PROPER SCHOOL DESIGN CAN ACHIEVE SAFETY AND SECURITY

Nov 1, 2005 12:00 PM

School designers and administrators are responsible for protecting children while conserving financial resources. Safety issues can be addressed with many low-cost design strategies.

Mark Lam, vice president and managing partner of SHW Group Architects, Engineers and Planners, lists five areas that should be addressed for safe school design:

• Surveillance

  Components include lighting, landscape, building layout, use of security cameras, metal detectors, and other technologies.

• Accessibility/egress

  Emergency and administrative personnel need access to a school in emergency situations.

• Physical barriers

  They provide function, beauty and a safer school environment.

• Psychological design

  Eliminates tension at schools by addressing issues such as noise, bullying and bottlenecking.

• Communication

  Handset systems can provide private two-way communications, but speaker systems are more accessible. Outside telephone lines should be installed in classrooms, and dialogue should be undertaken with the police, fire departments and parents.

The physical environment affects everyone. It is important to be aware of the influence that school design has on building users. What makes one person feel safe and secure may alarm another. Some security steps are obvious, such as metal detectors; others are more transparent, such as removing restroom doors. The key is to make sure well-intended “solutions” don't compound a problem.

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