Older and Historic Schools: Restoration vs. Replacement and the Role of a Feasibility Study

This guide can assist school districts weigh the pros and cons of renovating an older school or building a new one. The National Trust for Historic Preservation identifies assumptions—a new school will result in a better education or older school buildings have unfixable flaws—that place old and historic schools at risk. They recommend doing a feasibility study before replacing and closing old and historic facilities to ensure there is a full consideration of the facts and long-term implications. A feasibility study of the issues involved in renovation is the only tested way to evaluate the fit of an old building for contemporary educational uses. In its most basic form, a feasibility study helps establish if renovation of a historic school is possible, practical and whether it can meet the proposed educational needs. Not simply a cost-benefit analysis, a feasibility study evaluates technology needs and barriers, scheduling to complete a school construction project from start to finish, options and alternatives, and potential implications of decisions to the surrounding neighborhood and community.