Very nicely produced video by Colorado Preservation, Inc., on the value of saving historic schools -- and keeping them in use as schools.
As noted by Jenny Buddenborg of the National Trust for Historic Preservation:
"Historic schools are community assets. That’s the message Colorado Preservation, Inc. (CPI) is taking to school districts across Colorado. Through their historic schools survey project, CPI combed the Centennial State to inventory schools still owned by school districts, completing reconnaissance-level surveys for those more than 50 years old. Using this information, they commissioned a film, “Our Living Legacy: Colorado’s Historic Schools,” featuring six historic schools that underwent successful rehabilitations. The goal? To demonstrate that older and historic schools can be rehabilitated to meet today’s educational standards, save capital costs, eliminate indirect costs of sprawl, and be a source of community pride.
A copy of the film has been distributed to every school district in the state, along with publications from the Council of Educational Facility Planners International on how to successfully renovate older and historic school facilities."
We've also published two articles on schools and their relationship to planning & land use: Back to School for Planners,by Tim Torma, and School Sprawl, by Edward McMahon. For excerpts and information on ordering & downloading these two articles. Torma's article is also included in our special issue on schools & planning.
