F.

SCHOOL SITE DEVELOPMENT

A graphic presentation of the Site Development Program is referred to as Site
Development Plan. Its main function is to show the school site in its present status and
the current program period. Preparing the site development plan is thus an exercise in
the layout of infrastructure based on the physical requirements established in the Site
Development Program.
1. Principles in the Preparation of the Site Development Plan. The principle in the
preparation of the Site Development Plan is that all physical structures with similar
functions shall be grouped together. The grouping of these structures is in accordance
with the most favorable options for grounds utilization which creates functional zones
and sets the basic pattern for physical development. In effect, the school site is
subdivided, allocating well-defined portions for specific purposes.
2. Layout of Buildings and Other Structures. The layout of the buildings and other
structures, which are the most expensive physical facilities in the school, is critical in
preparing the Site Development Plan. School buildings shall be oriented in accordance
with the sun path or the east-west course of the sun during the day. Variations in the
sun path on certain season of the year are negligible. To prevent the direct entry of
sunlight into the instructional spaces, buildings shall be laid out along the east-west axis
so that the windows have a north-south exposure.
3. Arrangement of Buildings. Buildings shall be arranged to facilitate cross ventilation by
exposing the window sides to the direction of prevailing breezes which is generally
northeast-southeast. However, the east-west orientation is sufficient inasmuch as it
allows adequate cross-ventilation.
4. Site Limitations. When there are site limitations, such as the unfavorable area and/or
shape of the site, prevent the proper solar orientation of buildings, economical
alternatives shall be resorted to. For example, trees near the building are effective for
minimizing the direct entry of sunlight into instructional spaces.
5. Acoustic Barriers. Plant tree and shrub barriers between building and street, if
feasible. Trees and shrubs between the buildings and street will serve as acoustic
barriers.
6. Sun Path. Study variations in the sun path between June 21 and December 21,
especially at 12:00 o’clock noon must be noted as lower latitude sites get more sun on
the north side on June 21.
7. Local Wind Patterns. Cross Ventilation. If available, request from Pagasa, or any
agency, specific monthly rose wind diagram or monthly wind patterns for a particular
site or region. Study existing structures and natural elements (i.e. hills, body of water,
vegetation, etc.) that might affect the site’s wind patterns.
8. Sun screens, Vertical Louvers and Green Walls (vertical gardens). It may be
necessary to design temporary or permanent sun shade elements (such as planted
trees, sun screens, vertical louvers, green walls/vertical gardens) to prevent solar heat
gain.
9. The distances between buildings shall be such that ventilation is not obstructed,
natural illumination is not impeded and sound does not carry into nearby buildings. The
minimum distance between buildings laid outside is eight (8) meters.
10. The recommended setback of the school from the street line is five (5) meters to
sufficiently reduce intrusive sound.
11. There should be provision for open space in each school with an area big enough to
hold the total population of the school. This shall serve as temporary evacuation site in
cases of emergencies that would require the students to evacuate their classrooms
(such as fires and earthquake events). (See page 72 - the athletic fields can be used for
this purpose.)

H. EXTERNAL AREAS IN THE SCHOOL

1. Agriculture Area. The laboratory for elementary agriculture, or what is traditionally
known as the school garden, shall be allocated an area based on a minimum standard
of forty (40) square meters of space per pupil, the total area to include individual and
communal plots, footpaths between plots, and spaces for a garden house and a plant
nursery.
The school garden shall be located in an area of the school site, which has sandy
loam soil and is well drained. The area shall be plowed, harrowed, leveled, and cleared
of weeds, rocks or stones, tree-stumps, etc. There shall be an adequate water supply
inside the school garden. The school garden shall be fenced off from the other areas in
the school site, for obvious reason.
2. Playground Area. The allocation of external space for playgrounds which are needed
for physical education activities may be determined on the basis of a minimum standard
of six (6) square meters of space per pupil/student. The playground shall be located in
safe and sanitary area of the school site. It shall be plowed, harrowed, level, and
cleared of broken glass, nails, wires, stones, and other objects which may hurt the
children while they are playing. Cemented areas must not be slippery.
Proper drainage shall be provided by making the ground slope slightly from the
center toward the sides or boundaries of the school site. The playground shall be
sodded with low-creeping grass and furnished with standard playground facilities. There
shall be separate areas for the younger and the older pupils/students.
3. Circulation Areas. The circulation areas consist of the main walk, the footpaths, and
the driveway which are intended to facilitate movement within the school site.
 a. Proper drainage shall be provided by slightly elevating walks, footpaths, and
driveways from the surrounding areas and, if necessary, providing shallow canals
along their sides. Walks, footpaths, and driveways shall be surfaced with sand or
gravel, or cemented, if possible. They shall be laid out at some distance from the
sides of buildings to allow space for flowerbeds and ornamental shrubbery
around the buildings.
b. The main walk, which is the primary access from the front gate to the main
building, shall be at least three (3) meters wide, cemented, if possible.
b.1 The footpaths, which are the secondary accesses between the different
zones and buildings within the school site, maybe one (1) or two (2) meters wide.
b.2 The standard driveway, which is intended to serve vehicular traffic inside the
school site, shall be at least three (3) meters wide.
c. As a general rule, walks, footpaths, and driveways shall be laid out in the most direct
manner; that is; they shall follow the shortest distance to destinations.
4. Athletic Field. The allocation of external space for the athletic field shall allow
adequate provision for the laying out of the following basic components, among others:
a. A standard oval tract with a distance of 400 meters.
b. A baseball diamond with sides measuring 27.4 meters (90 ft.) long.
c. A softball diamond with sides measuring 18.2 meters (60 ft.) long.
d. A soccer football field measuring 90-120 meters (100-130 yards) long and 45-
90 meters (50-100 yards) wide.
e. A basketball court which shall be a flat, hard, (not grass) surface measuring 26
x 14 meters (85 x 46 ft.).
f. A volleyball court measuring 18 meters long and 9 meters wide (60 x 30 ft).
g. A lawn tennis courts measuring 23.77 meters long and 8.23 meters wide (73 x
27 feet), which is the standard for singles. For doubles, a wider court is used,
10.97 meters (36 feet) wide.
h. Perimeter space shall also be provided for the construction of a grandstand or
grandstands and bleachers.
The area shall be plowed, harrowed, leveled, cleaned, and drained. It shall be
fenced off from other areas of the school site as a safety precaution.