Communities

Neighborhood Schools that Work for Kids, Communities, & the Environment

Smart Growth Schools expert Nathan Norris lists 11 key principles for measuring how well schools and school policies fit in with their communities. I really like them: Restoration Preference: Will […]

Smart Growth Schoolssmart growth schools expert Nathan Norris lists 11 key principles for measuring how well schools and school policies fit in with their communities. I really like them:

Restoration Preference: Will old schools be restored rather than replaced so long as the cost is less than a new school?

Holistic Planning: Is school planning done in conjunction with land planning and transportation planning?

Community buy-in: Is the school planning process designed in a way to secure meaningful community input?

Elimination of design constraints: Do you have the flexibility to design the school efficiently for the site and the community?

Neighborhood School: Is the school embedded into a walkable neighborhood so that most students can reach it safely without the necessity of a car or bus?

Prominent Site: Is the school sited in a prominent location (e.g., terminated vista or on top of a hill) so that it communicates the importance the school has in the culture of the community?

Shared Use: Is the school sited or designed so that it can share uses with the community such as a gym (or YMCA), park, ballfields, community meeting space, etc.?

Flexibility: Is the school designed so that it can grow or contract in size and services as the neighborhood grows or contracts so that it remains useful over a longer period of time?

Connected Learning Environment: Is the school connected to the local community through interaction with local businesses or through a community service program?

Community Pride in the Design: Is the school designed so that it generates community pride as measured by a Visual Preference Survey (VPS)?

Green building certification: Does the construction or renovation of the school follow best practices regarding energy efficiency, water efficiency, indoor air quality, daylighting, light pollution and earth-friendly construction techniques?

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