STATE ARCHITECT'S MESSAGE
As California State Architect, I am pleased to present Excellence in Public Educational Facilities, a resource for K-12 and Community College districts undertaking new construction projects. The information provided in this site will help you, the decision-makers to achieve:
- high-quality design
- enhanced student performance
- low operating cost
- rigorous environmental protection
California's schools face great challenges. Slashed operating budgets, exacerbated by the restrictions on funding construction under school bonds, leave decision-makers in the unenviable position of overseeing diminishing resources for the provision of long-term infrastructure needs.
Excellence in Public Educational Facilities, while not a mandatory program, is a great opportunity for you to see that the Division of the State Architect, which coordinated the development of this web site, is here to help you build better schools and to be more than just your "Building Official." Together we can raise the bar on School design and construction quality, student success and community and environmental responsiveness.
In 2004, the California Department of General Services (DGS) published comprehensive guidelines on design and construction quality for public buildings. Known collectively as Excellence in Public Buildings (EIPB), these guidelines benefit California taxpayers by:
- reducing operating costs through energy efficiency
- ensuring environmental protection through sustainable design
- securing occupants' health through improved indoor environmental quality
Decision-makers are encouraged to utilize EIPB guidelines in school construction projects. However, the school design and construction process is a collaborative effort between multiple state agencies and stakeholders, the complexities of which may cause districts to lose sight of EIPB's desirable goals of excellence and sustainability. Excellence in Public Educational Facilities has been designed to facilitate school project success.
The information in this site has been compiled by public- and private-sector experts aware of the challenges of school construction and modernization projects. Their message is clear: Quality and cost-effectiveness are within the reach of every school district and facilities planner today. Excellence in Public Educational Facilities will show the way.
David Thorman - California State Architect |
