs must adhere to municipal zoning regulations, which dictate size, height, placement, and illumination (e.g., NYC Building Code Appendix H or similar local codes).
  • Permits may be required, and signage must not obstruct traffic visibility or pedestrian pathways.

ADA Accessibility Requirements

  • Exterior signs identifying permanent spaces (e.g., entrances or exits) must meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards, including visual character requirements (legible fonts, sufficient contrast).
  • Tactile signs with Braille are required at specific locations like exit stairways or discharge points, per the U.S. Access Board guidelines, though not all exterior signs need to be tactile.

Wayfinding and Identification Functionality

  • Signs should clearly identify buildings, provide directional guidance, and include essential information (e.g., building names, departments, or campus districts).
  • Placement is typically near main entrances, limited to one per building unless otherwise justified.

Material and Durability Standards

  • Materials must be weather-resistant and durable (e.g., extruded or cast aluminum with finishes like natural or dark bronze, avoiding plastic in some cases).
  • Maintenance considerations ensure longevity and legibility over time.

Size and Placement Restrictions

  • Size is often regulated (e.g., no larger than necessary for legibility, with some institutions capping temporary signs at 32 square feet).
  • Placement avoids upper building portions unless in urban settings or campus peripheries, ensuring aesthetic harmony.

Approval and Review Processes

  • Exterior signage often requires review by a campus design or sign committee (e.g., a university’s Design Review Board).
  • For partnerships or donor-funded buildings, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) may govern signage rights and standards.

Safety and Visibility Standards

  • Signs must not create hazards (e.g., minimum clearance of 7.5 feet above walkways, no sharp edges).
  • Illumination, if allowed, must comply with safety codes and enhance visibility without causing glare or distraction.

Temporary Signage Regulations

  • Temporary signs (e.g., banners or construction signs) have time limits (e.g., 30-90 days per year) and must be approved, with size and frequency restrictions.  The National Electrical Code Article 590 covers temporary wiring for festoon illumination and defines “temporary” as 90 days.

National Institutes of Health: Moral grandstanding in public discourse

Somewhat Related:

University of Michigan Naming Policy Guideline

Michigan State University: Building and Facilities Naming

University of Buffalo Naming Guidelines

University of Montevallo Sign Refresh: An Academic Library and a Graphic Design Class Collaborate to Improve Library Wayfinding

University of Vienna: Analyzing wayfinding processes in the outdoor environment

Welcome

Donor Control & Influence

“The Architect’s Dream” 1840 Thomas Cole

In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, charitable donations to U.S. colleges and universities amounted to $58 billion.  This figure represents a slight decline of 2.5% from the previous year’s record of $59.5 billion, but it remains the second-highest level of donations in history​ (CASE)​​ (Inside Higher Ed)​.   This figure includes money donated for new building projects and other capital expenses.

Some benefactors contribute to the lifecycle upkeep of buildings they help fund. These contributions often come in the form of endowed funds specifically designated for the maintenance, repair, and renovation of facilities. Such endowments are crucial as they provide a continuous source of funding to ensure that buildings remain functional and in good condition over time.

CASE Global Reporting Standards

Charitable giving to colleges and universities in the U.S. is governed by a range of standards and best practices designed to ensure transparency, accountability, and effectiveness. These standards help donors, institutions, and the public understand and manage the complexities of philanthropic contributions. Key standards include:

