By Tony Abate听

Climate change is no longer just a lesson plan in schools. It is heating our classrooms and endangering the health and wellness of teachers, staff and students.听

For years, we’ve talked about preparing the next generation for a changing climate. But it鈥檚 time 鈥� now 鈥� to start thinking about how to make our school buildings more resilient to the threat. We have high-tech solutions. It鈥檚 time to implement them.听

School districts are facing a problem that can no longer be dismissed. Extreme heat, an increasing number of wildfires and aging school infrastructure are converging, and too many schools aren’t equipped for these challenges.听

The consequences are real and dangerous.听The that nearly one in five school districts canceled classes during the 2024鈥�25 school year because of facility problems. Among the problems: extreme classroom temperatures, with one school reportedly reaching 110 degrees.听

A classroom shouldn’t become an unbearable oven before we decide to invest in and install effective air conditioning (HVAC) technologies.听Yet that is essentially what we’re allowing to happen in too many places.听

When Outdoor Threats Become Indoor Problems听

Many school buildings were built decades ago, when extreme heat was less frequent and wildfire smoke was a rarity.听Some lack adequate cooling. Others have aging HVAC systems that struggle to maintain comfortable temperatures. And even buildings with air conditioning may not be prepared for increasingly poor outdoor air quality.听

This last point is especially important. The traditional advice to “open the windows and get some fresh air” suddenly becomes terrible advice when a community is threatened by wildfires. The air outside is filled with contaminants and dangerous to breathe.听

Schools need to know what is happening inside their buildings 鈥� and they need to know before conditions become dangerous and threatening听听

That means taking indoor air quality seriously, and not an afterthought. It means adding high-tech real-time air quality monitoring and ventilation technologies that deter airborne pollutants. It means making sure HVAC systems can handle the conditions they are increasingly being asked to handle. And it means having a plan for extreme heat and wildfire smoke before the emergency arrives. It’s about making school buildings more resilient and keeping those inside safer.听

Bridging the School Infrastructure Gap听

Equally as important, all school systems should appoint an indoor air quality (IAQ) manager who can use real time data and make necessary adjustments to building operations to optimize IAQ. This is a critical function, as oftentimes action taking may fall into gaps between different responsibilities.听听

Teachers can鈥檛 teach and students cannot learn effectively if they’re sitting in classrooms that are excessively hot. And school administrators shouldn’t have to scramble to decide whether to close a building when the temperature or air quality becomes unacceptable.听

Then there鈥檚 another reality: Not every school district has the same funding and resources to address these issues.听Some districts can afford modern HVAC systems, upgraded filtration and sophisticated monitoring. Others are dealing with buildings that desperately need basic repairs.听

We routinely debate whether schools have the latest technology for students. We should also be asking whether the buildings themselves have the basic infrastructure needed for students to safely learn.听

We don’t need to rebuild every school tomorrow. But we do need to stop treating climate-related disruptions as isolated emergencies.听

Planning Today for Tomorrow鈥檚 Climate Challenges听

School districts should be assessing their buildings now: Which schools lack adequate cooling? Which HVAC systems are outdated? Where are filtration and ventilation inadequate? What happens when wildfire smoke arrives? Do administrators have real-time information about conditions inside the building?听

Those questions should be part of school planning and capital budgets 鈥� not emergency meetings after temperatures hit 100 degrees.听

Climate change isn’t waiting for school districts and boards to catch up. Neither should we.听

Tony Abate is Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at AtmosAir Solutions and a member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standards Committee that helped craft ASHRAE Standard 241, which sets requirements for the control of infectious aerosols in buildings.听

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By Evelyn Long听听

As schools evolve to support flexible learning environments, they must also be designed to help occupants move safely during emergencies without sacrificing openness or functionality. Rather than relying solely on security technologies, today’s best school designs integrate life safety into every stage of planning. Site layout, circulation patterns,听accessibility听and emergency vehicle access all contribute to a safer campus while improving the day-to-day experience for students,听educators听and visitors.听

Design and Planning Support Better Emergency Response听

A successful emergency response starts with campus planning. Building orientation, access roads, pedestrian听circulation听and entry听points听all influence how quickly emergency personnel can navigate a site. According to the Geneva Global Hub for Education in Emergencies, 鈥渙ne key tool to听听on education is advance planning.鈥� This strategy helps education systems,听staff听and students become more resilient.听

