School-Building-Designs
Schools are an important part of
our community because they provide an environment for children to
learn. School building designs require tailoring to educational needs
and provide the best learning environment for students.
Educational spaces should provide
all of the resources in a room for main learning subjects including
Science, Mathematics, Social Studies and English. Besides educational
spaces, the facility should be designed to support various activities
including physical education, music and dining areas for students.
The Research & Development
Tax Credit
Enacted in 1981, the federal Research and
Development (R&D) Tax Credit allows a credit of up to 13% of
eligible spending for new and improved products and processes.
Qualified research must meet the following four criteria:
New or improved products,
processes, or software
Technological in nature
Elimination of Uncertainty
Process of Experimentation
Eligible costs include employee
wages, cost of supplies, cost of testing, contract research expenses,
and costs associated with developing a patent. On December 18,
2015, President Obama signed the bill making the R&D Tax Credit
permanent. Beginning in 2016, the R&D credit can be used to offset
Alternative Minimum tax and startup businesses can utilize the credit
against payroll taxes.
Design Elements of a School
The University of Salford from Britain conducted a
study on the effect of a school building design and a student’s
performance. The study involved 751 students who were from seven
different primary schools where their academic performance was studied
against certain environmental factors, such as lighting, acoustics,
temperature, air quality, color and layout of the room. After analyzing
all of the information, it was discovered that the classroom
environment affected 73% of the changes in a student’s
performance. In rural or poorer neighborhoods, schools are
normally outdated and need updating to provide a stable and comfortable
environment for students.
When developing designs for a
school facility, designers should consider certain elements including
the aesthetics, functionality, security, productivity and health of an
overall building. To develop a cost-effective design, a life-cycle cost
analysis should be conducted to establish the most optimal materials
and equipment to utilize when constructing a school.
An appropriate learning
environment for young students should include natural and electrical
lighting, a proper acoustic environment, and good air quality.
Windows should allow for natural daylight yet minimize any form of
glare or direct sunlight, so students don’t have trouble reading
information. HVAC systems should be installed to provide good air
quality and a comfortable temperature in a classroom. Rooms should also
offer the right amount of acoustics where students and teachers are
able to hear each other clearly.
Designing a high school or middle
school requires different considerations from designing an elementary
school. Middle school and high school students have multiple classes a
day compared to elementary schools where children stay in one room each
day. There is an increased amount of movement within middle schools and
high schools. Therefore classrooms should be positioned in a way that
is easy to reach throughout the building within a short amount of time.
Spaces within Schools
Library
A library is known to be a place
where students can go to find additional information or study for an
exam. The library should be designed to contain all of the resources
and tools a student may need. The information desk should be positioned
near the entrance/exit for easy access to assistance. There should be
spaces that provide an ideal setup for individual and group settings.
Certain elements that should be
considered when creating a design for a library include heavy floor
loads, acoustic and visual privacy, lighting and shelving
systems. Libraries hold various books and records which can be
heavy; floors have to be able to support this large amount of weight.
Individual studying or group work may occur in libraries, which require
the proper spaces to accommodate different needs for each activity.
Acoustic and visual privacy is important because individuals need a
quiet and private space to study while groups need a larger area and
space to discuss a project or test. Depending on the library area,
shelves can be built as a part of the room or installed as modular
units. Designers have to allocate enough space for required technology,
such as computers and printers.
Gymnasium
The gymnasium is a large part of
a school building because it provides space for multiple uses. Gyms are
mainly used for physical education and sports games but can be used for
school events as well. Selecting the right type of lighting,
window, mechanical and wall equipment is important because they have to
be durable and withstand any physical impact that may occur from sports
activities. Some unique features that are seen in gyms are padded
walls, a wall divider, acoustical panels, benches and more. In
middle school and high schools, locker rooms should be located adjacent
to the gym to provide easy access for students to change and store
their belongings.
Cafeteria
A cafeteria is a place where
students are able to take a break from learning, relax and socialize
with friends. The dining area should be set up with communal tables
where friends can comfortably sit and interact with one another. The
proper HVAC and sanitation settings are required to ensure the health
and safety of employees as well as students. The kitchen area
requires space and equipment to prepare and cook meals. To decrease the
amount of heat and any odors produced, vents and exhaust systems should
be installed. The HVAC system has to provide a higher level of cooling
in the kitchen compared to other spaces in the building to compensate
for the additional heat caused by cooking.
