Undoubtedly by now, you’ve seen the striking Architectural Record suplement issue entitled “Schools of the 21st Century” that has inspired a similarly entitled web site (co-presented by the American Architectural Foundation and Edutopia). Their vision?

Share the “Latest thinking and Best Ideas on the Planning and Design of K-12 School Buildings.”

This will give you a sense of some of what you’ll find at the site:

“A” is for Architecture: There are plenty of reasons to believe the next generation of schools will be the best ever designed.

Little Green Schoolhouses: The massive schools construction program currently underway provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create buildings that will influence the lives of students for decades to come.

Education, Unplugged: In some cases, the difficulties of hardwiring old schools can be eased by portable devices and digitally based curricula.

National School Design Institute: Teams of architects and school district representatives gathered to take on tough school design problems.

Case Studies: A look at six great U.S. Schools including: Montessori Children’s Center, San Francisco, Mark Horton/Architecture; Blythewood High School, Columbia, South Carolina, Perkins+Will, Boudreaux Group; Detroit School of Arts, Detroit, Hamilton Anderson Associates; Denver School of Science & Technology, Denver, klipp; Alpine School District Prototype Middle Schools, Alpine and Lehi, Utah, VCBO Architecture; and Benjamin Franklin Elementary School, Kirkland, Washington, Mahlum Architects

Needless to say, we love the work they’re doing and the ideas they’re undoubtedly going to inspire in the process.

In addition to this vital resource for school planners and their stakeholders, if you have a chance to be down in New Orleans the week of March 1st, they’re also throwing a free all-day symposium to bring to life the very ideas found in the magazine/web site. Here’s a bit of what you’ll find if you can make it down there for the event:

The event, conveniently co-located at the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) conference, will include such sessions as:

The Head of Their Class: Case studies of innovative school buildings from across the U.S.

High-Performance School Buildings: An examination of environmentally friendly, inexpensive-to-operate buildings and advice on how to build one.

Discussions about new school construction materials and techniques that not only make schools more attractive, safer, and healthier, but also improve learning and lower operating costs.

A recap of the latest research conducted by McGraw-Hill Construction Analytics on school spending trends and “green” school construction.

Hope to see you there!