Tuesday, December 14, 2010
The Final Post -- Reflection on the Traveling Seminar for Facility Planning
From your own perspective please list the top 1o things you learned about facility planning in this course. Please provide a unique and thoughtful summary to the findings from the semester site visits. I will respond to your responses. dh
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Top things I learned.
ReplyDelete1. Schools cost a TON of $$$$$$.
2. You need to have an architect that loves their job.
3. While new schools look fancy they cost per square foot is not much higher for a pretty school than it is for an ugly school.
4. Research, research, research. Any district looking to build a new school needs to look long and hard at what they need.
5. Brick and concrete building will last longer and have lower upkeep cost than metal ones.
6. I learned that split faced CMU block will make the halls quieter that smooth CMU block.
7. May districts are planning ahead and buy land for school in the bond before they plan on having to build them.
8. Old building can be made nice and keep some of the old, Devine.
9. I also found out 2 large districts in Bexar county hired construction people to look over the building, not educators.
10. This was the most informative class I have taken in the program, I think this is because of the fact I like touring building and have a construction background.
Yes, Jeff, I noticed that you spent more time in the mechanical room than most. The architect and planner for Northside also considered that to be their favorite part of the school. A lot of innovative design went into that piece. The cost analysis that went into determining they would go with a traditional system rather than a chilled water system was informative. You, Debbie, and Frank had some great conversations about material choices and space design that was great for the class. Thanks for getting your postings in early.
ReplyDelete1. A great deal of planning is needed to determine community needs.
ReplyDelete2. Cost—Rural communities are usually limited in the amount of bond money and therefore have to settle for a building that was less than intended. However, I thought it was interesting at some of the items the board felt were unnecessary at the green school that Mr. Martin discussed.
3. Future planning—T he ability to look down the road and make long range plans and predictions for growth to ensure the sustainability of your buildings.
4. Input—Create surveys, planning committees, campus surveys, teacher and staff input and a variety of methods to help for buy from all stakeholders which in turn will help get some of those difficult bond proposals passed.
5. Planning for Technology and future electrical needs and capacity so your buildings can handle future additions if necessary.
6. Special Interest groups and not letting go of land for building purposes and aligning with these groups can be a tricky prospect.
7.The public interested in using your facilities for sports events, and other civic organizations and dealing fairly with all who use your facilities.
8. Safety and security planning so students, parents and staff feel secure.
9. Knowledge of ADA compliance and necessary changes and updates to follow codes.
10. Knowledge of communities feelings of existing structures and history of buildings to know if you need to look at additions or remodeling or a complete demolition and leveling of the current structures and building a new school.
This was a great course and the site visits with superintendents and architects were extremely informational and I believe we gained more from these visits than any amount of information from a book could have supplied. While each school was unique and we got to see several magnificent buildings I couldn’t help but notice that they were all much the same in the area of the general classroom settings with much of the same themes, minus the science labs, career tech classes and Jeff’s great classroom which were all exceptions to the rule. Also, as we visited and heard the day to day stories, a familiar theme began to appear with the problems of students, teachers at their duty stations-or not at them, discipline, and the ongoing challenging inter-actions with parents seemed to make our schools smaller in realizing that we all deal with many of the same problems but in a much larger or smaller scale as well as the manpower to handle each job or several.
You so correct about technology. In my classroom alone we have added 8 computer drops and have 4 more turned in for work orders.
ReplyDeleteScott safety is a big deal. It is a real shame that we have to install cameras in schools.
Thanks for the comments about my room. It is very special to me and will be very to leave when the time comes.
1. There are some great facilities in and around San Antonio for students to get an education.
ReplyDelete2. Takes a great deal of planning to ensure a school is built efficiently.
3. Most impressed with Jeff's classroom and the opportunities those students have.
4. Due to funding issues, sometimes some of the best programs or facilities suffer.
5. Seems like the newer schools are using alot of aesthestics to motivate teachers/staff/students, especially like the Mall look at ECHS.
6. There are always road blocks to face in construction...the cave, the drainage, bus lines, parent pickup, etc.
7. Older facilities like the Cardenas Center have a great history behind them and still can be converted into learning areas and not just another empty building.
8. Seems like every district had a different method when choosing who would be involved in the construction, some didn't seem to involve campus staff and some did.
