Rural Schools Prototype Analysis. Volume I: Design, Determinants and Options.

This resource guide presents Design Determinants and Options to be used by designers, school district personnel, and State officials in the programing and design of small rural secondary schools in the Alaska bush. The vast and unconventional educational and space planning challenge is compounded by: the need to provide most or all of the utilities; inappropriate technology; difficult logistics for construction, maintenance, and operation; and a harsh natural environment. Three Design Determinants--major groups of critical factors that affect facility programing and design--are Building Program Determinants (facility use, for what purpose, by whom and how many, maintenance skills level, fire and life safety, etc.), Environmental Determinants (climate, geotechnical and hydrological factors, logistics), and Site Utilities Determinants (water, waste disposal, electricity). Design Options are systems, elements, and concepts selected by a designer and based on Design Determinant information gathered prior to programing. These options refer to building safety and health requirements; site utilities; siting of buildings; building envelope, structure, and utilities; and building programs for secondary schools, in which detailed options are given for facilities for 4 separate enrollment groups as defined by the Department of Education: 10 or fewer, 11 to 20, 21 to 32, and 33 to 46. (SB)