Identifying听and assessing risks such as conflicts, natural disasters and pandemics enables education authorities to create plans for prevention, preparedness,听response听and recovery. The听ultimate goal听is to ensure learning continues without interruption and to develop policies that help prevent crises.听

Schools that incorporate these considerations and plan accordingly during design are often better equipped to manage both routine operations and unexpected emergencies. The same philosophy applies to broader infrastructure planning. Aspects like proper roof structure,听听help ensure the structure’s integrity and prevent issues.听

Circulation, Visibility and Wayfinding Reduce Evacuation Delays听

Even well-developed plans may become less effective if occupants struggle to navigate a building during an emergency.听Wide corridors,听clearly marked exits, strategically located stairwells and intuitive circulation paths help reduce bottlenecks while allowing first responders to reach affected areas more efficiently.听听

Visibility is also important. Open sightlines throughout听corridors,听shared spaces and entrances allow staff and first responders to assess conditions quickly while helping occupants听identify听evacuation routes with minimal confusion.听听

SchoolSafety.gov explains that听听(EOP) is a crucial aspect of school emergency preparedness. This document outlines the procedures for students and staff to follow before, during and after an emergency. SchoolSafety.gov also听states听that 鈥渟chools should plan to review, evaluate and update their EOP on a regular basis.鈥� The most effective plans are developed through a team effort, incorporating input from school staff and community partners.听

Entrances and interior door systems should听comply with听Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements while听remaining听easy to听operate听during emergencies.听Properly designed听low-energy听听without compromising emergency egress when installed听in accordance with听current standards. This makes them valuable additions to modern educational facilities.听

The Congressional Research Service asserts that 鈥渢he ADA, like Section 504, applies to all public and many private schools, from preschool through postsecondary education.鈥� The ADA’s rules are not specifically tailored for听education, but听instead lay out broad requirements for all organizations. These mandates include making general modifications for people with disabilities,听听and听permitting听service听animals.听

Balancing Secure Access听With听Welcoming Learning Environments听

Modern school design increasingly听demonstrates听that emergency preparedness and positive learning environments are not mutually exclusive. The renovation and addition at Niles North High School in Skokie, Illinois, addressed long-standing safety concerns by reorganizing the building around a secure entrance sequence while improving the overall visitor experience. The project听, dedicated parent and visitor services, and a defined security zone that separates public-facing spaces from student areas.听

This layered approach allows visitors to be screened before entering instructional spaces while improving circulation and reducing congestion at the main entrance. The renovation also created collaborative learning spaces and student commons that foster openness and community.听听

The Niles North project reflects broader principles highlighted by Legat Architects in its discussion of school safety by design. Using Medinah Primary School in Illinois as an example, Legat notes that campus safety begins outside the building through features听, dedicated parent drop-off areas, and protected pedestrian walkways that reduce contact between vehicles and students.听听

The article also emphasizes that effective emergency access depends on controlled vestibules, clear visitor screening听procedures听and intuitive circulation rather than fortress-like architecture.听听

Designing for Safety Without Sacrificing Learning听

School safety is most effective when it is built into the foundation of a project rather than added after construction. Strategic site planning, intuitive circulation, accessible听entrances听and coordinated emergency access help schools respond more effectively to emergencies while improving the daily experience for everyone. Integrating safety into every stage of planning and construction enables school leaders and design professionals to create campuses that are prepared for emergencies while听remaining听open,听welcoming听and supportive places to learn.听

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By Jason Carr听

Civil engineers often think of school design as an exercise in balancing competing priorities. Safety, traffic flow, site constraints, pedestrian patterns, drainage, sports fields, and a听litany of听regulatory requirements听are all part of the mix. Nowhere is听this听more听true听than in the听exercise听of designing K鈥�12 campuses that can听handle听surges of activity during short, windows of time.听

Unlike commercial or residential developments, a K鈥�12 school experiences its highest traffic volume during two peak periods: the morning drop-off and the afternoon pick-up.听During those periods,听nearly every听group听tends to arrive at once. Coordinating and separating these flows while preventing congestion on public streets becomes the听basis听of the entire site layout.听

