Creating Safe and Engaging Learning Environments for Students
Students participated in a training exercise with police officers in Fountain, Colo., in 2017. In mass shootings, officers are trained to act with urgency to defend innocent lives. Credit - Dougal Brownlie/The Gazette, via Associated Press
In the wake of recent gun violence in schools, school administrators are now faced with the daunting task of creating a safe and secure campus environment while still providing an atmosphere conducive to learning. While there is no one-size-fits-all solution, architectural design plays an important role in creating a secure and safe school environment. From security protocols to physical barriers, this blog post will explore the history of gun violence in U.S. schools, what the experts say about designing safe schools, and recommendations for how you can make your school facilities more secure.
The History of Gun Violence in U.S. Schools
Many people today believe that gun violence in schools is a recent phenomenon. However, the earliest known shooting in the United States took place on July 26, 1764. On this day, four Lenape American Indians entered a schoolhouse and shot and killed the school master and at least nine students. Only two students survived the shooting. In 1853, a Louisville, Kentucky student purchased a self-cocking pistol in the morning, went to school and killed the schoolmaster. This was apparently in retaliation for the school master excessively punishing his brother the day before. June 8, 1867, in New York, a 13-year-old boy brought a loaded pistol to school and shot his fellow classmate. December 22, 1868, in Chattanooga, Tennessee a boy who refused to be whipped returned to school the next day with two accomplices to seek revenge on his teacher. Not finding the teacher at school, they proceeded to the teacher’s house where a gun battle rang out leaving three dead.
School Shooting Statistics
Since these early incidents the frequency of the events and the catastrophic nature of the events has significantly increased. The chart below displays the number of people killed and the number of wounded since 1992. There are two reasons for this statistically significant increase. First, the number of students in each school has significantly increased since the 1850’s. It is common to have hundreds of students in each school now as compared to only a dozen in the 1850’s. Second, is the prevalence of guns with high-capacity magazines. Such capacity makes it possible for a shooter to fire dozens of rounds without the need to stop and reload.
Chart depicting the number of people killed, wounded, or with major injuries over the past two decades.
What are the Experts Doing About Gun Violence in U.S. Schools?
Unfortunately, gun violence has become so pervasive that it is almost expected by some people – but this does not have to be the case. With proper design guidance and proactive security protocols, we can create safer environments for our students and staff without sacrificing the educational experience.
In response to the growing number of school shootings and gun violence in schools, the Federal Commission on School Safety (FCSS) was established in March 2018. The goal of this federal commission was to make recommendations for law enforcement officials, school administrators, federal agencies and architects that would help improve school safety for students and staff. After about one year of research and analysis, the federal commission released its final report in December 2019 with 77 recommendations.
The federal commission also recommended that architects keep up to date on current trends related to school safety design. For example, they suggested a repository of information regarding safe school design. Additionally, architects should consider how their designs will facilitate communication between stakeholders during an emergency by emphasizing clear lines of sight between classrooms and introducing architectural elements such as stairwells which can provide areas for teachers to direct students during a lockdown situation.
Overall, the federal commission's report provides valuable guidance for architects looking to create safer school environments without compromising learning opportunities or overall quality design aesthetics. By implementing these recommendations into their designs, architects can help ensure that students have safe learning environments where their educational needs are prioritized over potential threats.
It is common after a school shooting for people to have the initial reaction of “hardening” schools to make them safer. This strategy does not consider the importance of student mental health. Creating a school with a feeling of belonging that students perceive as socially and emotionally safe is just as important as physical safety. We must keep fear from becoming the primary driver of design. Our first question should not be how we make our schools more safe. Rather we should take the recommendation of Svigals+Partners, designers of the New Sandy Hook Elementary School, and ask “what is the best school design for our kids? Then let’s make it safe.”
Design Strategies Used at the New Sandy Hook Elementary School
The new design at Sandy Hook Elementary School pays homage to its fallen students and staff, while layering in effective security measures to ensure the safety of all who walk through its doors. Architecturally, open and inviting spaces contrast with discreet layering of security. The new design shows an empathy towards its community while promoting a safe and secure learning environment - allowing those within its walls heal, hope, and grow. Here are some examples of the strategies used in the new school:
Clear line of sight to the front of the building so that staff and administration can see who is coming and going throughout the day. This was done by using windows from many points within the building that people would use that would allow for natural surveillance of the guest parking area and approach to the school entrance.
Rain gardens were installed at the front of the school not only to teach students about the environment but to also act as a natural barrier for people to enter the school.
Because of the rain gardens visitors must cross a footbridge to get to the school entry. This creates a highly visible access point that is more easily monitored.
Classrooms are located away from the main school entry. This means it would take more time for a potential shooter to reach the classrooms allowing more time for lockdown procedures to be implemented.
Classrooms are provided with locks that can be engaged from inside the classrooms. This allows teachers to secure the room without needing to open the door. These locks can also be opened from the corridor with a key. This allows emergency and administrative staff access in case of emergency.
Biophilic Design or infusing natural elements into a school building and classrooms was used throughout the building. The designers used nature inspired patterns and have windows that look out to nature. These natural elements are calming to students and create a welcoming feeling for everyone at the school.
The land was sloped away from the building just outside the windows. This has the effect of making the windows higher to a potential assailant but feel normal to a student inside the building.
CPTED is a Good Resource for School Design
Similar to the design of the New Sandy Hook Elementary School, the FCSS report advocates for a layered approach across all three areas of a school including entry points, the building envelope, and the classroom. Both the FCSS report and Svigals+Partners recommend utilizing the Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles. CPTED is an effective strategy for creating a safe learning environment in schools. CPTED is based on the principle that physical environments can be designed and managed to reduce the opportunity for crime, promote safety, and improve social cohesion.
CPTED involves five main components:
Natural Surveillance – making sure people can see each other.
Natural Access Control – reducing the number of access points.
Territorial Reinforcement – emphasizing ownership of space.
Activity Support – placing activities within the site and building where individuals participate in natural surveillance.
Maintenance and Management – spaces that are cared for show ownership and pride and deter crime.
For example, CPTED principles can be applied to school design by making classrooms visible to hallways through windows and doors, utilizing signage to illustrate ownership of spaces, and implementing key card access control systems. CPTED also emphasizes that students should feel welcomed in the school environment and encourages them to take ownership of their own safety. This includes designing aesthetically pleasing spaces with inviting colors, comfortable seating, and interesting artwork or murals. By putting CPTED principles into practice during school design projects, architects can ensure that students have access to secure learning environments while also maintaining an atmosphere where they feel safe and supported.
Schools Should Be Welcoming and Seen As Safe Places For Students
The American Institute of Architects has issued a call to arms, advising architects across the nation to create safer schools as part of their design policy. Schools are more than just buildings - they should be viewed as places of safety and security, where children can learn in a nurturing and supportive environment. With effective architectural designs that weigh up aesthetics with existing security measures, we can make progress in reducing gun violence in American schools. As Norman Foster succinctly said: “A safe school is one where the learning process is free from fear or intimidation”. Let us design our schools wisely, so that American children may one day feel unquestionably safe and secure within their auspices.
In the wake of so many school shootings, it's more important than ever that we create safe learning environments for our children. As architects, we have a responsibility to design schools that are not only functional but also safe. There are many strategies we can use to accomplish this, and CPTED is a great resource for those looking to learn more. It's up to us to make sure that schools are seen as warm and welcoming places - places where students feel safe and protected. Only then can they focus on what's truly important: learning.