Resident Counselors are current ND undergrads who mentor our high school students during on-campus programs. We’re so thankful for this group who share their love of @NotreDame all summer long. ☘️ ☀️ pic.twitter.com/bQQIKy1tR5
— Notre Dame Pre-College Programs (@NDPreCollege) July 21, 2022
Here are terms of art commonly used to describe low occupancy rates or low space usage factors in schools, colleges, and universities:
Underutilization – Refers to spaces or facilities in educational institutions that are not used to their full capacity.
Low Occupancy Rate – The percentage of available space or seats in a facility that remains unoccupied during a given period.
Space Utilization Rate – A metric indicating the extent to which physical spaces (classrooms, labs, etc.) are being used, often low when spaces are underused.
Idle Capacity – Describes resources or spaces within an institution that are not actively used or scheduled.
Excess Capacity – When the available space or facilities exceed the demand or actual usage.
Low Enrollment Impact – Refers to reduced space usage due to lower-than-expected student enrollment.
Vacant Space – Areas within a campus (e.g., classrooms, dorms, or offices) that remain unoccupied or unused.
Underused Facilities – Buildings, rooms, or resources that are not fully engaged in academic or operational activities.
Space Inefficiency – A term describing the suboptimal use of available space relative to its potential.
Ghost Space – Informal term for areas that are rarely or never used, remaining empty for extended periods.
Unoccupied Seat Ratio – The proportion of available seats in classrooms or lecture halls that are not filled.
Facility Downtime – Periods when spaces like auditoriums or labs are not in use.
Low Utilization Factor – A metric used in space management to indicate below-optimal use of facilities.
Empty Classroom Syndrome – A colloquial term for classrooms that remain empty or sparsely used during scheduled hours.
Space Surplus – When the available physical space exceeds the institution’s current needs.
Non-Optimized Space Allocation – Refers to the inefficient assignment of spaces for classes or activities, leading to underuse.
Low Footfall Areas – Campus zones with minimal student, staff, or visitor traffic, indicating low usage.
Unused Capacity – Similar to idle capacity, focusing on resources or spaces that are available but not utilized.
Vacancy Rate – A term borrowed from real estate, used to describe the percentage of unused space in dormitories or other facilities.
Scheduling Inefficiency – Low space usage due to suboptimal scheduling of classes or events, leaving spaces empty during peak hours.
Dormitory Underoccupancy – Specific to residential facilities, where dorm rooms or beds remain unassigned or empty.
Classroom Vacancy – Refers to empty or underused classrooms during scheduled academic hours.
Space Redundancy – When institutions maintain more space than necessary for their current operations.
Low Space Efficiency – A broad term for spaces that are not used effectively in terms of time, capacity, or purpose.
Operational Underuse – Describes facilities that are not fully integrated into the institution’s operational or academic activities.
These terms are often used in facilities management, enrollment planning, and campus space optimization discussions to address inefficiencies and plan for better resource allocation. If you need further clarification or examples for any of these, let me know!
We follow the construction spend rate of the US education industry; using the US Census Bureau Construction Spending figures released the first day of every month.
We encourage our colleagues in the education facilities industry to respond to Census Bureau-retained data gathering contractors in order to contribute to the accuracy of the report.
Overview of codes and standards relevant to the food service enterprises in K-12 schools, college and university student housing, athletic venues and university-affiliated healthcare systems.
Lightning flash density – 12 hourly averages over the year (NASA OTD/LIS) This shows that lightning is much more frequent in summer than in winter, and from noon to midnight compared to midnight to noon.
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.
Analysis and Notes
Context: These trends address the aging infrastructure of U.S. schools (average age 49 years, per NCES) and evolving educational demands, with 53% of schools needing system updates. They balance safety, sustainability, and modern learning while addressing budget constraints through federal funds and local bonds.
European War Fatigue Connection: Your previous queries about U.S. war fatigue and European wars suggest an interest in societal burdens. While not directly related, the trend of community-centric school designs reflects a desire to create positive, inclusive spaces, potentially countering broader societal exhaustion by fostering local resilience and engagement.
Limitations: Most trends focus on new builds or renovations in response to post-COVID needs and technological advancements. European-specific war fatigue isn’t addressed, as recent K-12 construction trends are driven by domestic priorities like safety and CTE.