Many too often assume that听staggering bell schedules听would solve听the problem. The suggestion听will often be,听鈥淲hy not start first grade at 7:00, second grade at 7:15, third grade at 7:30?鈥� But anyone who has worked within the operational reality of a school district knows this is impractical. Bus听routing, staffing schedules, after-school programs,听and family听logistics听make staggered starts听not听feasible. The result is that engineering solutions听must听develop the solution.听

Traffic Streams听

A modern school campus must simultaneously accommodate several distinct vehicle types, each with its own听set of challenges.听

School bus traffic is predictable and highly concentrated. Dozens of buses often arrive within minutes of one another, requiring dedicated stacking space long enough to prevent听spillover听onto adjacent public roads. Buses also need a clear loop that allows them to pull forward, unload, and exit without reversing.听

Alternatively, staff听at听K-12 campuses听tend to arrive earlier, requiring听reliable, separate parking areas that are not entangled with听the parents鈥� line. This often means听locating听staff parking in a discreet lot that provides direct access while听remaining听isolated from student circulation.听

Accommodating听parents is typically听the most challenging flow to manage, especially in communities听where听driving young children to school is the norm rather than the exception.听Parents听want to avoid听buses, so they require听a completely separate听lane and often a lengthy stacking approach.听

Additionally,听for younger children, many parents听will听park and walk their child to the entrance. This听necessitates听a nearby bank of visitor parking听which is听used intensely for 30 minutes each morning but rarely needed during the rest of the day. Designing enough parking for event nights (performances, assemblies, open houses) while avoiding a sea of underused asphalt is always a听challenge.听

Next, there are delivery vehicles to prepare for.听Schools rely on a steady stream of deliveries听including听food service, technology equipment,听and听trash collection.听These vehicles need access to a dedicated loading zone, preferably on the backside of the building, separated from students and general traffic. Larger trucks also require generous turning听space and听heavy-duty pavement sections to withstand repeated loads.听

Finally, there are the are the critical emergency vehicles.听Life-safety access is non-negotiable. Fire departments听require听clear, unobstructed pathways around the building, reliable turning clearances, and strategic fire lane designations. This typically results in multiple points of vehicular听entry,听and a circulation loop capable of accommodating fire trucks and medical responders.听

Pedestrian Safety听

In many K鈥�12 settings,听a large portion听of students arrive on foot. Engineering for pedestrian safety means more than simply marking crosswalks. It involves predicting human behavior. Students and parents will naturally choose the shortest path, even if听it鈥檚听not the safest or intended one.听

To reduce conflict between vehicles and pedestrians, crossings must be strategically听placed听in locations that feel intuitive and direct. Sidewalks must connect residential routes to the campus logically, minimizing the temptation to听veer from the intended path.听

Heavy Vehicle Considerations听

School sites experience unusual pavement demands due to repeated bus traffic, delivery trucks, and periodic 18-wheelers. Geotechnical engineers typically provide recommendations for pavement sections based on soil conditions,听identifying听which areas can use standard听asphalt,听and which require heavy-duty sections or concrete.听

Bus loops, fire lanes, and service areas often demand significantly thicker structural sections to withstand frequent turning and braking of heavy vehicles. Although these upgrades protect long-term durability, they add substantial cost.听

Athletic Fields听

Beyond traffic and parking, school campuses must also leave room for a variety of outdoor elements.听While generic open fields are straightforward to design, regulated sports facilities introduce a different level of complexity.听

If a district expects a field to host official games,听the required dimensions, clearances, and safety offsets increase. Drainage becomes even more critical. Fields cannot slope significantly along the direction of play, yet many sites are hilly or constrained, requiring substantial grading.听

It’s听common for districts to initially express interest in a full-size regulation field, only to discover during layout exercises that space, grading, and budget limitations听necessitate听scaling back.听听

Stormwater听and听Utilities听

In new developments, schools often rely on master-planned stormwater facilities designed by a separate developer. When these facilities are delayed,听the school project becomes tied to someone else鈥檚 schedule, creating friction and听impacting听opening timelines.听

