Architecture: Learning by design

The need for schools has grown hand-in-hand with the valley's increase in population. The Clark County School District, which has constructed 136 new facilities since 1990, is faced with the challenge of opening 10 more schools during the 2002-03 school year, and more than 60 additional facilities through 2008.

The district keeps pace with the demand for new schools by using prototype designs, according to Dale Scheideman, director of planning and engineering services at the school district.

"One of the reasons why we have been successful in building so many schools so fast is because we use prototype designs. We use the same basic design for each school and make changes as necessary. We can build schools quicker and at a lower cost by using these types of designs. By using them, we do not need to hire an architect to create a brand new design for each new school, which saves quite a bit of money and time," he said.

"This is the second year that we have been using our current elementary school design, and the middle school design was created about four years ago. We've been using the high school design since 1991. They all have been adjusted as we go to meet the needs of changing curriculum and technology. We also adapt them to the building sites. In our bond issue from 1998, there is money set aside to create a new prototype every four years, if we have to.

"So much of the price of a new school depends on how much site work is needed. If we have to extend the utilities and build roads to an empty location, it will cost more than if we build a school in an area that is already under development."

Scheideman said that elementary schools, which can accommodate about 700 pupils on a nine-month schedule and about 920 on a year-round schedule, cost about $10 million to $10.5 million each and take about 11 months to build. For a middle school, which is designed for about 1,700 pupils and takes about 12 months to build, the cost is roughly $20 million. A high school for a student body of 2,700 costs about $40 million and takes about 20 months to construct.

"We have been fortunate that the property owners in the county have supported us through bond issues. We made the decision early on that we would use prototypes and build large schools. It would be nice to build smaller schools but, if we did that, it would cost more, we wouldn't be able to keep up with the growth, and we'd be using a lot more portable classrooms," Scheideman said.

The schools are designed to reflect the community.

"The real culture in the Las Vegas Valley is entertainment, and our schools and curriculum are designed to reflect that. In the middle schools, the music programs are very popular and the schools have separate rooms for the choir, orchestra and band programs. In the high schools, there is a 500-seat theater and a fine arts wing which also includes the music, band and orchestra programs," Scheideman said.

"We're growing so rapidly, that we can't always talk to the community to find out what they want in their neighborhood school because half of the time the residents haven't moved to that neighborhood yet. We try to give the teachers and principals a lot of options in how to use the rooms within the schools.

"For example, in elementary schools there is a large room designed as a physical education room with double doors that lead to an outside playground. This room can be divided into two rooms and it also has been wired for computers. If the principals and teachers don't want to use it as a P.E. room, they have the flexibility to use it as something else."

Common among the prototypes are concrete block exteriors; networking capabilities with computer and data outlets in each classroom; outdoor multipurpose areas; and use of desert landscaping. In addition, security cameras are located in common areas and monitored on-site, and there are few exterior windows.

Vandalism caused concern during the mid-1980s, according to Dom Cambeiro of Domingo Cambeiro Corp., an architectural firm which has been working with the school district since 1962.

"That is when we created an interior courtyard (for elementary schools) with windows opening up to it, and avoided exterior windows. The number of windows on the outside walls has since increased," Cambeiro said. "Another enhancement to the elementary school design is that the front desk of the school is facing the parking lot, and staff can see who is coming and going. The schools also have cameras, alarms and everything else."

The current single-story elementary school prototype also features a covered centralized courtyard area with a stage and stained concrete; library with a reading area overlooking the courtyard; multipurpose room; four pods of classrooms, each providing access to a shared great room; restroom sinks in an open area between the boys' and girls' facilities to allow for increased supervision; and three playground areas with rubberized fall surfaces.

The middle and high school prototypes have been built around courtyards and walkways, and are accessible only at gated entrances.

The single-story middle school design includes a pod for each grade; TVs in each room; a two-story glazed glass design in the library; 100-seat theatre; covered walkways; four computer labs; and a multipurpose room illuminated by block glass that can be used as a cafeteria and for pep rallies and special events.

Among the other features of the current two-story high school prototype are horizontal lines along the exterior to make the building look smaller; two gymnasiums with locker, weight training and wrestling rooms; pods and classrooms that open to a centralized courtyard; a science complex; six computer labs; an industrial arts section; and a synthetic running track made out of recycled tires around a grass football field.

Cambeiro said energy conservation has also played a role in design.

"In the 1990s there was a big push for energy conservation. We have gone to dual-pane glass windows, and in certain areas we have gone to safety glass. We also provide insulation inside the face of the block walls to decrease the heat transmission through the exterior walls," he said.S U N D A Y , J U L Y 7 , 2 0 0 2

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