  1. Donor Intent and Restrictions:
    • Documentation: Donor intent should be clearly documented in gift agreements or endowment contracts to ensure funds are used as intended.
    • Restrictions: Restrictions on the use of funds must be explicitly stated and agreed upon by both the donor and the institution. These can include specific programs, scholarships, research, or infrastructure projects.
  2. Transparency and Reporting:
    • Annual Reports: Institutions should provide detailed annual reports on how donated funds are being utilized, including breakdowns of expenditures and outcomes.
    • Stewardship Reports: For major gifts or endowments, institutions often provide personalized stewardship reports to donors, detailing the impact of their contributions.
  3. Governance and Oversight:
    • Board Oversight: Boards of trustees or equivalent governing bodies should oversee fundraising practices and the management of donated funds.
    • Audit and Compliance: Regular audits and compliance checks should be conducted to ensure adherence to donor restrictions and institutional policies.
  4. Ethical Fundraising Practices:
    • Professional Standards: Fundraisers and development officers should adhere to ethical standards set by professional organizations such as the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).
    • Confidentiality and Respect: Institutions must respect donor confidentiality and handle all interactions with integrity and respect.
  5. Tax and Legal Considerations:
    • IRS Regulations: Donations must comply with Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulations to qualify for tax deductions. This includes proper documentation of gifts and adherence to rules regarding charitable contributions.
    • 501(c)(3) Status: Colleges and universities must maintain their 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, which requires adherence to various federal and state laws governing charitable organizations.
  6. Gift Acceptance Policies:
    • Policy Framework: Institutions should have clear gift acceptance policies outlining the types of gifts they can accept, including cash, securities, real estate, and in-kind contributions.
    • Review and Approval: Complex or potentially problematic gifts should be reviewed by a gift acceptance committee or similar body to assess risks and alignment with institutional priorities.
  7. Endowment Management:
    • Spending Policies: Endowments should have spending policies that balance the need for current income with the preservation of principal to ensure long-term sustainability.
    • Investment Strategies: Institutions should adopt prudent investment strategies for their endowments, often guided by the principles of the Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act (UPMIFA).
  8. Recognition and Acknowledgment:
    • Donor Recognition: Institutions should have systems in place to appropriately recognize and thank donors, which can include naming opportunities, public acknowledgments, and donor recognition societies.
    • Acknowledgment Letters: Prompt and accurate acknowledgment letters should be sent to donors, including the necessary information for tax purposes.

By adhering to these standards, colleges and universities can effectively manage charitable contributions, ensuring that donor intent is honored, funds are used appropriately, and the institution maintains trust and credibility with its supporters and the broader public.

“Ten Books on Architecture” 30-20 B.C | Vitruvius

No single charitable organization claims hegemony over all others in the realm of charitable giving to U.S. universities but there are a others in the domain. 

  1. Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP):
    • Role: AFP is a professional association that supports fundraisers through education, training, and advocacy. It serves a wide range of nonprofit sectors, including higher education.
    • Ethical Standards: AFP’s Code of Ethical Standards and Donor Bill of Rights are widely recognized and adopted by fundraising professionals in higher education.
  2. National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO):
    • Role: NACUBO represents chief business and financial officers through advocacy, professional development, and research.
    • Financial Management: It provides guidance on the financial management of gifts, endowments, and other resources critical to higher education institutions.
  3. Council on Foundations:
    • Role: This membership organization supports grantmaking foundations in the U.S., including those that fund higher education.
    • Philanthropic Guidance: It offers legal resources, best practices, and networking opportunities for foundations that support colleges and universities.
  4. Charity Navigator and Guidestar (Candid):
    • Role: These organizations evaluate and rate nonprofits, including higher education institutions, based on their financial health, accountability, and transparency.
    • Public Accountability: By providing ratings and financial data, they help donors make informed decisions about their contributions to colleges and universities.
  5. Internal Revenue Service (IRS):
    • Role: As the federal tax authority, the IRS oversees the tax-exempt status of educational institutions and enforces compliance with laws governing charitable contributions.
    • Regulations: The IRS provides guidelines and requirements for tax-deductible donations, ensuring legal compliance in charitable giving.

 

 

Welcome

Standards Michigan Group, LLC

2723 South State Street | Suite 150
Ann Arbor, MI 48104 USA

888-746-3670

DIRECTIONS

icon icon
icon icon
icon icon  
Layout mode
Predefined Skins
Custom Colors
Choose your skin color
Patterns Background
Images Background
Skip to content