Similarly, roadway improvements, water and sewer connections, and other utility provisions must all align with construction sequencing. Early coordination with municipalities and developers is essential to avoid last-minute conflicts.听

Master Planning听

From an engineering standpoint, the most critical phase of any school project is the master planning听one.听During this phase, we must听identify听access points, understand jurisdictional constraints, define听parking needs,听ensure听space for听fields, and account for stormwater requirements, just to name a few.听Good master planning requires asking the right questions early听that听outline听all of听these needs.听

When these issues are understood upfront, the resulting design is safer, smoother, and more resilient. When they听aren鈥檛, the project听can devolve into a听challenging mix听of redesigns, compromises, and operational听stress.听

Jason D. Carr is President of S. A. Miro Inc.

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With听nearly three听decades of experience in education,听Davison’s background includes college and university conduct and threat assessment, middle/high school administration, and student services leadership. She is the owner of Rocky Mountain Consulting, where she works with schools and districts throughout the United States and the United Kingdom on emergency operations planning, threat assessment, crisis communications, reunification, and prevention-focused school safety initiatives.听

Davison听also serves as Associate Director of the National Center for Prevention of Community Violence (NCPCV), supporting initiatives focused on behavior-based school safety, prevention, school climate, and violence prevention strategies.听

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By Evelyn Long

School hallways often resemble rush-hour highways during class changes. Students bottleneck at stairwells and cluster near popular classrooms while other corridors sit empty. Many administrators interpret this congestion as a behavioral problem. However, the root cause often lies in the building’s design. 听

When architectural planning incorporates strategic wayfinding systems, particularly color-based zoning, schools can guide movement patterns naturally and reduce mayhem without听additional听staff intervention.听

From Chaos to Clarity听With听Architectural Wayfinding听

Wayfinding extends far beyond directional arrows and room听number听plaques. It听represents听a comprehensive design discipline focused on creating intuitive spatial navigation. For best results, it should be integrated from the design phase, but retrofitting color zoning can also work.听听

The most successful wayfinding becomes invisible to users. When people navigate a space without conscious effort or confusion, the system has achieved its purpose. Teachers and administrators can spend less time directing disoriented students, and children can experience less stressful movement around their school. Effective techniques also streamline visitor flow during events like parent conferences and open houses.听

Designing for Flow听With听the Principles of Color-Based Navigation听

Cognitive research confirms color鈥檚 power to act as a navigational tool. Studies听demonstrate听that people in color-coded environments听听when听locating听destinations. Color also听听and strengthens spatial orientation within complex buildings.听

Age-appropriate color selection matters significantly in school design. Young children are more likely to remember primary colors rather than complex hues like turquoise, which blends blue and green. Clear, distinct colors create stronger mental associations for developing minds.听

Designers can also manipulate spatial听perception听through strategic color application. Painting the shorter end walls of a long corridor in warmer tones creates visual balance and听,听making听the space feel less tunnel-like and more proportional. Students are naturally drawn to the warmer spaces rather than lingering in the blander hallway.听

Specific color applications can address different functional zones throughout a school:听

• Play areas:听Warm,听vibrant听and energetic colors create听appropriate atmospheres听for recreation and physical activity.听
• Year or subject zones:听Distinct color schemes delineate different grade levels or academic departments, helping students quickly听identify听their designated spaces.听
• High-traffic areas:听Lighter colors or neutral tones in busy environments like cafeterias reduce visual overwhelm and create calmer atmospheres.听
• Teaching rooms:听Painting the instructor’s听wall听a deeper shade directs attention forward and creates a natural focal point.听
• Corridors:听Color-coding doors and entryways by their specific zones听helps听students听identify听correct destinations. Painting waiting areas outside classrooms in matching zone colors psychologically discourages lingering for students who belong elsewhere while directing them toward听appropriate locations.听

Enhancing Safety and Ensuring Accessibility听

Clear navigational paths directly听impact听student safety by reducing congestion in high-traffic areas and ensuring efficient egress during emergencies.听

Accessibility compliance adds another critical dimension to wayfinding design. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, functional elevators听听educational facilities. Color zoning around elevators helps students quickly听locate听these essential access points.听