If you’d like a deeper dive into any trend (e.g., specific examples or costs), more focus on a particular aspect (e.g., sustainability), or a connection to broader societal trends, let me know!
Here are 10 alternative ways to describe Community-Centric School Facilities, reflecting their role as shared, inclusive, and multifunctional spaces that extend beyond traditional educational purposes:
Community Hub Schools Emphasizes schools as central gathering places for local events, services, or emergency functions, like voting centers or shelters.
Civic-Engaged Campuses Highlights facilities designed to foster civic participation, with spaces for community meetings, workshops, or public forums.
Neighborhood Learning Centers Describes schools as integrated community resources that support lifelong learning for students, parents, and residents.
Shared-Use Educational Spaces Focuses on facilities designed for dual purposes, such as classrooms that double as community recreation or meeting areas after hours.
Public-Partnership Schools Reflects collaboration between schools and local organizations, with facilities built to serve both educational and community needs.
Inclusive Community Campuses Underscores designs that welcome diverse community members, with accessible spaces for events, cultural activities, or social services.
Multi-Purpose Educational Hubs Describes schools with versatile spaces (e.g., auditoriums, gyms) used for community activities like performances or fitness programs.
Local Resource Schools Portrays facilities as community assets, offering resources like libraries, tech labs, or gardens for public use.
Community-Integrated Learning Environments Highlights schools designed to blend seamlessly with neighborhood needs, incorporating community input in design and function.
Collaborative Civic Schools Emphasizes facilities that encourage partnerships among students, educators, and residents, with spaces for joint projects or services.
Notes
These terms align with the trend of K-12 schools serving as more than just educational institutions, acting as community anchors that enhance engagement and resilience, as seen in examples like Eddy & Debbie Peach Elementary School.
If you’d like examples of specific schools embodying these descriptions or further elaboration on any term, let me know!
Innovation – Standardization – Commoditization run along a continuum. Today we unpack some of the ideas that hasten (and prohibit) leading practice discovery; how quickly goods and services become a “human right”; why all of this is relevant to education communities and why some believe that commoditization is a myth.
From the Wikipedia
In business literature, commoditization is defined as the process by which goods that have economic value and are distinguishable in terms of attributes (uniqueness or brand) end up becoming simple commodities in the eyes of the market or consumers. It is the movement of a market from differentiated to undifferentiated price competition and from monopolistic competition to perfect competition. Hence, the key effect of commoditization is that the pricing power of the manufacturer or brand owner is weakened: when products become more similar from a buyer’s point of view, they will tend to buy the cheapest.
After months of hard work, the top five teams met at USPTO headquarters today for the final round of the 2025 National Patent Application Drafting Competition. 🏆 And the winners are … ⬇️
From creating a race car safety device that protects drivers from injury to revolutionizing chemotherapy, Spartans have contributed to more than 3,300 inventions. #SpartansWillpic.twitter.com/dchCs0BFBx
One hour overview of NEMA, SAE, IEEE, NFPA, UL and ICC public input and comment on safety and sustainability standards for electric vehicle charging stations. As usual, our focus is on marking up consensus documents, signing them and submitting them to the appropriate technical committee so that you may receive a formal response.
“Own only what you can always carry with you: know languages, know countries, know people.
Let your memory be your travel bag.”
— Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (From “The Gulag Archipelago”)
Today we explain our collaboration with other education settlements in the US and other nations. We conform to participation requirements set by ANSI US Technical Advisory Groups to the International Organization for Standardization but we also have liaison with other universities in the European Union who conform to the participation requirements of their own national standards bodies.
“Prometheus creating Man in the presence of Athena” (1802) / Jean-Simon Berthélemy
Monthly review of all consensus, consortia and open source codes, standards and regulations the set the standard of care for fire safety in educational settlements. We group them with fire protection standards because most of the compliance and enforcement expertise originates with fire safety expertise. Send bella@standardsmichigan.com an email for an advance agenda.
One of the most contentious aspects of best practice discovery and promulgation in any domain, and no less so in educational settlements, is an agreed-upon vocabulary and shared understanding. As we explain elsewhere in this history, when a counter-party disagrees with you, he simply switches out the vocabulary — i.e. changes definitions or adds or subtracts from the traditional meanings of things. So we approach this topic several times a year to confirm our bearing on the meaning of things.
