“…you shall above all things be glad and young
For if you’re glad and young,
whatever life you wear it will become you;
and if you are glad whatever’s living
will yourself become…”
1936 University of Washington | “Boys in the Boat” 2024
Trending § Campus Clocks § Carillons § Retrodiction
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- 0606.July.Sunday
- 0707.July.Monday
Colloquy (July)
Whatever anyone wants to talk about. If no one has any suggestions, how about we poke at any of these new releases:
ANSI RELEASES REPORT: STANDARDIZATION EMPOWERING AI-ENABLED SYSTEMS IN HEALTHCARE
NIST: AI Standards: Federal Engagement
IEEE Transactions on Artificial Intelligence
- 0808.July.Tuesday
- 0909.July.Wednesday
Rain & Lightning
How you know we haven’t had rain for awhile… pic.twitter.com/5zb84HeDUR
— Allison farms (@Allisonfarms) August 5, 2024
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.
https://youtu.be/zisnPchVYKs
https://standardsmichigan.com/rain-2/
- 1010.July.Thursday
Community Hub Schools
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 NotesContext: 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!
- 1111.July.Friday
- 1212.July.Saturday
We’re “organized” but not too organized; like the bookseller who knows where every book can be found.
at a conference where you don’t have to present
— Peyman Milanfar (@docmilanfar) April 4, 2025
#AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter
Academics be like 👇 pic.twitter.com/6cpVEw3PVS
— Reviewer 2 (@GrumpyReviewer2) April 2, 2024
