FACILITY PLANNING CONFERENCE

Click here for report on Facility Conference

A first-ever gathering to plan for the construction and renovation of six schools has resulted in design standards for the capital projects work approved by voters in March of 2003. Nearly 150 people representing a wide variety of interests met in June to help Spokane Public Schools embark on replacement of three elementary schools and renovation and modernization of three high schools during the next six years - the first phase of a 25-year facility improvement plan to modernize and replace over half of the district's aging buildings.

The two-day "Thinking and Planning Conference for New Schools" at Ferris High School was held on June 17 and 18 of 2003. The purpose of this ‘think tank conference’, paid from bond sale proceeds, was to gather together district staff, parents, students, local architectural firms and representatives from the city, business community and area colleges to develop a "draft" set of design standards for the school district. All future individual school staffs and architectural firms will be required to incorporate the standards into planning of specific building projects.

"The conference was really a starting point for the design of all of our 50 schools since so many of them are aged," says Dr. Brian Benzel, superintendent. "We felt we owed it to the community to learn from leaders in their fields about the future of learning and technology in schools, sustainable building design, and community use of buildings. This was an opportunity for all involved to consider our high academic standards in the contest of remodeling or building new schools."

The conference consisted of presentations by experts from the fields of education, technology, sustainable building design ("green" buildings), and school facility design, followed by subsequent group discussions among the attendees. The speakers provoked, inspired and led conference participants through the development of new concepts in school design and succeeded in helping those attending develop a far ranging list of planning goals and design criteria for Spokane Schools.

"One thing we know is that our plan will evolve, adapt and change to the needs of the community," noted Benzel.

A full report on the conference, including the design standards identified by participants, can be viewed by opening the PDF file (above).