Prince George's County Public Schools

Designing Facilities for the Future

The Design team works to ensure all capital projects at PGCPS result in safe, inviting learning environments that enhance academic success, optimally utilize our facilities and achieve sustainability goals.  

Once Planning Approval is granted, a project enters the Design Phase. An architect is selected to design and create construction documents to implement the project. For major projects such as a new school, a Project Planning Committee is created. The Committee is a small group comprised of staff, community members and other stakeholders that help guide the design and follow the project through completion. Community events are also scheduled to update the public on the design process.  

Typical Project Design Phases

  1. Finalization of Educational Specifications
  2. Schematic Design Stage
  3. Design Development Stage
  4. Construction Document Stage
Explore our Prototypical Educational Specifications

In February 2015, the Board of Education approved Educational Specification prototypes for elementary, middle, and high schools. These prototypes help provide transparency and consistency when developing individualized school specifications for new construction or renovation projects outlined in the PGCPS Capital Improvement Program (CIP).

The prototypes also provide guidance for determining the appropriate number of rooms and space standards for school renovation and new construction in Prince George's County. Because they align to standards for determining State Rated Capacity (SRC) as well as local enrollment standards for existing and future schools, they assist in determining future boundary changes, school additions, consolidations, or closures. 
 
Each school prototype (elementary, middle and high) includes spaces for general education courses, as well as a range of optional programs that can be tailored to meet the needs of individual schools. These options include such programs as English as a Second Language (ESL), co-teaching, and special education. Specifications for athletic areas, health suites, media centers, and other programs meet both state and PGCPS guidelines and standards

Technical Design Guidelines