Strategic painting choices can prevent congestion near elevators and other high-traffic areas. Using move-on colors or floor patterns that direct movement away from elevator lobbies prevents clustering. These visual cues guide students naturally without verbal instruction or staff intervention.听

Color Zoning in Action 鈥� Two Real-World School Designs听

Two international schools听demonstrate听how color-based wayfinding becomes an听integral part of the architecture听rather than superficial decoration.听

听in Greenland assigns each building a unique color paired with an animal theme drawn from Greenlandic fauna. This dual-coding system creates strong identity markers that young students recognize easily. Red linoleum flooring unifies all听common areas听throughout the campus,听establishing听visual continuity while individual building colors听maintain听distinct identities. The combination allows students to understand both their specific location and their position within the larger campus structure.听

听in Moscow听faced a different challenge when integrating new construction with existing buildings. Designers created a color-coded address system that assigned unique hues to different blocks, effectively unifying听the space听across old and new architecture. This system transformed what could have been a confusing maze into a legible campus where classroom locations become intuitive.听听

Many schools can听identify听where overcrowding occurs and even听understand听why bottlenecks form. However, implementation strategies often听remain听unclear. Some institutions recognize potential solutions, such as听,听but lack methods to encourage behavioral change. Color zoning provides听the听concrete implementation tool that bridges the gap between problem identification and practical听solution.听

Building the Future of Intuitive School Design听

Research-backed color zoning strategies demonstrate that architects and designers can create environments where movement flows naturally without constant supervision. Functional color can shape behavior, support accessibility and improve the daily experience for everyone who navigates the building. When educational facilities incorporate color zoning and wayfinding principles from the initial planning stages, they can create more efficient and welcoming spaces.

Evelyn Long is a commercial interior design writer with specialized听expertise听in accessible, ADA-friendly spaces and designing environments that support mental health and听inclusivity.听

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By Lindsey Coulter

Safety at American schools is a constant talking point but concerns were raised further in 2020. The Government Accountability Office said 54% of schools in America were in 鈥渄ire need of updates or complete building replacements.鈥� A followed, claiming $1.1 trillion is needed to modernize and replace America’s schools.听

Aging buildings and a high number of violent incidents have rightly given parents many structural and physical concerns about future school constructions. There are many boxes that need ticking. Educators, policy makers, architects and security experts are playing a role in building safer environments for students and staff.

What to expect from the future of American schools

1. Construction听

The hazards of poor structural integrity stretch beyond the risk of building collapse. Aging buildings put students at risk of exposure to harmful substances (lead paints, PCBs, dust, etc.), mold spores and poor air quality. COVID-19 added to these structural concerns, as viruses spread faster in poorly ventilated areas. Modern school construction actively addresses these hazards that put students in danger.

Future school builds will include:

• Climate-resistance materials to withstand extreme temperatures
• Smart hallway design to avoid overcrowding and crushing during an emergency
• Storm shelters in large areas such as gyms听
• Predictive maintenance sensors to inspect buildings鈥� structural health
• Buildings designed with a number of evacuation routes.

2. Security systems

America鈥檚 appallingly high rate of violence in schools demands nothing less than state-of-the-art . Security guards need technology to help them detect threats as fast as possible.听

Schools are one of the most difficult environments to protect. They are unique, complex buildings filled with thousands of students. In a loud and crowded atmosphere, it鈥檚 unrealistic for security guards to detect every security threat. World-class security technology buys security officers time and awareness to make decisions faster 鈥� decisions that could save many lives.

Modern school security systems feature:

• Smart security cameras: give guards a real-time assessment of crowded environments. Security guards are alerted to weapons, threatening behavior, large crowds, loud noises and loitering. Smart cameras tag people and objects, giving guards a clear view of the events happening on CCTV screens.
• Smart sensors: Today鈥檚 smart sensors can detect hazards such as toxic fumes, smoking/vaping loud noises and threatening language.
• Integrated systems: A security response is scuppered if officers need to jump between systems when a threat is detected. Cutting-edge technology products are built to integrate. This is required to keep a real-time view of incidents without losing time switching between security systems.听
• Cybersecurity: New schools focus on cybersecurity well before they鈥檙e open to students. As entry points, doors and evacuations are part of the Internet of Things (IoT), many steps are taken to prevent cyber attacks.

