The University of  GeorgiA's  SDPL  offers a Pre-Design and Planning Seminar for your school or community group.  Independent schools are encouraged to request this seminar. We have experience at the National level in providing this service in cooperation with Johns Hopkins University. The seminar describes and explains planning and design activities for a new school and  may be customized for a particular project. 

International clients may ask for INFORMATION about how we communicate the primary aspects of this workshop to them through the media.

The basic seminar is for school boards, private school governing boards, and administrators (10 - 20 members) that want to learn about the latest aspects of school design and how they influence student behavior, attitudes and achievement.

Why a Pre-Design and Planning Seminar?  Most educational organizations, especially public, rural and small independent schools,  do not build schools frequently enough, or have a full-time staff, to stay informed about the latest research-based school designs that influence student behavior, attitude, and learning.   SDPL continuously conducts research to ensure sound school designs.  We question many "best practices" suggested today by sources not close to scientific research.  We work closely with stakeholders to formulate a plan depicting what the ideal  school should be for their service area. 

With facts gathered in this fast-paced seminar, participants will be better prepared to make sound educational decisions regarding the built physical environment.  Beyond the seminar, we may work with you through the entire project to ensure that stakeholders get the school that they need and want.  There are many school organizations that never receive what the stakeholders wanted.  That is, taxpayers and benefactors have often paid for something they did not get.

Ideally, stakeholders should experience this focused pre-design and pre-planning activity before they launch a school facilities planning project; and before an architect is hired.  The seminar will provide participants with knowledge on how to communicate the latest research-based school designs to architects, engineers, and contractors.

SDPL suggests the sample outline below:

Phase I Activities:

A Lecture/discussion on the premises for planning and designing a school.

What School Design does for student behavior, attitude, and learning.

What philosophy of teaching and learning is ideal for your students?

 Which research-based building designs are best for your students?

Phase II Activities:

 SDPL's 5 Phases leading to research-based concept design and diagrammatic design.

 Participants work in small groups to envision a school program and design according to the design premises discussed during Phase I.

Hand sketch, use a drawing program, or  Power Point to display how the design principles and design patterns match (facilitate) your school's program.

A computer and projection system capable of showing Power Point slides .
A flip chart and color pencils for every 9 participants. 
Tape that will not tarnish a painted wall is needed to display the design products of each group of 9 participants.
Adequate meeting space.

Refreshments.

Georgia Schools are asked to pay the travel expenses  and an honorarium of the SDPL representative.

Clients Outside the State of Georgia should request information about the Pre-Design and Pre-Planning Workshops by going to this link: > Information <.

Contact SDPL to Schedule a Focused Pre-Design and Pre-Planning Seminar:

706-542-4067

SDPL

850 College Station Road

125 River's Crossing
UGA

Athens, GA 30605