Science
Laboratory
Multipurpose Science labs should
be flexible due to the fact that the room is used for various science
activities. The room should contain moveable lab tables to create
enough space and accommodate different lab activities. Multiple sinks
should be provided with goose neck faucets and spaced out efficiently
to allow for lab group work. Storage and countertop space should be
incorporated at the sides of the room.
Chemistry and Biology labs are
different than Multipurpose Science labs due to the fact that they need
certain equipment including fume hoods, eye-wash and shower stations,
and access to gas. A floor drain should be positioned below the
emergency shower station and lead to a wastewater system. Utilities,
such as gas and water, should be provided at lab stations. Fume hoods
should also be installed to provide adequate ventilation within the
room.
Storage rooms should be built
adjacent to the labs to allow for easy access to equipment.
Specifically, a chemical storage room requires two doors and a negative
pressure system. Light switches should be located outside of the room
to prevent any incidents of sparking from occurring inside the room.
Innovative School Designs
Wilson School
Leo A Daly and Bjarke Ingels
Group have partnered to design a new school for the Wilson School
located in Washington, D.C. The modern design is unique due to a fan
shaped building which was designed to support various educational
programs that require different learning environments. Basically
the school will be constructed of different spaces stacked on top of
one another and developed outwards resulting in a fan-like shape.
Another unique aspect of the design is the rooftop was designed to
house gardens and open spaces as an educational and relaxing space for
students to learn.
Watkinson
School
Project Frog from San Francisco,
California was involved in developing a sustainable building for a
school in Hartford, Connecticut. The Watkinson School is a 3,500
square foot sustainable building partially built from recycled material
and houses three classrooms and a lobby. The building is known as The
Solarium which incorporates solar power , low VOC-emitting interiors,
high recycled content building materials and energy efficient systems.
The sustainable design produces a 75% energy demand reduction, natural
light, good air quality and advanced climate controls. The
classrooms were built to be flexible to allow for various educational
activities, such as lectures, seminars, labs and hands on
experimentation.
STEM Buildings
Many schools and universities are seeing a growth in
the number of students who are interested in pursuing a major within
the Science Technology Engineering and Mathematic (STEM) fields. This
growth has lead to renovations and an increase in construction of new
STEM buildings. STEM facilities contain a unique building design
due to the incorporation of laboratories and state-of-the-art
classrooms.
In order to design an efficient
STEM building, architects have to understand what STEM programs are and
the specific types of activities that will occur in the facility. Since
technology is one of the main studies within STEM programs, classes
typically involve the utilization of high tech devices and
software programs. Students also are involved with group work and
discussing ideas with one another creating a more interactive learning
environment. During class, students participate more and are involved
in a more hands-on approach to learning.
Many school facilities incorporate spaces where students can meet to
work on group projects or study for an upcoming test. The interaction
between individuals is important because students are able to help one
another, which fosters a sense of community.
Elementary
School STEM Building
Presently, an increasing amount
of schools are developing Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and
Mathematics (STEAM) programs which result in building new spaces to
support these programs. From universities to elementary schools, STEAM
programs have emerged and flourished in providing students with a new
learning experience. John Lee Johnson Elementary School in Austin,
Texas has developed a STEAM academy. The classrooms will contain
flexible aspects, such as movable and transparent walls which allow
various classes to interact with one another and have a view of the
outside environment.
High
School STEM Building
Charlottesville High School in
Charlottesville, Virginia has built a STEM laboratory for students to
gain experience within science, technology, engineering and math
fields. The new Sigma Lab’s design consists of a design lab with
group areas, a 3D printing lab, a sliding glass door which offers
soundproofing, walls that students can write on and an interactive LCD
display screen. There are workstations where students can use CAD
and design programs to create models and then use a 3D printer to
finalize their idea.
Conclusion
It is important for designers to create an efficient
school design because it provides students with an exceptional learning
environment. To create a safe and comfortable setting for students,
there are certain standards that have to be followed when building a
school facility. There has been an increase in the design of STEM
buildings and sustainable building designs. Companies involved with the
development of innovative and unique designs for schools are eligible
to obtain the R&D tax credit.