3. Adaptive environments

Future school construction is taking a proactive approach to account for multiple environmental and physical security threats. From dangerous weather conditions to violent intruders, environments must be built to handle the worst-case scenarios:

• Solar power backups are used to counter any outages caused by extreme weather conditions
• Smart floor maps are activated during emergencies, directing students and staff to safe zones depending on the type of security threat听
• to manage the threat of violent intruders. Bullet-resistant windows are being installed that double as emergency exits. Whiteboards that double as safe rooms are also installed, giving students a safe place to hide until the security threat is intercepted.

Conclusion

Parents across America are understandably worried about the state of our schools. Security concerns are consistently high in America, but they have been amplified in recent years. An alarming Government report in 2020 stated that 54% of schools were in urgent need of reconstruction. Students and staff are at risk of numerous hazards when buildings deteriorate. Future buildings must address several structural, environmental and physical security concerns to build schools that give students a safe place to learn.听

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TRENTON, N.J.听鈥斕齆ew Jersey Gov.听Mikie Sherrill delivered her inaugural budget address听earlier this month, outlining her听administration鈥檚 plan to听protect children鈥檚 futures听through a听$12.4 billion听investment in K-12 schools for FY 2027.

鈥淢y budget is focused on ensuring kids in New Jersey have access to the best education and brightest possible future,鈥� said Sherrill. 鈥淭he budget includes a record level of K-12 school funding, while acknowledging that much more work is needed to make sure students and taxpayers get the best return on our investment. It lays the foundation for future improvements 鈥� like stronger academic and mental health outcomes, shared services, and more efficient spending 鈥� to better support children from birth through graduation and strengthen schools statewide.鈥�

The $60.7 billion budget includes a proposed surplus of $5.4 billion, while redirecting over 74 percent of the total budget back into New Jersey communities in the form of grants-in-aid for property tax relief, social services, and higher education, as well as state aid to schools, municipalities, and counties.

Among plans to increase affordability and increase government accountability, the budget prioritizes investing in education. Sherrill proposes a record breaking $12.4 billion for K-12 schools in FY 2027, the largest amount in state history and a $370 million increase over last year鈥檚 funding. The budget also includes a record $1.4 billion for Preschool Education Aid. Sherrill added that she looks forward to working with the Legislature to modernize and stabilize the school funding formula.听听听

In preparation for New Jersey’s first cell phone-free school year this fall, the proposal includes $125,000 for the new Office of Youth Online Mental Health Safety and Awareness in the Department of Health. The office will research and make recommendations to guide responsible use of social media platforms among youth. The budget also includes $500,000 for a new Social Media Research Center at one of New Jersey鈥檚 higher education institutions.听听

An allocation of $15 million for high-impact tutoring 鈥� double the amount of FY 2026 m鈥� would help nearly 100 more districts and 13,500 more students, with the goal to accelerate learning and address academic achievement gaps spurred by the pandemic. The budget would also provide 21,000 schoolchildren with free meals through the Working-Class Families Anti-Hunger Act.听

The announcement reflects a continuation of policy choices aligned with Sherrill鈥檚 goals to modernize and stabilize the School Funding Reform Act, which provide the blueprint for New Jersey鈥檚 state aid formula. The budget limits reductions in state aid to no more than 3 percent, which will prevent the loss of an additional $188.4 million for school districts. Without a limit to cuts, some districts have faced losses of up to 60 percent of their state aid in recent years. These limits on reductions are offset by a 6 percent limit on state aid increases, ensuring overall stability while recognizing the need for annual adjustments.

The New Jersey Department of Education will use a three-year average when determining local fair share, which is the amount of funding a local school district is expected to contribute toward its own budget based on its property wealth and income. Using a multi-year average minimizes year-to-year fluctuations.

To ensure state aid reflects the real needs of districts, the NJDOE will use actual special education enrollment numbers to determine funding levels, instead of the approach used in years past of relying on a statewide average for all districts. State aid allocations are available on .

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By Jonathan Steel

From ChatGPT to Gemini and everything in between, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by the dizzying array of possibilities introduced by large language models (LLMs). Bombarded by clickbait that polarizes, oversimplifies, and misrepresents complex issues, forming an informed perspective can start to feel like more effort than it鈥檚 worth.

