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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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By Mary Ruppenthal听听

Creating safe environments is the top priority when it comes to designing schools. From an architectural standpoint, addressing both physical and psychological factors when it comes to safety is vital. After all, security isn鈥檛 simply a matter of creating a safe and secure campus perimeter and single point of public entry. It鈥檚 about fostering community and placemaking, empowering ownership and promoting positive interactions鈥攁ll of which serve as a foundation for student and staff safety. Effective school design practices nurture belonging, flex to adapt to evolving learning styles and, of course, establish physical security.听

Belong: Safeguarding Openness and Inclusivity

Building community starts with framing schools as student-centered spaces. By minimizing secluded and isolated areas and maximizing passively supervisable open spaces for a variety of large and small group gatherings, designers can craft places that enhance positive connections while reducing stress and anxiety. Conversely, dark corners and unsupervised spaces tend to increase the potential for bullying and disruptive behavior. Clear sightlines matter, so that teachers, staff, and students can observe or engage across adjacent spaces.听

While students need to be seen in the literal sense, they also need to feel seen. Students are less likely to slip through the cracks when their learning environment delivers options for a variety of learning styles, including smaller gathering and break-out sessions, contemplative spaces and room to gather on a larger scale. Therefore, weaving collaborative spaces of different sizes throughout the environment is key to nurturing a sense of connection.听听

Architects are also finding ways to shift teacher-student interactions from purely occurring in the classroom to more organic encounters throughout the campus. For example, by building administrative offices at the back of the student union, teachers and students naturally and informally interact as teachers pass through the communal space.听

On larger campuses, the idea of creating a school within a school is gaining traction. Designing educational environments to accommodate cohorts of 250 students or less can help nurture a sense of belonging. If students feel engaged and welcome in part, through a campus鈥� layout that鈥檚 an important step toward building pride of place. Technical elements, like comfortable seating and warm colors, help create an inviting atmosphere. Leaning into flexible spaces is also an excellent path to supporting a strong, inclusive culture.听听听听听听

Adapt: Enhancing Flexibility for Maximizing Learning and Community听

Accommodating different learning styles requires flexibility in terms of classroom and campus configurations. For example, kinesthetic learning requires ample space for movement and collaboration, ideally with plentiful wall and even interior window space for whiteboarding and wallboarding. Without losing connection to the main classroom, break-off spaces for varying levels of small-group lessons or contemplative study require passive supervision.听听听

The average 960-square-foot classroom can flex in a variety of ways to meet students where they are. For example, operable partitions can help reconfigure a classroom, creating smaller spaces or opening to a larger collaborative environment. Beyond the classroom itself, glass walls and windows to common areas allow visible connections to adjoining learning and gathering spaces. In the case of indoor-outdoor layouts, a glass garage door connection could provide a supervisory link to an exterior space where louder, messier or larger projects can take place.听

At the high school level, creating a multi-use, dynamic space rather than a siloed building not only enhances efficiency, but also checks all the boxes of a safe environment: passive supervision, pride of place and interconnectedness. For example, HED鈥檚 Yerba Buena High School鈥檚 new performing and fine arts classroom and theater building completely re-envisions and revives the visual and performing arts community on the campus. The design of multipurpose classrooms and stage space (divided by an operable partition as needed), replaces what was once a stagnant and rarely used theater at the end of its useful life and will, when complete, be dynamically full of student life with space to gather throughout the day, visual and performing art classes and display, performances, and community events.听听

Mary Ruppenthal is an architect and Education Market Sector leader at 听

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As resilient design takes center stage, the demand for life-safety structures is reshaping how public buildings are planned, especially in regions vulnerable to high-wind events. Architects and engineers are increasingly tasked with integrating safe spaces into everyday environments, balancing code requirements, funding opportunities and functional design. The issue hasn鈥檛 gone unnoticed by the K-12 educational community. Across the U.S., more K-12 schools are incorporating storm shelters into their designs. Wells alone has built more than 50 storm shelters throughout the Midwest in the last four years. In addition to meeting 2018 IBC building code requirements, schools are also addressing concerns of student and staff safety, with the growing frequency and severity of extreme weather events like tornadoes and hurricanes.听

The Growing Threat of Tornadoes and Hurricanes

Each year, hundreds of tornadoes and severe storms impact the central and southeastern regions of the country, threatening communities and the infrastructure that supports them. Schools play an important role in supporting the community; many are particularly vulnerable, operating in older buildings without adequate protection.听

Quick Facts:听

• The U.S. experiences more than 1,200 tornadoes each year, which is more than any other country in the world, according to the US National Science Foundation.听

• There is a significant upward trend in tornado frequency in portions of the Southeast, Midwest, and Northeast portions of the U.S. since 1979, according to NPJ Climate and Atmospheric Science听

• Hurricanes are becoming stronger and more destructive, with the most damaging U.S. hurricanes being three times more frequent than 100 years ago, according to the Environmental Defense Fund听

These realities are prompting a shift: More districts are investing in storm shelter spaces that can protect students, staff and the community when disaster strikes.听

What鈥檚 Driving the Trend Towards Storm Shelters?

