Trends in School Architecture and Design

Abstract

THE VOLUME of new school building construction, which had reached its low point about the end of 1932, has not been very great during the past three years, but owing largely to the stimulus of federal financial assistance, the curve of volume has been steadily upward (578). Recent trends in school architecture do not show a great deal of variation from predicted formula. Adaptations to changing educational programs have been gradual, and radical variations from the traditional trends of the past two decades have not been felt, save in the cases of a few notable exceptions, and those quite recently. In the Architectural Record Ittner and others (574) outlined certain general impulses which were influencing design and construction of school buildings. Ittner (573) reiterated these in the Architectural Forum. Betelle (568) emphasized the same general impulses and noted influences in the same direction. We find these same urges influencing architectural trends in school building today. Chief among them are: (a) the increasing public demand for public education and for improved housing facilities; (b) necessity for economies in construction; and (c) changing objectives and technics in the educational program. These three urges have influenced school architecture in varying degrees in the past quarter of a century, but it may be observed that the third one of them is influencing presentday trends more than the others.