9. Surprised to see the doors that would close off parts of the campus when there was a fire.
10. Interesting to see the cables exposed in ECHS when at my district we always want them to be hidden. Not a bad idea to have them exposed so you know where to find them easily.
Overall, this was a great experience to visit the different campuses and get a completely different appreciation for new campuses and the work that goes into the construction process.
The following are 10 thoughts on things learned throughout the course by visiting various sites:
ReplyDelete1. If you do not plan ahead 3-5 years (or more), you are behind.
2. Gathering input and communicating from the community about the District's needs is crucial to the success of a bond.
3. Selecting an architect who has a passion for schools/learning is key in the design and construction of a school.
4. Schools can skillfully be built/renovated while maintaining long standing traditions and desires of the community.
5. There are many schools in the San Antonio area that provide unique opportunities and learning experiences for students.
6. In the construction of schools, expect delays, changes, and obstacles.
7. Constant communication with the architect/contractor throughout the building process and during the warranty period is critical. Building a positive relationship is key.
8. After looking at a variety of facilities, as diverse as they are, they all fulfill the need of the community they serve.
9. Schools are no longer designed in the "traditional" way; they are architectural works of art!
10. Schools need to be constructed with growth and possible changes in trends in mind. The layout of the building needs to have some flexibility.
The opportunity to visit a variety of campuses was a great learning experience. Gaining insights on leadership roles and how they impacted not only the facilities but the vision of the districts was very interesting.
Thanks you Debbie and Theresa. As I read all of your lists, it is clear that we all have different experiences within the same experience. Debbie, your posts confirm to me that the major points of the experience were well framed and well learned. Thanks.
ReplyDelete1. It costs more to build a new school in San Antonio.
ReplyDelete2. Regardless if a new school is needed or renovation to an existing school, much planning and detail is required.
3. NISD prefers to use architects that have specialized in the design and building of schools. They rank the architectural firms and move them up based on their performance and experience.
4. Carpet and furniture can emit chemical gas.
5. There are different levels of certification for "green" schools.
6. A great deal of communication is necessary to pass a bond. Bonds can be used to fund new facilities or update technology, infrastructure, indoor air control, etc.
7. Buildings consists of stories and history. Namesakes. Time period. Schools can perpetuate the memories through integrating the school's story into the curriculum: history of a person, science of materials used, influence of a time period, etc.
8. Form should follow function: Lopez MS has large learning environments that embrace the school within a school and team teaching concepts.
9. Research is a critical attribute in the development of a successful school facility.
10. Dr. Herrington is a wise man for allowing us to tour educational facilities and hear from a diverse group of stakeholders: superintendents, assistant superintendent (retired), principal, assistant principal, architects, chief financial officer, teacher, and each other. Thank you.
8.
A list of ten things that most impressed me this semester would not accurately represent the knowledge that was truly gained through this class. The fact that we were able to "live" the experience of those responsible for facilities planning and those who oversaw the building process was invaluable. Summarizing this experience is no difficult task. Filtering all that was gained and determining what not to include is the difficult task.
ReplyDelete1. Projections- District superintendents need to know what the current and future growth trends are in their district. Lopez Middle School was built was this in mind. The school was built to house more students than are currently enrolled. This research was evident by the number of lockers that were unused.
2. Building Assessment- Districts must look at current facilities and determine what if anything needs to be done o ensure student safety.
3. Cost Analysis- Structures must be assesses and a determination needs to be made. Is it more cost effective to remodel a building or demolish or abandon a structure and build a new facility.
4. Needs Assessment- All the data previously gathered lays the foundation for a needs assessment. 5. Community Support- The data from the needs assessment, if clearly articulated, inform the community of the possibility and need for upcoming change.
Cont'd6. Design- A design or plan must now be presented that addresses the facility needs of the district. 7. Funding- Districts can secure funds by increases taxes or through bonds. Both require community support. The Team- The building process needs a system check and balances 8. Architect- The district, whether building a new building or remodeling an existing structure, will need to hire an architect that is well versed in the requirements for building in that community as well as what is required for public schools. They must also be able to design a school that reflects the personality of the district. Some district have one architect or firm that they will use on a majority if not all building projects. 9. Project Manager- The right person must be in pace to ensure that contractors are doing what needs to be done and are doing it in a timely fashion. This person must be able to maintain a healthy relation ship with district personnel and with the architect. 10. District Personnel- The district has to delegate the task of ensuring that what they need is being done. This person must have the ability to articulate any concerns or needs of the district to the architect. Overall the experience was great. I would really like to thank all my classmates for the quality of speakers that were made available and for the hospitality extended toward us at every school.
