Integration of Schools and Community Infrastructure: A Network Analysis

This paper presents a literature review and preliminary research design addressing the key research question: What are the roles of schools within a community infrastructure network? The research explores the integration of school and community infrastructure, investigating the boundaries and connections between different forms and providers of social infrastructure. Historically, opposing school design objectives of connection and security have challenged the development of schools as community hubs, whereby the use of school facilities by the wider community has often been poorly planned and/or resolved in practice. This research proposes a networked approach to understanding social infrastructure, including schools and a range of community-focussed facilities, to explore existing and potential connections between facilities and their users.