With this kit of parts, rather than a single building design, many building configurations can be achieved. Most children will choose an entertaining visual task over a more taxing linguistic one. We re beginning to pit knowledge institutions such as schools and libraries against broadcast and entertainment institutions. Sequential argument, reflection and making pictures in your mind are diminished in favor of immediate experience. It is easier to convey emotional tone with visual images than with text but more difficult to deal with abstract verbal reasoning, such as analyzing the difference between a republic and a democracy.
Institutional clients rely on building committees to advocate the user's point of view.
Sanoff describes the Visioning Process, Awareness Walks, Action Planning, Participatory Games, Post Occupancy Evaluations and more, with detailed references, charts and illustrations. While incorporating materials from his 1994 book School Design, new case studies command our attention. The planning of Centennial Campus Middle School, a partnership between Wake County and North Carolina State University, designed by Boney Architects, is a good example. Sanoff shows us how the planning principles were arrived at, with a clear progression to diagrams and architectural floor plans. In an interview with Design Share last year, Sanoff spoke about the importance of post occupancy follow-up.