Planning for Trailers  August, 1999

Slum Architecture: A Site Plan for Trailers

In an enlightened age where we find substantive research concluding that smaller is better, it is disturbing to see schools, especially elementary schools, planned for more that 600 students. Even more alarming is the fact that some school districts are actually planning for trailers. Planning for trailers may be equated to planning for educational disaster. Trailers represent "slum architecture." Well paid professionals are making these decisions. Education in a trailer may prove to be a cultural demise for society as we know it and raise up a new culture having lower standards and values.

Note the dotted lines to the left of the floor plan. This space is planned for 8 trailers and includes a covered walk way.The above site plan is for a 10 million dollar elementary school in Georgia. Some obvious mistakes: It is expected to open with 950 students, there are no outside doors from the classrooms, and there is only one window per classroom for natural light. Expanded plans call for extra rooms and trailers for an additional 400 - 500 students. The sad fact is that the educational leaders in this school system are proud of the plan.