Republic of the Philippines

Palawan State University

College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology

Architectural Department

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS: PLANNING AND DESIGN

2020-4-0061

Block A

September 15, 2022

 Introduction

An educational institution is a place where people of different ages gain an education,

provide instructional services to individuals. It refers to an administrative unit with a principal or
other head, which has teachers and other personnel in its service or employers and employees.
They are also liable to keep books and compile other documentation that will be used to help any
beneficiaries. There are also registered student, whose activities and actions are regulated by a
legal act or an official order issued by a legal authority, which follows a national curriculum, and
which financed and controlled by a public authority. An educational institution does not refer to
a school building or facility.

Activities related to education are there in educational institution. The organization can
get a building and use that building to provide training and education in organized courses. The
educational institutions have a curriculum that all the educational institutions of the country will
follow. Public authority takes care of the control and finance of these institutions. The medium of
instruction can be virtual. There can be a merger or demolition of the educational institution
depending on the decision of the education organizer or public authority. The institutions’
ultimate aim is to impart quality education and to ensure that the future generation is
knowledgeable.

There are different types of educational institution here in the Philippines, it includes
early childhood, primary, secondary and higher education. Early childhood consists of three
different levels which are preschool, kindergarten and nursery. Generally, the duration of primary
school in the Philippines is about six years and it is divided into two cycles which are “primary”
from grades 1 to 4 and “intermediate grades 5 to 6. Secondary education in the Philippines is also
known as high school, and consists of two levels which are the junior high school and the senior
high school. After finishing the mandatory K-12 program, students have the option to pursue
higher education. There are also different classifications of higher education in the Philippines
which are college or university, public or private and secular or religious.

“The Philippines has a total of 1,949 higher education institutions. As of 2020, student
enrollment was 1.83 million for private and 1.57 million for public institutions. There is a strong
presence of international schools in major cities such as Manila, Cebu and Davao”. International
Trade Administration, (2022 Jan. 25) The Philippines' Education Market.
https://www.trade.gov/market-intelligence/philippines-education-market

Educational institutions play a major role in shaping the career of its students. The more
successful students are in their career the better the growth opportunities and a great future
which in turns proves out to be useful for the society, Philippines is living in one way manner. But
it is a prime role of the educational institutions to guide the students on choosing a perfect field
of study.
 General Principles

It only seems a simple task to develop a design of an educational establishment, but there
are so many details to consider that it may seem unbelievable for an ordinary person. However,
professional architects not only create designs that correspond with hundreds of strict
requirements but also implement them in reality. Thousands of schools, higher educational
establishments, spaces for extracurricular activity are being built on the planet at the moment.

1. Integration of Technology – living in the digital era it is difficult to imagine classes

without computers, smart devices, and other innovative equipment that can
contribute to the educational process. Architects should consider special computer
labs, bulky terminals to connect personal devices to, the power of energy resources,
wiring the building, and many other things. A special accent should be made on
common spaces and learning campuses since they are an integral part of the building.

2. Safety and Security – every space for learning should be safe, so numerous measures
should be undertaken and planned in the construction to guarantee this security. This
is not only fire alarm or video surveillance but also the prevention of bullying with
transparent design, clear lines of sight, larger windows, etc. Many schools require the
installation of double-locked entries and sign-in screens to prevent unwanted access.
All these protection measures should be easy to control which is very important too.

3. Transparency – architectural transparency, the principle of visual

interconnectedness, is an emerging standard in new school construction. Internal
spaces like hallways, classrooms, and cafeterias typically separated from each other
by opaque structures like walls and doorways have given way to open layouts that
emphasize glass partitions and uninterrupted lines of sight, borrowing from cutting-
edge work environments.

