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The SDPL offers Basic and Advanced Planning Services to clients in the state of Georgia to ensure students that their school buildings are developed according to functional, research-based designs that maximize learning, minimize discipline problems, and enhance their cultural experiences during the formative years.


Focused, and Strategic Planning
Seminars For
 

Public and Independent Schools

Public and Private Agencies

International Clients

Featuring 

Community Involvement

School Personnel
Involvement

Resulting in:

Goals for Specifications

Concept Design

Illustrative Design

Diagrammatic Design

Architect Selection

Schematic Design

Capital Funding Estimates

Plus Other Vital Steps






Including

Schools  Seeking

LEED
Certification of Facilities



Essential Activities in Planning a Student-Friendly School
Preface
A vital aspect of planning is informing certain school personnel and stakeholders that school buildings are more than boxes where students are stored until High School Graduation.  So, providing valid and reliable information for decision-makers is the very first step in doing a capital project "right."  The SDPL starts with an orientation PROGRAM that we have labeled "FOCUSED STRATEGIC PLANNING."  This includes  PRE DESIGN and PRE-PLANNING ACTIVITIES that help lead  to closure on concept design and diagrammatic design for a school.

Stakeholders work through the process of developing goals for concept design from “surprise-free” scenarios founded on research-based design patterns from which the illustrative and diagrammatic designs are derived.  From diagrammatic design the participants can visualize what they want, thereby ensuring a sound school design with age-appropriate spaces for learning.

Once the school and community have participated in the Pre-Design and Pre-Planning activities, they are ready to launch a capital project with direction and purpose.

Initial Activities
Here are some examples of  Activities that may follow the Pre-Design and Pre-Planning Activities:
[Some activities may occur simultaneously!]

1.  Needs Assessment > What programs and facilities do we have?  What programs and facilities do we need?

2. Student Population Forecasting > This activity is completed in various formats - Basic, Advanced, and Long-Range.  
Go to TFPG  for more information.

3. Program Evaluation > Program evaluation is usually tied into the needs assessment.

4. Facilities Evaluation > There are several ways to accomplish the evaluation of existing facilities; including sophisticated check lists to be completed and analyzed, inspections to be performed, and discussions to take place with those who use the facilities.  "Remodel, retrofit, or build a new structure?  These are some of the questions that arise."  We have formulas that assist with this aspect of pre-planning. See our cooperating partners for more on this topic.

5. Programming > The purpose of "programming" is to set the stage for  the  final architectural design.

6.  Goals for Design SDPL provides leadership in developing goals for design, including LEED Certification.

7.  Design > SDPL provides a means for stakeholders to get involved in Concept Design (general design) leading to illustrative design development (detailed illustrations) and diagrammatic design necessary for completion of schematic drawings and educational specifications

In our Round Table Seminar, we lead the client through research-based design patterns (elements) so they may select learner friendly solutions for educational facilities. 

Advanced Activities
8.  Project Cost Estimates (Including Site Acquisition and/or Site Preparation) > SDPL  highly recommends the use of professional cost estimators for this vital aspect of planning.

9. Assistance with Funding

10. Bidding

11. Contract Set Up

12. Architect Selection

13. Contractor Selection

14. Furniture Selection

15. Construction Monitoring

16. Commissioning

During and after construction, we are prepared to focus on commissioning. Building commissioning ensures that all of a building's systems are planned, designed, installed, operated and maintained so that they perform as owners and planners intended.  Commissioning helps to ensure that a new or existing building is performing as it should in order to maximize energy efficiency, comfort, learning goals, and indoor environmental quality.

17. Occupation/ Commissioning

18. Orientation


How SDPL May Assist With Your School  Planning Needs:

The SDPL can work directly with the communities in Georgia and owners on pre-design, pre-planning, and programming activities to ensure appropriate goals for concept design.  These activities lead to completion of diagrammatic design drawings for schematic design by architects.  Once schematic design is approved by the client, final drawings and specifications are prepared for construction intended by the stakeholders and owners. We encourage stakeholder involvement in planning and project management.  Most of all, we suggest educational facilities planning led by educational planners.

International Clients and those outside the State of  Georgia  may inquire about  how our cooperating partners can help in completing pre-design and pre-planning activities and schematic drawings for their educational facility needs.  Current technology is employed to communicate, design, and deliver a project to a client outside the State of Georgia, ensuring minimum costs.  Once schematic drawings are completed,  clients, with the help of their architects,  may integrate their local cultural and community values into a project, thereby ensuring cultural preservation.

 We work with clients that are constrained by prototype designs in maximizing modifications to help maintain community identity and culture.

Major Planning Activities:


Needs Assessment


Student Population Forecasting


Program Evaluation


Facilities Evaluation



Goals for Design


Development of
Concept Design
Illustrative Design
Diagrammatic Design
Schematic Design




Project Cost Estimates

Funding Options

LEED™ Certification

Site Selection

Bidding

Contract Set Up

Architect Selection

Contractor Selection

Furniture Selection

Construction Monitoring







Occupation/Commissioning

Orientation

POE Evaluation