SELECTING AN ARCHITECT is one of the most important steps in capital development projects, but often boards of education are swayed by extraneous factors.

In one school district where I served as an administrator, we were undertaking a districtwide capital development program that would result in all 15 schools receiving building improvements. The district was taking advantage of a dollar-for-dollar, matching grant from the state. This meant the district would only have to pay for half of the project.

The district was impoverished. Every building qualified as a schoolwide Title I school. Financing the project presented a challenge, but the district had some bonds that were being retired, and with voter permission, could be refinanced and applied to this project without increasing property taxes. The concept was presented to the taxpayers with some promises:

»Every school community would be involved in determining each school’s renovation.

»Local and minority trades people would be used whenever possible.

»A local architect would be used.

»The project would not result in an increase in taxes.

An Errant Choice

The suburban school district, because of its proximity to a major city, had only one architectural firm located within the district. Although a reputable architect who had worked on several commercial projects in the area, he was not a school architect.

A promise had been made to hire locally, and this architect was chosen by the board. Engineering expertise and customer service from the architect were professional, but the architect’s knowledge of educational issues was limited. 

The original specifications included sufficient ethernet connections for administrative technology, but not for instructional technology. The architect did not realize students also would need connectivity.

Unfortunately, the school board hadn’t seen the importance of paying extra for a project manager. The lack of sufficient connectivity for instructional use was discovered after ethernet drops had been put at each teacher’s station. Additional connections for access points had to be added afterward.

Another issue was found in a middle school where the architect designed a floor-to-ceiling glass wall separating the lunch-room/multi-purpose room from the gymnasium. The intent was to give a more spacious feeling to the area. However, not including educators in the planning process resulted in a situation in which students eating lunch were watching their classmates in a phys-ed class. The architect had been oblivious to the self-esteem issues of middle school students’ being watched by their peers in the lunchroom. The solution was to install a curtain to be drawn during lunch periods.

Experience Counts

Some architects specialize in instructional design. An effective school architect typically works with the board, the community, educators and often student representatives to ensure everyone’s needs are being met. A detailed design and planning process is used by school architects with experience and credentials in educational architecture and design.

Choosing a school architect carefully can eliminate future problems and ensure optimal facility use. Some things to look for when choosing an architect before starting a capital project would be these:

»CEFP certification. This represents the highest standards of performance and understanding of the design and management of educational facilities.

»LEED AP BD+C designation. This is an advanced credential for architects, certifying they have expert knowledge about the LEED for Building Design and Construction rating for systems and processes supporting energy efficiency and green/sustainability standards.

»Reputation. Check with neighboring superintendents regarding architects they have used.

Choosing an architect who understands the mission of your school district is the key to a successful capital development project. You and your successors will have to live with the results for generations to come.

STEPHEN MIDLOCK is a professor of educational leadership at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Ill.