PLANNING & DESIGN
The division of Planning & Design is focused primarily on the front end development of projects and programs. It consists of those functions which precede the construction or implementation stage of development. Programming identifies the problem, collects the data, performs the analysis and develops options and recommendations for solutions. It helps our school system to focus on the relationship of facilities within the context of k-12 education. It is here we work to establish and define the role facilities play in our master plan. While programming aids in establishing the facility related goals and works to clarify the visions and objectives, planning works on developing the solutions and strategies to address the issues. Planning establishes the scope, budgets, designs and other parameters for the effective and efficient implementation of facility related projects and/or programs.
Recognizing the length of time required to establish project support, secure the necessary funding and the time needed to design and construct a facility in today's context, early identification and analysis of facility issues and/or related problems are of key importance if the planning operation is to be successful. Therefore, great emphasis and resources are placed on the development of long and short range strategies, programs, budgets and action plans while maintaining attention on the design requirements needed to address both current and future educational needs.
Because accurate data is fundamental to the planning process, a large amount of planning activity is spent focused on facility related data collection, assessments and analysis. Various database programs are maintained, data is synthesized and information analysis is performed regularly and presentation type programs are often used to communicate the planning objectives.
There are (5) main service areas within the division:
- services related to the acquisition, disposal, development, maintenance and/or management of real estate related projects, tasks, contracts or documents.
- the development of project concepts, budgets and the development of strategic plans
- the processing for approval and the implementation and management of the capital plan, facility master plan and other major projects
- the development of educational specifications and programming
- the gathering and maintenance of facility data, (ie. age, areas, portables, enrollments, capacities, projections, etc.)
- facility assessments, technology and various equipment inventories and inspections
- project management database,
- general facility records, as-builts and document archives
- the development and/or procurement of the necessary design and engineering services for specific projects.
- outline scopes and specifications, the review of project designs for turn over to construction and purchasing
- the analysis of information and the development of programs or solutions to meet the needs of the educational objective with respect to school facilities while identifying areas of concern and consideration
- feasibility studies, pre-design plans, concepts and space programs
