An enrollment flourish has primary-school districts across the country scrambling to meet demand by adding classroom space and teachers. Concrete practitioners are meeting new space demand needs with a variety of low-cost, quick-erect building systems aimed directly at the school market.

Stung by the quick physical decline of metal and wooden "temporary" or portable classrooms of an earlier boom time, school districts now are choosing concrete buildings for their permanancy, sound-deadening qualities, energy efficiency, and security in stormy weather. Ironically, some building technologies developed by the concrete industry to meet the demand for prison space are being adapted very quickly for school use - yet the results are anything but prison-like. An enrollment flourish has primary-school districts across the country scrambling to meet demand by adding classroom space and teachers. Concrete practitioners are meeting new space demand needs with a variety of low-cost, quick-erect building systems aimed directly at the school market.

Stung by the quick physical decline of metal and wooden "temporary" or portable classrooms of an earlier boom time, school districts now are choosing concrete buildings for their permanancy, sound-deadening qualities, energy efficiency, and security in stormy weather. Ironically, some building technologies developed by the concrete industry to meet the demand for prison space are being adapted very quickly for school use - yet the results are anything but prison-like.

Student boom An August 1999 U.S. Department of Education report underscores a trend school districts and construction interests had already observed: the number of kids in school is skyrocketing and many facilities are overcrowded. More students than ever are enrolled in public schools and their numbers are projected to increase steadily through the year 2008, Education officials report. This fall, a record 53.2 million students enrolled, an increase of 447,000 from last year. Public school enrollment is expected to climb to 54.3 million by 2008.

School modernization is urgently needed across the nation to accommodate increasing enrollments; repair crumbling schools; allow for smaller class sizes; and ensure that all facilities are accessible and well-equipped for the 21st century. The average public school in America is 42 years old, and school buildings begin rapid deterioration after 40 years, according to National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) data released in January. In addition, 30 percent of all public schools are in the "oldest condition" - built before 1970 and never renovated, or renovated before 1980.

Department of Education officials report that between 1989 and 2009:

* Enrollment will rise 4.7 million in elementary schools, 3.6 million in secondary schools, and 2.8 million in colleges.

* Public high school enrollment will increase 29 percent, while elementary enrollment is projected to rise 15 percent.

* The number of public high school graduates will increase 18 percent. Seventeen states will have at least a 15 percent increase in the number of graduates, with a 146 percent boost projected for Nevada, 85 percent for Arizona, 56 percent for California, and 51 percent for Florida.

* Full-time college enrollment is projected to increase 26 percent.

Between 1999 and 2009, Education notes:

* Public high school enrollment is expected to increase nearly 9 percent, while elementary enrollment is projected to decrease less than 1 percent. College enrollment is projected to rise 14 percent.

* The number of public high school graduates will increase 16 percent. Fifteen states will have at least a 15 percent increase in the number of public high school graduates, with a 77 percent boost projected for Nevada, 56 percent for Arizona, and 40 percent for North Carolina.

The "Echo Boom" is unlike the postwar Baby Boom, as kids will keep coming. Unlike the decline after the 1946-1964 boom, where births dropped to 3.1 million by the early 1970s, the number of births is not projected to fall off, but to increase slowly for the next 10 years. Census Bureau projections suggest that the number of births will continue to rise, from to 4.2 million in 2009 to 4.8 million in 2028.

Construction catches up School construction is surging after years of no growth. Between 1990 and 1994 building activity was essentially flat, the Department of Education reports. Hit hard by the economic recession at the beginning of the decade, many school districts delayed building plans and even deferred basic maintenance despite rising enrollment. School districts also faced stiff opposition from voters in passing school bonds: Half of the referenda in 1991 to support such bonds, for example, were defeated.

According to the National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities (NCEF), 1990 school construction contracts totaled $9.5 billion. By 1994, total school construction contracts had increased slightly to $11.9 billion. During that same period, an additional 2.8 million children entered the public school system.

In a pivotal 1995 report, the General Accounting Office (GAO) estimated that $112 billion was needed to repair and modernize the nation's schools. GAO noted: "One third of all schools need extensive repair or replacement. Nearly 60 percent have at least one major building problem, and more than half have inadequate environmental conditions."

School construction finally began to pick up by the middle of the decade. Spending increased from $14 billion in 1995 to $18 billion in 1998, with the number of contracts increasing from 7,185 to 8,215. Voters were more supportive of school bonds as well; the percentage of successful referenda rose from 50 percent in 1991 to 67 percent in 1998, Education affirms. In 1998, primary-school construction accounted for 49 percent of contracts; middle and junior high schools for 17.3 percent; senior high schools for 29.3 percent; and vocational schools for 4.4 percent.

Four large states - Texas ($1.9 billion), California ($1.3 billion), Florida ($1.1 billion) and New York ($1.1 billion) - lead the nation in spending to repair, modernize and build schools. NCEF estimates that $19.5 billion will be spent on schools this year. Despite the surge, school construction and modernization badly lags behind other efforts to improve infrastructure. (The complete Baby Boom Echo report, including tables, can be found on the Internet at www.ed.gov/pubs/bbecho99/.)

School construction ahead On an average business day, work proceeds on two K-12 school buildings, with the total 1999 expenditures in this segment approaching $16 billion. Fueling this in part is a greater willingness for property owners to pony up building dollars.

For the next 25 years, California, Texas and Florida will witness the largest population growth, substantially outstripping the combined expected growth rates of the next 12 fastest-growing states. However, Midwest and Western regions led the nation in K-12 school construction in 1997, a substantial percentage of which was new facilities.

Currently, approximately 50 percent of all school construction expenditures on average are for new buildings; restoration and modernization of existing buildings account for 26 percent; and additions to existing buildings account for 24 percent.

The median statistics for elementary schools reporting stated that they provide 120 square feet per student and accommodate 600 students. The median school size is 72,000 square feet and costs $7 million to build. The median middle school allows for almost 142 square feet per student; houses 800 students; and costs $12 million to build. High schools provide 178 square feet per student; house 865 students; and cost $18 million to build.

With the school agenda firmly set, Concrete Products here examines design and project delivery innovations precast and cast-in-place concrete interests are bringing to the table.