Arcadis helps clients navigate this landscape so they can benefit from these powerful tools in focused, practical ways tailored to their specific needs. This work is anchored within the firm’s computational design team. Capabilities in this area long predate the public launch of the first LLMs. Rather than starting from scratch, the team has expanded an existing toolkit for processing large volumes of data by integrating LLM capabilities that accelerate sorting, categorization, and pattern recognition.

Understanding Computational Design听

So what is computational design, and why does it matter today? Put simply, it is a process for developing and evaluating high-performing options against a set of predetermined criteria using a combination of tools and technologies.

A simple way to think about it is baking a loaf of bread with no prior experience. Variables to experiment with might include oven temperature, bake time, the amount of yeast or how long the dough is kneaded. A computational design process models many combinations of these variables using available data to identify the settings most likely to produce a desired outcome. For example, a loaf with a soft interior and crusty exterior requires a different mix of variables than one intended to be evenly dense throughout. Computational design allows these trade-offs to be explored systematically, making it easier to understand how different inputs shape the final result.

Computational design truly comes into its own when datasets grow massive and the number of variables becomes so large that testing options through trial and error is far beyond what the human brain can manage within a reasonable timeframe. Unlike baking bread, these challenges cannot be solved through simple experimentation.

Consider the placement of stations along a proposed light rail line in a city. Decision-making must account for factors such as land availability, parcel costs, walking distances to nearby homes, access to services, and more. A computational design process can rapidly generate hundreds of thousands of possible scenarios and evaluate them against defined criteria in minutes, surfacing the options that best align with the chosen priorities and weightings.听

Using Computational Design for Portland Public Schools

A clear example of how these capabilities have been applied to increase the value delivered to clients is the recently completed Portland Public Schools Security Camera Upgrades project. As part of the initial approach, a computational design process was used to optimize both the layout and selection of cameras across upgrades to 86 campuses districtwide. As demonstrated throughout this work, computational design excels at addressing complex, interrelated, multivariable challenges.

The challenge was clear from the outset: how to develop a process that could generate optimal camera placement designs across each campus while meeting two core objectives:

1. Maximize coverage of the perimeter wall of any building.
2. Maximize coverage of the parking lots on each site.

Three types of security cameras were considered for this application, each with its own focal range, field of view, and performance characteristics: wide-angle, varifocal, and multisensor. By modeling these camera types, applying them to accurately developed site drawings, and accounting for visual obstructions that affect coverage of building perimeters and parking areas, the team was able to use an evolutionary model to iteratively solve for optimal layouts. This approach delivered a solution that met the project schedule while coming in 40% under budget.

The $19 million project spanned 86 campuses and focused on achieving near-complete building perimeter camera coverage. Rather than applying a standard template, the team used parametric tools alongside practitioner insight to account for variations in building footprints, existing coverage, site conditions, and incident hotspots across the district. As districts continue to prioritize safety in capital planning, this work offers a grounded view of how large systems are approaching security upgrades in practice.

The Future of Computational Design in Academic Environments听

Many everyday challenges are complex, interrelated, multivariable problems that are often solved in ways that are good enough rather than truly optimal. In most cases, this approach works. However, for businesses and public entities responsible for allocating significant resources to achieve specific outcomes, optimization becomes critically important.

Questions quickly emerge: What are the optimal routes and bus sizes to transport students across a school district? How can scheduling of classes at high school level best be distributed to balance minimizing travel distances between periods, maximizing credit availability, and minimizing teacher workload?听 How can food programs optimally meet student nutrition needs while minimizing food costs and preparation times, while maximizing appeal?听

These are just a few examples of challenges where computational design can drive meaningful impact and support better outcomes. The question is simple: what complex, interrelated, multivariable problems are being tackled today that could benefit from the application of computational design? The opportunities are endless.听

Jonathan Steel is a Principal and Business Unit Director, RIBA, ARB, for Arcadis.

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By Allison McKenzie and Todd Thackery

Over the last two decades, the A/E/C industry has seen safety and security become critical design priorities for K鈥�12 school buildings. With this shift, architects and designers are faced with a pressing challenge: Creating educational environments that are safe, secure and functional, without turning campuses into bleak and intimidating fortresses.

