Alternatives solutions to the school's space needs should be explored next. The alternatives can take the form of a new building, an addition to an existing building, reallocation, and renovation of existing space, or a combination of these options. These alternatives can be developed based on an understanding of the affinity and proximity requirements of each space.

Analysis of Existing Facilities

The information most basic to facility planning is an inventory of existing space – documented in terms of amount, type, utilization, and condition. An understanding of this elemental data is fundamental to making any judgments or decisions about the future use of space.

Knowing how much space is assigned to each function provides a means for comparison. For instance, the amount of science lab space at your school can be compared to the amount recommended by standards or the amount available at other, peer schools. These facts can often strengthen a decision to increase the amount of space assigned.

An analysis of existing facility conditions often confirms the decision to build new space. If your school intends to construct a new building or an addition to the existing building, an inventory of the existing space can be useful in helping the constituents understand the magnitude of the new space requests. If renovations are envisioned, the existing space inventory is absolutely fundamental to planning for space changes or reassignments.

Ideally this analysis is in the form of scaled floor plans and a database that specifies the size of each space and how it is used. If your school is relatively new, this information will be easier to obtain. If it is not available, the school may need professional help to produce it.

The existing condition of space should be analyzed both in terms of physical condition and conformance to codes, particularly life safety and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations. Besides providing information for long-term deferred maintenance budgets, this analysis may also determine the future use of a building. In some instances the cost of renovation outweighs the value of the building and may even indicate the building be replaced.

The Site

If new space appears to be required, a site study is essential to test locations for new buildings or for additions to existing buildings. Often the lack of available land or unique site conditions determines the choice of alternative.