To Re-Create a School Building. 'Surplus' Space, Energy and Other Challenges.

School administrators confronted with the possibility of having to close a school need to inform the public, assess community attitudes and needs, and identify the best possible use of the buildings. Existing schools must be reexamined in light of the new need to conserve energy and reduce operating costs. Measures that reduce energy consumption can be taken and, if necessary, schools can be remodeled. The motivation for modernization is now upgrading the environment and remodeling space for change in the educational program, plus phasing out buildings that have outlasted their usefulness. For schools over 100 years old, historic preservation can often restore and adapt them to new needs. Thirty-five successful examples of upgrading existing facilities and, in some cases, changing their function are documented in photographs and floor plans. (MLF)