While physical design strategies for emergency prevention鈥攖hink open sightlines, layered perimeter security, and reinforced doors and windows鈥攁re essential components of school safety, these measures alone are not enough. As architects, we must also consider how thoughtful design choices can protect inhabitants from active threats and facilitate effective communication in the event of a serious emergency or security breach, while simultaneously supporting the wellbeing of students and staff.

Thoughtful Design Ensures Emergency Preparedness

The best way to prepare your school against threats? Prevent them from getting into the building in the first place with comprehensive access control. The new standard in U.S. schools is a single, secure point of entry for the public, with all other exterior doors remaining locked from the outside. A secure vestibule with intercoms or camera systems at that main entrance should funnel visitors into the main office for vetting before they can enter the building proper. Front offices can be strategically located at this entrance with windows overlooking approaching paths, parking, and drop-off zones, giving administrators direct line of sight to observe anyone coming onto campus. If a bad actor manages to enter this area, electronic locks on these doors can be engaged remotely to prevent further intrusion.

Preventing an intruder鈥檚 entry to a school will always be a top design priority鈥攂ut if a threat gains access to the building, it鈥檚 important to understand how internal design can passively deter or slow down that threat. Administrative offices and community spaces (like libraries or cafeterias) are often placed near the entrance, while classroom wings are set deeper inside or on higher floors. This zoning creates a buffer between the entrance and student learning areas; it also allows schools to welcome community use of certain areas after hours without exposing the entire school to potential intruders.

Separating students from threat

Compartmentalization is another key tactic that can save lives in an emergency. Hallways and building sections can be separated by fire doors or security doors that close during lockdowns to compartmentalize the building and contain a threat. This type of compartmentalization has the added benefit of creating smaller 鈥渘eighborhoods鈥� within a large school, which can make large buildings feel smaller and more comfortable for young students. New designs often incorporate multiple exits from each learning neighborhood, enabling students to escape the building without backtracking toward a danger point, if necessary.

Doors

To protect students if an intruder does attack, new schools are using target-hardening elements in a discreet way. Classroom doors are one such focus; modern designs require classroom doors that lock from the inside (often via thumb-turn or remote mechanism) so teachers can secure rooms quickly without stepping into the hall. Many districts have retrofitted older doors with magnetic or electronic locks for quick lockdown capability. These strategies must be carefully balanced, though, with the need for students to be able to quickly and easily exit the building in other emergency situations, such as fires.

Solid-core or bullet-resistant doors and frames are also becoming increasingly common for classrooms and offices, coupled with ballistic film or laminated glass on windows to slow down forced entry. In addition, design best practices now recommend that each classroom have a 鈥渟hadow zone,鈥� or safe corner out of the line of sight of door windows to increase protection when students are required to shelter in place.

Training

Beyond the necessary physical safeguards, comprehensive training is an equally critical element of emergency preparedness. All staff should be included in active shooter training, which should be as realistic as possible; local first responders will ideally work with school staff members in active shooter role-playing that will allow them to create a mental database of appropriate actions in a crisis. Additionally, multiple staff members should know where to locate and how to use emergency medical bags in the event of serious injuries.

Maintaining a welcoming learning environment

Importantly, all of these strategies must be balanced with design decisions that make the building feel safe and welcoming. After all, a school can have secure doors and sightlines without losing the warmth, joy and creativity that define a learning space. Elements such as soft and natural materials (e.g., wood, warm fabrics), natural lighting and calming colors can all create a more comfortable, less institutional atmosphere. Spaces like small nooks, extended learning areas or even areas of diverse seating options within a larger space provide students with choice in how and where to engage with the building and others, giving them an important sense of autonomy. Meanwhile, visible and easily accessible support services (counseling and wellness centers) can encourage students to seek help early and address conflicts or mental health issues before they escalate to safety threats.

Read more about the value of clear and efficient communication in the event of a quickly evolving emergency, advanced security systems and more in the .

Allison McKenzie is vice president and director of Environmental Responsibility for SHP. Todd Thackery is senior vice president of SHP.

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