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Pan-Abode Schools
It would be interesting to talk to an architect about Los Angeles' newest public high school. The $578M price tag seems a bit excessive, even for La-La Land, but it does exemplify a trend towards expensive schools that is occurring in Canada as well.
The question that I would like to pose to the architect is whether it would be possible to develop a dozen or so standardized blueprints, sort of like Pan-Abode buildings, that can be customized as needed but which can be built much more economically than one-off buildings. I mean, Tim Horton's and Wal-Mart do it and, while their buildings may not be architectural knock-outs, they're comfortable and functional, and they cost way less.
Of course, given the current funding model, there is no incentive for school boards to economize on school buildings. I'm guessing the concept of Pan-Abode schools won't be explored any time soon.