Educational Building Projects

Speed Limits

• Educational building projects do not happen quickly, neither does the decision process. A committee must first complete a feasibility study. This is an analysis to determine what is actually needed from minor repairs to a major renovation, the cost, whether or not the project is genuinely needed and if so, when will the project begin to pay for itself. For example, the Carlisle School in Massachusetts conducted two feasibility studies and a master plan was developed in 2001. The project is not scheduled for completion until 2012. Though construction is expected to take only about six months, years have been spent on preparation, meetings, approving contract bids, elections for public approval and obtaining project funds.

College Projects

• The University of Michigan:Stephen M. Ross School of Business Facilities Enhancement Project was an add-on and renovation project finished in 2008. The $145 Million build took two years and provided 270,000 gross square-feet including class rooms, offices, a central food court and an auditorium. Renovations and new builds often include materials or energy-efficiency systems to "go green." The University of Wisconsin at Madison education building is a $34 million project with a number of green details. The 100-year-old structure received new narrow windows and skylights positioned on an east-west axis, and an active chilled beam system for cooling and ventilation.

K-12 Projects

• Portsmouth, New Hampshire expects to see completion of the $37.5 million addition and renovation project for the middle school in the fall of 2013. The project includes improvements for energy efficiency and work on the athletic field. The 2009 economic decline was a deciding factor for 40 central Massachusetts school districts to move forward with their educational building projects, according to Matthew L. Brown. He further notes that the building projects range from repairs to the construction of massive, new urban and suburban high schools with budgets approaching $100 million.

Learning Process

• In areas with insufficient funding to remodel a distressed school, parents, older students and concerned citizens can take matters into their own hands. Much like what is seen on the NBC show "School Pride," volunteers take it upon themselves to renovate deteriorating or out-of-date buildings. Projects exploit the professional skills of some volunteers and are an educational experience for others. Involvement in a rehabilitation project exposes individuals to project planning, budgeting, funding and the physical process of remodeling an existing building.