The increase in storm shelter construction in K-12 schools isn鈥檛 coincidental. It鈥檚 the result of evolving building codes, expanded funding opportunities, growing climate concerns, and a stronger commitment to occupant safety from both public and private stakeholders.听

Updated Building Codes: With the advent of the 2018 IBC Code Requirements for ICC 500 Storm Shelters, all Group E occupancies in designated risk areas with an occupant load of 50 or more are expected to have an extreme-wind storm shelter that can withstand winds speeds of 250 mph.听听

Federal and State Funding Initiatives: At the same time, funding mechanisms have expanded to support resilient infrastructure. Programs like FEMA鈥檚 Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM), and the newer Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) initiative offer critical financial support for school districts looking to offset the cost of storm shelter construction. These grants have made it possible for many communities鈥攅specially in rural or lower-income districts鈥攖o implement safety measures that may otherwise have been financially out of reach.听

Climate Awareness and Risk Assessment: The increasing frequency, intensity, and unpredictability of severe weather events has raised public and professional awareness. Tornadoes in non-traditional areas, shifting hurricane paths, and longer storm seasons are pushing school districts and other public support entities (like ) to rethink how buildings are designed and used in emergencies. What was once considered an isolated risk has now become part of long-term planning for educational and civic infrastructure.听

Community Dual-Use Planning: More jurisdictions are creating storm shelters as multi-functional community assets. These spaces鈥攐ften gymnasiums, cafeterias or auditoriums鈥攁re designed to serve both day-to-day educational needs and emergency preparedness functions. When designed properly, they meet life-safety standards without compromising programmatic space or aesthetics.听

Prefabricated Concrete Storm Shelters

There鈥檚 a clear rise in the number of K-12 projects requesting storm shelters across the central and southeastern U.S., and for many school districts, prefabricated concrete has become the most practical solution for creating a building that lasts.听听

Even before the 2018 IBC code implementation, prefabricated components were a material of choice for school systems in more northerly climates. In Minnesota, for example, precast has been a popular building material in educational settings for nearly 30 years. Voter referendums are typically passed in November, giving contractors a short 19-month window to complete the project, sometimes less. Precast enables them to work through the winter season, since manufacturing occurs indoors, and installation can take place in any weather. The same can鈥檛 be said for cast-in-place, brick, and block construction, as wrapping and heating the worksite, often necessary in colder climates, is cost-prohibitive.听听

In part due to the ICC code, precast is now making significant inroads into other regions that have historically relied on other building materials. Schools such as Roosevelt High School in Hays, Kan.; Maple River K-12 in Mapleton, Minn.; Life School in Carrollton, Texas; and Valley Southwoods Freshman High School in West Des Moines, Iowa, all chose a total precast solution for their storm shelters in a departure from more traditional materials.听听

What did they get in return? In short, a stronger and more durable, sustainable concrete roof and wall system that offers wind and fire resistance, superior thermal performance, design flexibility and greater control over the schedule.听听听

Standard prefabricated concrete safe rooms can easily and economically be designed to exceed the 250-mph windspeed requirement. The standard panel already comes close to the ICC storm shelter code, as they鈥檙e typically designed to a 7,000-psi standard, which can exceed 10,000 psi after curing. To comply with the ICC code, Wells increases the size of our insulated panels from 12 inches thick to 14 inches thick鈥攁ll prestressed with vertical strands to compress the panel. NOTE: Variations in the design might be necessary when windows are present, as the glass transfers additional wind load into the precast. Along with prefabricated wall panels, Wells can manufacture Double Tee roof panels with up to 100-foot spans for a high school gymnasium.听听

Usually, the gymnasium is designated as a school鈥檚 storm shelter. While it may seem counterintuitive to design such a large space to storm shelter requirements, the reasons are grounded in the ICC code itself. Beyond the obvious fact that gymnasiums can hold more people and are easily identifiable, a storm shelter must be capable of taking the collapsed load of any taller structure nearby. Smaller spaces can be more difficult to design to the ICC standard, making them less feasible.听听

As weather events become more frequent and severe, school districts are responding by investing in resilient infrastructure. The rise of storm shelters鈥攑articularly those built with prefabricated concrete鈥攊s a trend rooted in safety, durability and smart design. Ultimately, they鈥檙e successfully achieving the dual goals of protecting students and responsibly managing public funds.听

Learn More About Wells

Visit the to learn more about the company’s education expertise and to see featured K-12 projects including:

Gary Pooley is a regional sales manager for Wells and has been in the precast industry for nearly four decades. With a wealth of experience, including thousands of projects, he brings a unique and valuable perspective to the industry with inventive solutions for finish designs. Pooley is actively engaged in various construction organizations, currently serving as a board member of Minnesota Prestress Association.听

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The post Why Storm Shelters Are Becoming Essential in K-12 School Design听 appeared first on 糖心少女.