4. Multipurpose spaces – the pace of social and technological change is disorienting and
modern learning environments are evolving to keep pace. Part of making educational
spaces work, according to architects, is incorporating long-term flexibility so that as
technology, curricula, and pedagogies evolve over a building’s 50 years life span, it
can support and not hinder those changes.
• Corridor widening for it to be transformed into classrooms of necessary.
• Stairs are turned into sitting places.
• Walls are changed into writing surfaces or large screens for projectors.
• Altering environments that can be easily adapted to different types of work.
 5. Outdoor Studying – learning environments outside traditional buildings should be
adapted to studying. Therefore, the area should be provided with extra sitting spaces
like benches, amphitheater, necessary amenities like Wi-Fi, and other important
features. Other outdoor learning spaces are designed to be extensions of the
curriculum, and provide opportunities to observe or interact directly with nature.

Layout by Function

When it comes to designing a new education space, you need to think from the perspective of
those who will be using it the most: students and teachers. The space needs to function in ways
that will serve their functional needs, spark their creativity, and enhance collaboration. There are
both similarities and differences in what both groups will require from their space to deem it
successful.
From an architectural perspective – to make a space functional for both students and teachers, it
will require:

1. Easy Access – easy access to technology within the classroom and collaboration areas,
including charging devices, projectors/display monitors, and computers.
2. Flexible Spaces – promote collaboration and will allow for customization on classroom
setup based on specific tasks like using whiteboards and mobile furniture.
3. Glazing – to bring in natural day lighting into the classroom and to enhance connectivity
to other students and faculty through the strategic placement of windows, glass walls, or
doors.
4. Special Acoustical Systems – it needs to be added to large classrooms, more common in
higher education facilities, in order for teachers to be heard all around the room. Wall and
ceiling treatments could be needed in this case to help with speech clarity.
5. Personalized Space – it reflects their mission, program, or values helps to create a spirit
and sense of belonging for the building. Unique architectural elements will add a sense of
life and give the students and teachers a space they feel connected to. Take the Marian
University College of Osteopathic Medicine as an example of how we were able to
implement the university’s unique values into the architecture of their building.
From a student-specific standpoint:

• Accidental Interaction Space – several different size spaces with a variety of furniture
styles to create collaboration opportunities. A great deal of learning happens outside the
classroom.
• Breakout Spaces – this is important in higher education facilities, allowing students room
for group work sessions and individual study spaces.
From a teacher-specific standpoint:

• User Friendly/Robust Technology – consistent technology set ups from one teaching
space to another that will allow instructors to capture notes and share with students.
• Separate rooms away from students – where they can go to either socialize with other
teachers or plan for their next class.
 Space Planning

Space planning involves designating a space for a particular use. That could mean setting
it up for a specific purpose, ensuring it’s available at a certain time, or making it available to a
particular group. The core focus of space planning is to ensure the effective and efficient use of a
space by the people and purpose it’s intended for. Space planning in schools happens at several
levels. In a macro sense, shared facilities are open for general use this means everything from the
student union to the library. More specifically, there are classrooms and lecture halls that have
specific purposes, but may not serve the same purpose all of the time.
The other broad parameters which are useful, relate to types of space on a campus and
the breakdown of academic space against faculties or discipline groupings. Typically, a university
is made up of the following broad groupings.

1. Academic Space (e.g. research space)

43-57% of total space on campus/4.5-6𝑚2/EFTSU
2. Administrative Space (e.g. central administration support)
9-12% of total space on campus/ 1-1.2𝑚2/EFTSU
3. Commercial Space (e.g. bookshop, cafeteria)
2.8-4.2% of total space on campus/ 0.3-0.4𝑚2/EFTSU
4. General Teaching Space
12% of total space on campus/ 1.2𝑚2/EFTSU
5. Library Space
10% of total space on campus/ 1𝑚2/EFTSU
6. Student Service Space (e.g. guild and sport and recreation facilities)
4-8% of total space on campus/ 0.4-0.8𝑚2/EFTSU
7. Other Space (anything not in above, including vacant or in transition) 6% of total space
on campus/ 0.6𝑚2/EFTSU

Academic Category – can be further broken down to more detail and be customized to
suit a particular university environment. In this way a university can assess the relevance of the
ratios to local campus planning and adapt the ratios overtime.

