The TFPG leads public, independent, and faith-based school organizations through the process of developing their educational buildings according to functional, research-based designs that maximize student learning, minimize discipline problems, and enhance cultural, and value-building experiences during the formative years. 

Essential Activities for Planning a Student-Friendly School

 

The TFPG teaches stakeholders and owners facts about school functions necessary to achieve excellence in education and high-performing schools. 

Once the school and community members have participated in the Pre-Design and Pre-Planning activities, they are ready to launch a capital project with direction and purpose.

Activities for the "Design Team"

Collaborative Pre-planning Workshop*

1. Needs assessment
2. Student population forecasting (for public schools)
   
3. Program evaluation
4. Facility evaluation
5. Define the goals, values, and culture of the school organization
   
6. Goals and objectives for educational specifications
7. Goals and values for concept design
8. Diagrammatic design
9. Site selection
10. Other necessary activities to meet planning goals
    

 Collaborative Pre-design Workshop*

1. Select an appropriate architect
   
2. Architect translates the concept design and educational specifications into preliminary schematic design
   
3. Obtain professional cost estimates (Vital in today's economy)
   
4. Program or construction manager selection (If applicable)
5. Bidding
6. Contract set-up
   

Final Design

1. Design review
2. Technology requirements
3. Furniture selection
   

Construction

1. Monitoring
2. Change order(s)
3. Other legal issues
   

Commissioning

1. Building commissioning
2. Equipment commissioning
   
3. Technology commissioning

Occupancy

    a.  Orientation
    b.  Final Walk Through

Twenty Questions The TFPG Will Help Schools Answer:

Here are some selected definitions of activities that TFPG uses in communicating with stakeholders:

1. Needs Assessment > Are programs and facilities adequate or below the needs of the school population?
2. Student Population Forecasting > What will the size and mix of the student population be within 10 to 20 years?
3. Program Evaluation > What type of programs will best serve the student population?
   
4. Facilities Evaluation > What is the best way to proceed? Do we build a new school, renovate or remodel?
5. Goals for Design > How do we know that we are developing an appropriate design for the school facility?
   
6. Design > Can the design team determine which concept design will best complement student learning?
   
7. Programming > How much detail should the design team demand for educational specifications?
   
8. Architect Selection > What architect is best to ensure that the concept design is actually included in the construction documents?
   
9. Project Cost Estimates (Including Site Acquisition and/or Site Preparation) > Is a professional cost estimator necessary for this project?
   
10. Technology Definition and Acquisition > What kind of technology should we implement?
11. Assistance with Funding > Will the project need extra assistance with funding?
    
12. Bidding > What  bidding procedures will eliminate or minimize funding problems and save time?
    
13. Contract Set Up > How much legal assistance will be needed in contracting and construction?
14. Contractor Selection > How can the project avoid pitfalls with contractors?
    
15. Furniture Selection > When should the furniture selection process begin?
16. Construction Monitoring > Will the project need an independent construction monitor?
    
17. Commissioning > Will a commissioning agent be necessary?
    
18. Occupation > What are the best procedures for transitioning to the occupation of the school facility?
19. Orientation > Is orientation necessary?
    
20. Final Walk-Through > When does the final walk-through occur and who is involved?
    

How TFPG May Assist With Your School Planning Needs:

The TFPG can work directly with the public, independent, and faith-based school community and owners on

1: Pre-design, pre-planning, and programming activities,

2: Employment of the right architect to complete schematic design for inspection by the design team, and

3: Hiring a professional cost estimator to perform a total cost analysis.

International Clients may inquire about how we can help in completing pre-design and pre-planning activities and schematic drawings for their educational facility needs. TFPG can utilize current technology to communicate, design, and deliver a project to an international client, ensuring minimum costs.

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Planning a Student-Friendly School

Preface

Following needs assessment, student population forecasting (for public schools), demographic analysis, and educational program and facilities evaluations, the TFPG teaches stakeholders and owners about school functions necessary to achieve excellence in education and high-performing schools.  The functions entail the curriculum and programs, and the teaching and learning philosophies of the community and school organization, which in turn require specialized, unique spaces for learning and development.  Teaching educational leaders about valid and reliable educational practices, with emphasis on learning spaces and community pride, culture and values, is among the first steps in capital project planning.  Student-oriented school design begins with Pre-Planning Activities, where stakeholders consider community-relevant concept design options for school buildings based on  sound research and not necessarily what buildings have been constructed in another school district - usually a district with different goals, cultures, and values.

In the TFPG workshops, stakeholders work through the process of what is to be taught in schools and how it is to be taught.  Then they participate in the development of goals for educational specifications and concept design  from which  illustrative and diagrammatic designs may be created. By viewing their own program and community-relevant diagrammatic designs, the participants can better visualize the places needed for the educational functions, thereby ensuring the foundation for a sound overall school design with age-appropriate, and teacher and student-friendly spaces for learning. Once the school and community members have participated in the Pre-Design and Pre-Planning activities, they are ready to launch a capital project with direction and purpose, including the employment of  an architect to develop drawings for professional cost estimates and bidding.

Activities for the "Design Team"

Please review the above section for  examples.

* We work with clients that are constrained by prototype designs in maximizing modifications to help maintain community identity and culture.