ReplyDelete1. It all starts with a comprehensive needs assessment that is highly considerate of the community and its leaders perspectives...their opinons matter.
ReplyDelete2. A clear, compelling, and thorough argument must be presented and marketed to the community, especially if attempting to call for a bond election.
3. An effective team relationship must be developed with the ISD, general contractor, and architect.
4. The district MUST have an experienced and informed project manager to oversee the project and serve as the liasion between the ISD and general contractor etc.
5. Communication, communication, communication...from design to ribbon cutting, frequent and efficient correspondance will increase the probability that the final product is cost effective, relevantly functional, and finished on time.
6. Less is more...involve the fewest number of people in the decision making process while ensuring that all stakeholders are represented. The more personalities, the less effective/efficient.
7. Continuously balance the relationship between form and function in the design...the more you attend to aesthetics, the more the building costs and the less likely it is that you will get the most usable space for your dollar.
8. Connect the community/school and its history to the building.
9. Use all available data to project the future demands on the building. You must consider enrollment projections, district bonding capacity and technology infrastructure to name a few. Looking out at least 7-10 years is critical.
10. A construction project can bond a commmunity or divide it and its impact, good or bad, can last for decades.
1. Needs Assessment – This is conducted by the district to see what their needs are and what all needs to be done when a bond package is passed.
ReplyDelete2. Research – there is a great deal of research that is needed to determine the needs of a school by the community. After all, the community members are the stakeholders who approve the bonds that are needed to build our schools.
3. Funding – It cost’s a ton of money to build a school, so the more buy-in you have the bigger bond you will get passed which in turn builds a nicer school.
4. Planning - You must be planning based on the future needs. If you plan in the present, you are behind already.
5. Architect – the district must hire an architect that has a passion for building schools but also has the knowledge of all the requirement and regulations associated with building a school; for example: ADA standards.
6. Project Manager – Needs to be a neutral person that can manage all aspects of the project and have great communication between all parties involved.
7. Safety – This is a top priority when building a new school. In most of the schools visited that is why the office was set up the way it was. So that office personnel could see all inviduals entering the building. The Cardenas center also put up an extra set of doors instead of leaving it all open.
8. Opening – There is a lot that goes into opening a new facility. Roland went over some of this with us. There is a lot of great that comes with being in a new building, but there is also a little bad. Sometimes there are minor issues that need to be fixed along the way.
9. Green – This concept is the new future. We will see many more school buildings like this is the future.
10. History – Sometimes you must keep a part of the old building or make something that represents the old in order to keep peace in the community.
Good observation Lindsey on number 10. I am waiting to see what East Central does to recreate some part of its cinder block past. I had to wonder if Mr. Patterson was halfway joking when referring to community nostalgia for cinder block buildings with water running through the middle of them during rainstorms. How would one create that? Surely he was poking a little fun. But one never knows. dh
ReplyDelete10. Schools cost a bundle to build....the community often has no idea about the hidden/behind-the-scenes fees and 'extras'.
ReplyDelete9. Communities have a tough time parting with the original school, even when it is out of date, unsafe, and too small for the current student body.
8. There is much more to building a school than simply throwing it up on any piece of property. Caves, rain run-off patterns, and shifting sandy soil can wreak havoc on a beautiful new building.
7. Energy efficiency, while expensive to incorporate up front, can make for bill saving for years to come.
6. It is important to invite the stakeholders in to help with the aesthetics of a new school, to create a sense of ownership.
5. Developing a strong working relationship with your architect and construction supervisor is vital.
4. Opening a brand-new school is quite a challenge...not only do you need to staff the school, but remember all of the other details: furniture, resources, technology, the PUNCH list!
3. Flexibility is key to sanity.
2. It was interesting to see the different design strategies used throughout the schools that we toured. Some schools were very industrial feeling, while others were very traditional.
1. Projections of future growth and capacity are key to keeping kids inside the school and not stuck out in portables!
this is a test
ReplyDelete