Restoration or new construction? That is a dilemma that educational leaders, particularly superintendents and school business officials, have had to wrestle with for years. In the past, state regulations often dictated whether school buildings should be renovated or torn down to make way for new construction. State reimbursement guidelines favored new construction over restoration for public school development by either withholding funds or denying the full state support for restoration projects. In fact, some states established complex formulas that mandated new construction if the cost of restoration exceeded approximately two-thirds of the new construction costs.

Reversing the mindset among many educators and legislators that new construction is always the best option for districts has not been an easy sell for designers, preservationists, and school architects. However, restoration of school properties has been on the rise in recent years, fueled by citizens’ interest in maintaining community landmarks, by districts’ recognition of the importance of preserving existing schools as important community institutions, and by demonstrating that the restoration of aging buildings can be a cost-effective way to preserve history and create safe and exciting educational facilities.