We begin 2025 by breaking down this topic into four sections
Language 100: Survey of vocabulary in the standards catalogs relevant to building and managing education settlement real assets; including legal terms.
Language 200: Electrotechnology standard catalogs; including computer programming languages.
Language 300: The English as the language of science and innovation; the birthplace of computing and programming, the internet’s native tongue, standardization & open source development; etc.
Come see 'Pygmalion' this weekend at Arno Gustin Hall on campus! University of Mary students bring this classic to life in a riveting weekend of performances. 🎬
We observe National Poetry Month (April) in the United States and Canada every year with an inquiry into changes in the (meaning of) definitions at the foundation of best practice literature; frequently the subject of sporty debate among experts writing codes and standards for the built environment of education communities.
In the United Kingdom, National Poetry Month is celebrated in October, and it is known as “National Poetry Day” which has been observed since 1994. It is an initiative of the Forward Arts Foundation, which aims to encourage people to read, write and perform poetry.
Other countries also have their own poetry celebrations, such as World Poetry Day, which is observed annually on March 21 by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) to promote the reading, writing, and teaching of poetry worldwide.
In past years we used a Tamil mnemonic because Tamil is the oldest surviving language and remains the spoken language of 80-odd million people of South Asia. Alas, use of Tamil confounds our Wordpress content management system so in 2024 we began coding this topic in American English
Once median household income is adjusted for cost of living, Utah emerges as the wealthiest state in the nation and Mississippi yet again ranks last. Source: https://t.co/AN3JZqtNnFpic.twitter.com/kv8U3LZlvh
“Composition in red, yellow, blue and black” (1921) / Piet Mondrian
Status check on open source consensus products — and practical applications — evolving around distributed ledger technologies for financing, planning, design, operation & maintenance of the #WiseCampus.
We review best practice literature in the field of audio, video and multimedia systems and equipment greatly expanded in the Massive Online Open Online Course and #LearnFromHome zietgeist. These titles include specification of the performance, methods of measurement for consumer and professional equipment and their application in systems and its interoperability with other systems or equipment. Multimedia is the integration of any form of audio, video, graphics, data and telecommunication and integration includes the production, storage, processing, transmission, display and reproduction of such information.
There are written fine arts standards that have been developed by various organizations and educational bodies. These standards provide a framework for what students should know and be able to do in the arts at different grade levels. Here are a few examples of fine arts standards:
National Core Arts Standards: The National Core Arts Standards were developed by the National Coalition for Core Arts Standards and outline what students should know and be able to do in dance, media arts, music, theater, and visual arts at different grade levels.
State Fine Arts Standards: Many states have their own fine arts standards that are aligned with the National Core Arts Standards but may be tailored to reflect the unique needs and priorities of the state; e.g., State of Ohio Fine Art Standards
International Baccalaureate Arts Standards: The International Baccalaureate (IB) program offers arts standards as part of their curriculum framework for the arts. These standards are designed to develop students’ creative and critical thinking skills in the arts.
Today at 15:00 UTC we drill into the technical specifics that contribute to the safety and sustainability of spaces used for the teaching, practice and
display of the fine arts. These occupancies are typically at greater risk than classrooms because they usually contain volatile fluids for artistic painting
or biologic specimen preservation, kilns for pottery, fabrics and related machinery for teaching fashion design and practice.
Famous People Discussing the Divine Comedy with Dante
Periodic walk-through of Human Resource best practice catalog for labor markets generally; and units within the education facility industry specifically. We inform our discussion based upon today’s release on the Employment Situation Summary from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
For an advance agenda send a request to bella@stanardsmichigan.com. Use the credentials at the upper right of our home page to log in.
Alone is where the magic happens…apparently although I got so bored. This 10 mile run was the first time I’ve ran double digits since October 2021! The last two miles felt dreadful however, it’s done. I’m now going to smash a 🍕 #ukrunchat#trainingpic.twitter.com/fUP43c5yGi
Today we pick through a few tax-free bond offerings that finance education community construction with a eye toward reducing construction cost and life-cycle maintenance through building codes and standards. Use the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.
https://standardsmichigan.com/tax-free-bonds/
Once median household income is adjusted for cost of living, Utah emerges as the wealthiest state in the nation and Mississippi yet again ranks last. Source: https://t.co/AN3JZqtNnFpic.twitter.com/kv8U3LZlvh
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
