Spending on construction by the nation's school districts and colleges slowed in 2007, representing the fourth consecutive year total expenditures dropped from the year before and setting a low point in spending so far this decade, according to American School & University's 34th annual Official Education Construction Report.
A difficult economy and rapidly rising costs took their toll as many education institutions trimmed or postponed planned projects. Total spending on new, addition and modernization construction by school districts and higher-education institutions dropped to $32.9 billion from $36.6 billion in 2006. But while total spending slowed, the amount K-12 institutions and colleges allocated to new buildings increased, reflecting the pressure to continue constructing new spaces to keep up with enrollment growth.
School district spending on new construction increased to $14.7 billion in 2007 from $13.7 billion the year before, and college spending on new construction jumped to $7.3 billion from $5.3 billion in 2006.
Following is the authoritative source for education construction data, detailing spending by type of institution; projected spending through 2010; per-square-foot and per-student costs; and much more. In addition, new data on the impact of green and security on education construction is included, providing you with insight as you plan future construction projects.
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.
Education construction completed in 2007
($000s)
Education construction projected to be completed in 2008-2010
($000s)
Education construction: The past 10 years
New school costs (Median)
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%).
School Data
5,060
Mean number of students at responding school districts.
36
Percentage of school districts completing some form of construction project in 2007.
52
Percentage of school districts planning a construction project to be completed by 2010.
$19
Amount, in millions, the median new school district construction project completed by 2010 is expected to cost.
College Data
6,461
Mean number of FTE students at responding colleges and universities.
61
Percentage of colleges and universities completing some form of construction project in 2007.
73
Percentage of colleges and universities planning a construction project to be completed by 2010.
$18.3
Amount, in millions, the median new college and university construction project completed by 2010 is expected to cost.
The Trusted Source
As the bellwether report documenting education construction activity for the past 34 years, the American School & University Official Education Construction Report is regularly referenced by local, state and federal agencies, as well as the nation's leading news organizations. AS&U actually started compiling data on school and university construction in 1950 for the 1949 year. After a decade or so of yearly surveys, data began being compiled sporadically until industry demand prompted AS&U to start collecting data annually again. The annual reports resurfaced in 1975 with information on education construction completed in 1974, and data has been collected and published every year since. American School & University is the only authorized source of this education construction information.
About the Author
Joe Agron
Editor-in-Chief and Associate Publisher
Joe Agron is the editor-in-chief/associate publisher of American School & University magazine. Joe has overseen AS&U's editorial direction for more than 25 years, and has helped influence and shape national school infrastructure issues. He has been sought out for comments by publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today, U.S. News & World Report, ABC News and CNN, and assisted with the introduction of the Education Infrastructure Act of 1994.
Joe also authors a number of industry-exclusive reports. His "Facilities Impact on Learning" series of special reports won national acclaim and helped bring the poor condition of the nation's schools to the attention of many in the U.S. Congress, U.S. Department of Education and the White House.