34th Annual Official Education Construction Report

May 1, 2008 12:00 PM, By Joe Agron

Spending on construction by the nation's school districts and colleges slowed in 2007.

Arriving at the results

Results for the 34th annual Official Education Construction Report were compiled via a detailed questionnaire sent to chief business officials at the nation's school districts and colleges, asking about construction completed during the past year and construction planned to be completed in the next three years.

Administrators that completed or planned construction during this timeframe were then asked to provide a variety of details on the amount being spent, the type of construction being done (new, addition or modernization), and the expected completion date. All respondents involved with new and retrofit construction were asked to provide additional information on each project. Further follow-up correspondence was made to clarify some data. Responses were separated by institution type, region of the country and institution size, and projected across the education universe.

New school costs

(MEDIAN)

	Elementary	Middle	High
Cost/Square Foot	$188	$211	$175
Cost/Student	$21,176	$28,889	$23,873
Square Feet/Student	134	158	110
Number of Pupils	600	800	950
Size (sq. ft.)	62,000	135,000	110,000
Total Cost ($000)	$10,805	$25,500	$25,000

Construction Insight: School Districts

Green principles and security concerns have permeated the planning of education construction programs. As part of AS&U's Official Education Construction Report, SCHOOL DISTRICTS that completed new projects or were planning to complete construction by 2010 were asked a number of questions regarding the importance of green and security issues in their programs:

How important is the incorporation of security equipment (cameras, locks/access control, etc.) in your construction project?

National: 63.7% very important.

New England (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT) ranked the highest (81.3% very important).

West North Central (IA, KS, MN, MO, ND, NE, SD) ranked the lowest (39.6% very important).

Are green/sustainable concepts important in determining the types of materials/products used in your construction project?

National: 65.6% yes.

Middle Atlantic (NJ, NY, PA) ranked the highest (78.9% yes).

West South Central (AR, LA, OK, TX) ranked the lowest (44.8% yes).

If you had an unlimited budget, what is the total dollar amount you would need for construction projects?

$103,356,883 (national mean) per district.

Pacific (AK, CA, HI, OR, WA) ranked the highest ($294,941,176).

West North Central (IA, KS, MN, MO, ND, NE, SD) ranked lowest ($12,101,667).

If yes, what areas incorporate green decisions?

LIGHTING/CONTROLS 79.1% (National)

• South Atlantic (DC, DE, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV) ranked highest (92.3%).

• East South Central (AL, KY, MS, TN) and West South Central (AR, LA, OK, TX) tied for lowest (61.5%).

HVAC 78.3% (National)

• South Atlantic (DC, DE, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV) ranked highest (92.2%).

• East South Central (AL, KY, MS, TN) ranked lowest (61.5%).

DAYLIGHTING/CONTROLS 73.6% (National)

• Mountain (AZ, CO, ID, MT, NM, NV, UT, WY) ranked highest (86.4%).

• West South Central (AR, LA, OK, TX) ranked lowest (46.2%).

BUILDING MATERIALS 60.9% (National)

• Mountain (AZ, CO, ID, MT, NM, NV, UT, WY) ranked highest (81.8%).

• West South Central (AR, LA, OK, TX) ranked lowest (38.5%).

WASHROOMS 58.7% (National)

• New England (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT) ranked highest (70%).

• West South Central (AR, LA, OK, TX) ranked lowest (23.1%).

FLOORING/CARPETING 49.4% (National)

• South Atlantic (DC, DE, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV) ranked highest (61.5%).

• West South Central (AR, LA, OK, TX) ranked lowest (15.4%).

ROOFING 45.5% (National)

• Mountain (AZ, CO, ID, MT, NM, NV, UT, WY) ranked highest (63.6%).

• West South Central (AR, LA, OK, TX) ranked lowest (15.4%).

FURNITURE/FURNISHINGS 28.1% (National)

• Mountain (AZ, CO, ID, MT, NM, NV, UT, WY) ranked highest (45.5%).

• West South Central (AR, LA, OK, TX) ranked lowest (<1%).

Construction Insight: Colleges

As part of AS&U's Official Education Construction Report, COLLEGES that completed new projects or were planning to complete construction by 2010 were asked a number of questions regarding the importance of green and security issues in their programs.

Here are the results:

How important is the incorporation of security equipment (cameras, locks/access control, etc.) in your construction project?

National 61.2% (very important).

New England (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT) ranked the highest (78.9% very important).

Mountain (AZ, CO, ID, MT, NM, NV, UT, WY) ranked the lowest (43.8% very important).

Are green/sustainable concepts important in determining the types of materials/products used in your construction project?

National: 75.3% yes.

Pacific (AK, CA, HI, OR, WA) ranked the highest (91.7% yes).

West South Central (AR, LA, OK, TX) ranked the lowest (47.4% yes).

If yes, what areas incorporate green decisions?

If you had an unlimited budget, what is the total dollar amount you would need for construction projects?

$256,131,061 (national mean) per college.

Pacific (AK, CA, HI, OR, WA) ranked the highest ($1,086,037,069).

East North Central (IL, IN, MI, OH, WI) ranked lowest ($68,846,154).

LIGHTING/CONTROLS 85.3% (National)

• East North Central (IL, IN, MI, OH, WI) ranked highest (94.7%).

• Middle Atlantic (NJ, NY, PA) ranked lowest (65.6%).

DAYLIGHTING/WINDOWS 78.2% (National)

• New England (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT) ranked highest (93.3%).

• East South Central (AL, KY, MS, TN) ranked lowest (55.6%).

HVAC 77.8% (National)

• East North Central (IL, IN, MI, OH, WI) ranked highest (86.8%).

• South Atlantic (DC, DE, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV) ranked lowest (70.7%).

BUILDING MATERIALS 73,3% (National)

• East North Central (IL, IN, MI, OH, WI) ranked highest (86.8%).

• South Atlantic (DC, DE, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV) ranked lowest (58.5%).

WASHROOMS 60.9% (National)

• New England (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT) ranked highest (80%).

• East South Central (AL, KY, MS, TN) ranked lowest (33.3%).

FLOORING/CARPETING 57.8% (National)

• New England (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT) ranked highest (80%).

• West South Central (AR, LA, OK, TX) ranked lowest (38.9%).

ROOFING 54.7% (National)

• East North Central (IL, IN, MI, OH, WI) ranked highest (76.3%).

• East South Central (AL, KY, MS, TN) ranked lowest (11.1%).

FURNITURE/FURNISHINGS 34.2% (National)

• New England (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT) ranked highest (60%).

• East South Central (AL, KY, MS, TN) ranked lowest (11.1%).

Acceptable Use Policy blog comments powered by Disqus