• Natural and Physical Sciences – 10𝑚2/EFTSU

• Information Technology – 2𝑚2/EFTSU
• Engineering and Related Technologies – 10𝑚2/EFTSU
• Architecture and Building – 6𝑚2/EFTSU
• Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies – 5𝑚2/EFTSU
• Health – 14𝑚2/EFTSU
• Creative Arts – 6𝑚2/EFTSU
• Food, Hospitality and Personal Services – 6.5𝑚2/EFTSU
• Mixed Field Programs – TBA

EFTSU (Equivalent Full Time Student Unit)

A broad ratio for car parking on a campus is in order of 1 bay for each 4 to 5 EFTSU. This
ratio should be used with care, as there are a number of factors that impact on the ratio and will
vary the requirements for individual campuses. These includes locality, available public transport,
other parking options off campus, students’ demographic and available space on campus.
 Landscaping

Institutional landscaping typically has landscaped areas viewed by hundreds of people every
day. Homeowners are following their local institutions' lead by mimicking their landscapes at
home. Unfortunately, these beautiful landscapes typically require large amounts of water and are
not usually environmentally friendly. Landscape planning of school yards is of much importance.
A beautifully arranged school yard brings up a feeling of beauty in children, raises their spirit,
positively influences health of children and adults, contributes to aesthetic education of
schoolchildren, and develops their taste and creative thinking.

1. Multi-Purpose Outdoor Spaces

7. Landscaping for Learnings

2. First Impression

8. Strive for Sustainability

3. Year-Round Appeal

9. Rain Gardens

4. Color, Color, Color

10. Culinary Gardens

5. Don’t Skimp Flowers

11. Landscape for School Pride

6. Pavers for High-Traffic Areas

 Summary of CHED Memorandum Order No. 43, Series of 2017

CMO No. 43 s. 2017 or the PSG for the Undergraduate Programs in Fine Arts and Design
contributes to the development and learning of an individual. The arts and design practice,
focused on the study of culture, conscious of the need to develop personal and national identity,
sharpens intelligence and creativity, and develops a worldview that enables social participation
and service to the community. In the Philippine Tertiary Education, “Fine Arts and Design” refers
to a wide range of disciplines characterized by the pursuit of aesthetics concerns creatively
conveyed through different visual-based media. All private higher education institutions that
offer Bachelor of Fine Arts must first secure proper authority from the Commission in accordance
with this PSG or the General Policy, Standards and Guidelines.

These are the program standards that is recommended for the optimum delivery of
instructions:

a) A minimum standard of two lecture hours and three studio hours shall be held once a
week or a maximum of 2 lecture hours and 4 studio hours which may be equally divided
into two sessions every week for each course.
b) Students of Fine Arts and Design shall be required to undertake an optimum study load
of 40 hours/week in any given semester, to ensure that their physical and mental
capacities for learning are not over stretched. Exceptions may be allowed in the case of
graduating student. A minimum of 158 units is required for graduation with the bachelor
of Fine Arts and straight programs in arts and design, consisting of the following subject
areas.
c) The studio shall have enough physical space for worktables and chairs and elbow room
for the number of students doing production work at the same time.
d) The studio shall be well-ventilated and well-lit, and have at least two sinks each, large
enough for two faucets.
e) Physical space shall be provided for a gallery that can display or for exhibition of the
creative outputs.
f) Audio visual room shall contain equipment as instructional support for art history, theory
and specialization courses.
g) Computer laboratory shall contain as many computers as the institution’s resources will
allow, where students are provided access to digital production using reasonably recent
software.

For violation of this order, the commission may impose such administrative sanction as it
may deem appropriate, pursuant to the pertinent provisions of RA 7722 otherwise known as the
Higher Education Act of 1994 That the State shall protect, foster and promote the right of all
citizens to affordable quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to ensure that
education shall be accessible to all. In relation to section 69 of BP 32 also known as Education Act
of 1982, his was an act providing for the establishment and maintenance of an integrated system
of education, sections 24 and 101 of the Manual of regulations for private institutions and other
related laws.