Research Center for Improving School Design Established in San Diego

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Research Center for Improving School Design Established in San Diego
America's Schoolhouse Council Teams with San Diego State University to Launch the National Center for the 21st Century Schoolhouse

CONTACT: Jack Beresford, (619) 594-5204, jack.beresford@sdsu.edu

SAN DIEGO, Monday, June 26, 2000 - Citing a need for a national clearinghouse of ideas on school design and educational programming, several leading architectural firms from throughout the country today announced a partnership with San Diego State University's College of Education to establish the National Center for the 21st Century Schoolhouse.

The new academic center, located in San Diego on the SDSU campus, will be a resource for school administrators, policymakers and design professionals. Center staff report an estimated $300 billion will be available from local, state and federal sources for school construction over the next five to 10 years.

"What's been missing in the national debate over educational reform is a focused discussion of the interrelationship between educational programming and school design," said Dr. Duane Hutton, executive director of the America's Schoolhouse Council, a consortium of seven architectural firms and a key partner in establishing the new center. "The National Center for the 21st Century Schoolhouse will create an exciting academic environment with the resources to facilitate those types of discussions."

Hutton said the issues raised by educational reform include the need for greater flexibility in classroom design to facilitate participatory learning and new educational delivery systems. Students will work in smaller groups and will need separate areas for more hands-on learning, particularly in science labs. Other areas of discussion will include accommodating new technology and computers in the classroom, using common or cluster areas outside the classroom, community access to school facilities after-hours, and safety issues.

"This research center will allow educators and others to avoid having to reinvent the wheel when it comes to designing a new facility," said Lionel R. "Skip" Meno, dean of the SDSU College of Education. "Since most typically have little to no experience in facility design, they will be able to benefit from the resources available, and the result will be better designs that reflect the latest thinking on educational methods to be used over the next 20 to 30 years."

More than $750,000 has been committed for the center's start-up operations over the next three years including $500,000 from the America's Schoolhouse Council, whose members share expertise on K-12 school design and construction. The firms include: BJSS Duarte Bryant of Washington; PBK Architects, Inc. of Texas; BRPH Companies of Florida; Schmidt Associates of Indiana; Legat Architects of Illinois; The Thomas Group of New Jersey/New York; and Kingscott Associates Inc., of Michigan. Collectively, the firms account for approximately 10 percent of all school construction in the U.S.

The balance of the start-up funding, $250,000, will be provided by the California State University at the direction of the CSU Chancellor. SDSU will provide administrative and operational support for the center including use of campus facilities. Additional funding and support will be secured through grants, private gifts and program revenue.

According to Meno, one of the first priorities for the center will be to implement a communications plan to ensure that educators are aware of the resources now available to them. Some other goals for the center's first year include:

* Creating a database with national statistics/information on educational programming, school facilities and school financing;

* Hosting national forums on critical educational programs/school facility issues; and

* Offering extension services that work directly with school districts that need a new school; consultants from the center will facilitate the planning process from the inception through financing and construction.

"By improving our children's learning environment, we improve their chance of success," said Stephen L. Weber, president of SDSU. "This will be the only place of its kind where educators can go to research school construction projects throughout the country to see what works and what doesn't. We're pleased to bring this resource to the SDSU campus."

San Diego State University is the oldest and largest higher education institution in the San Diego region. Since it was founded in 1897, it has grown to offer bachelor's degrees in 76 areas, master's degrees in 59 areas and doctorates in 13. Students participate in academic curriculum distinguished by direct contact with professors and an increasing international emphasis that prepares them for a global future. For more information, visit www.sdsu.edu.

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