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The Northwest, like most of the country, has its share of aging and outdated school facilities. But it also is home to some spectacular examples of schools designed for the 21st century.

As the stories on the following pages reveal, school architecture has never been more innovative. The prize-winning schools featured in this special section are as individual as fingerprints. But they do share common themes, such as:

Smart spaces Learning spaces are designed to support good classroom practices
Technology integration Schools fit for the future weave in technology in creative ways.
Flexibility Knowing that tomorrow may bring different needs and opportunities, new schools are being designed for maximum flexibility.
Collaboration Building a new school or remodeling an old one is a chance for community members of all ages to come together and talk about the future.
Personality Successful school buildings convey a sense of what they're about — whether it's a proud history, like Boise High, or a child's sense of wonder, like Alpenglow Elementary.

So what's new in school design? Take a look — and prepare to be amazed.

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