Economic Factors

Learning space developments and educational buildings in general are receiving high levels of funding at the moment (as expored in the Anticipation section). However, this is often in the form of one-off capital costs for basic provision. Funding the rapidly changing layers shown in the Pace Layering section, environmental sustainability or the graphics and high quality furniture that is the 'icing on the cake' is often difficult.

At Glasgow Caledonian University, external grants enabled the purchase of compact rolling shelving stacks that enabled the more efficient storage of books and therefore provided more space for learners in the Saltire Centre. The University also received a grant from the Scottish Arts Council to provide two public works of art; one inside the building and one outside. The external lighting for the Saltire Centre was also partly funded by a grant from Glasgow City Council. John Wheatley College, also in Glasgow, was very successful at obtaining a range of grants to support developments on its East End Campus around the theme of sustainability. There is an important message in these examples; you need to identify clearly what you may need grants for and why these aspects of the project are important and then identify sources that will be sympathetic to both that aspect of your project and your reasons for wanting to implement it.