March 23, 1998
							Contact: Thomas
Jefferson Center
							for Educational
Design, (804) 982-2873

	NEW BOOK COULD SAVE TIME AND MONEY 
	WHEN BUILDING, RENOVATING SCHOOLS

 	Deciding to build a new school or renovate an old facility is
one of the most expensive decisions a school board can make.  
	A new publication by the University of Virginia's Thomas
Jefferson Center for Educational Design offers educators and taxpayers
guidelines for making one of the most important decisions in the
school-construction process: selecting an architect.
	The first in the center's "Building Blocks to Better Learning
Series," "Finding the Right Architect, A Primer for Educational Design,"
is written by Robert L. Vickery, an internationally known architect who
is professor emeritus at U.Va.
	The book was developed in close cooperation with the Virginia
Association of School Superintendents (VASS), an organization that is a
charter member of the center, which is located at U.Va.'s Curry School
of Education.  VASS directors helped to identify key issues on which
school superintendents typically seek advice from the association when
facing major construction or renovation projects.
	Among the topics the book addresses are preliminary cost
estimates, construction bids, awarding of contracts, and time frame for
design and construction.
	"The volume assists those engaged in planning schools and other
learning environments with up-to-date information that can be of
immediate use.  Many of the topics in the handbook have attracted little
scholarly attention, despite their importance to practitioners," noted
Daniel L. Duke, center director.
	As a public service to Virginia educators, a complimentary copy
of the handbook has been sent to superintendents in all Virginia school
divisions.
	Additional copies may be purchased from the center for $10 a
piece.  To order a book, call the center at (804) 982-2873.
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