The Architecture of School Safety

Scott Vrooman, AIAscott@tri-arch.com

Scott Vrooman, AIAscott@tri-arch.com

Allison Broylesabroyles@tri-arch.comAllison Broylesabroyles@tri-arch.com

Our Background• Scott is a licensed architect in

Oklahoma, Texas, and Colorado and has designed dozens of K-12 schools

• Allison has a background in communications, public relations, grant assistance, and marketing

Secure EntrancesTornado Safe Rooms

What’s This Talk About?

• CPTED--Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design

• Physical Design--Passive access control and surveillance while creating perceptions to would-be offenders

• Technological Design--Hardware-intensive or mechanical means for control or surveillance

• Operational Design--rely on a combination of human resources. Develop procedures for daily and emergency situations.

• Security=Access Control + Surveillance + Response

Secure Entrances

Security Opportunities

To enhance access control by Ph Te Op

Securing the site perimeter Using barriers to prevent passage of vehicles Minimizing entrances into the building Securing vulnerable openings (e.g. doors, first floor windows)

Installing electronic acess systems (e.g. parking, elevators, mag-locks)

Securing critical functions (e.g. IT, mechanical rooms)

To enhance surveillance by

Placing windows and doors to allow for good visibiliy

Avoiding spaces the permit concealment Defining public versus private interior zones Avoiding blocking lines of sight with fencing and landscaping

Locating public areas (e.g. restrooms) where they can be observed

Designing lighting to reinforce natural surveillance Installing intrusion devices and video systems Using screening and tracking systems

Number of incidents involving firearm or explosive possession in

one year in U.S. K-12 schools (6% of all schools)

7,478

Number of incidents involving a knife or sharp object in one year in U.S. K-

12 schools(16% of all schools)

30,193

• Westside Middle School--Jonesboro, AR • Columbine High School--Columbine, CO• Sandy Hook Elementary--Newtown, CT

Case Studies

•250 students. 6th and 7th grade. •2 shooters, 11 and 13 years old•Skipped school, one went in to set off fire

alarm, waited in a field 100 yards away from a known fire escape area

•4 students and 1 teacher were killed, 9 students and 1 teacher were injured.

•Doors locked behind the students and teachers during fire escape making it impossible for them to re-enter the building

•Entire shooting lasted 15 seconds.

Westside Middle School

March 28, 1998

Westside Middle School

March 28, 1998

Shooter Location

Victim Location

• 2000 students. 10th-12th grade. • 2 shooters, both seniors• Original plan was to plant bomb in cafeteria, wait

outside to shoot students as they exited the building

• Bomb didn’t go off so they went inside concealing guns in long trench coats

• Walked hallways shooting all they encountered, never entering or trying to enter locked classrooms

• Walked into Library and found 60 people and shot at them over the next 7 1/2 minutes. When police closed in they committed suicide.

• 12 students and 1 teacher were killed• Shooting spree lasted 46 minutes, in part due to

the confusion of law enforcement about where the shooters were

Columbine High SchoolApril 20, 1999

Columbine High SchoolApril 20, 1999

• 450 students. K-4th grade. • 1 shooter, 20 years old• School had recently implemented security protocols

including video monitoring, individual admittance of visitors after 9:30am, and secure entrances

• Shooter arrived at 9:35am and shot the glass on the doors to gain access

• Administrative staff were in a meeting while morning announcements were starting when they heard the shots. Three walked out to administration area and were killed instantly.

• Shooter walked into two 1st grade classrooms, both of which knew they were in danger prior to him entering yet did not lock the door. 20 of the fatalities came from these 2 rooms.

• Shooter bypassed a room that was locked with black construction paper over the window on the door and it is believed he thought the classroom was empty

• 20 students and 6 faculty & staff were killed• Shooting spree lasted 5 minutes, shooter committed

suicide when he saw police closing in

Sandy Hook Elementary

December 14, 2012

Sandy Hook Elementary

December 14, 2012

• No one believed or imagined what was happening at the time

• Operational errors were made in each instance• People ignored warning signs in each case• Westside Elementary--Shooters were seen walking

toward the school heavily armed without being called in

• Columbine--bomb container in center of cafeteria for 15 minutes before shooters re-entered.

• Sandy Hook--Confrontation between shooter & staff the day before (allegedly)

• Training and response of law enforcement has increased dramatically with time

Lessons Learned

• 4 Schools on 3 campuses• 2500 students in Pre-K through 12th grade• No secure entrances. High school and

Intermediate school enter directly into cafeteria• $1 Million to renovate all four schools to ensure

secure entrances

SolutionsSkiatook Public

Schools

Skiatook Public Schools

Elementary School

Skiatook Public Schools

Intermediate School

Skiatook Public Schools

Middle School

Skiatook Public Schools

High School

Resources

• Building Security Through Design, American Institute of Architects, 2001

• FEMA 428, Primer to Design Safe School Projects, 2012

• The Appropriate & Effective Us of Security Technologies in U.S. Schools, National Institute of Justice, 1999

Safe Rooms

•Fortified Walls & Ceiling

•10” thick or more

•Can Withstand EF5 Tornados

•Withstands winds of 250 mph

•Usually doubles as gymnasium or multipurpose room

Safe RoomsCast-in-place and Precast

Concrete

Safe RoomsConcrete Domes

•Withstands winds above 200 mph

•Typically less expensive to build

•Claim to be more energy efficient

•Less efficient functional space due to curved walls

•Controversial among structural engineers

Safe RoomsConcrete Domes

Safe Rooms

Paying for Your Safe Room

Typical Costs

Paying for Your Safe Room

Typical Costs

Paying for Your Safe Room

Typical Costs

Tornado Geography

Tornado Geography

Safe Rooms

•Apply to Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management

•Submit a notice of intent•Receive letter with e-grant login from

state hazard mitigation officer•Submit detailed application through e-

grant with help of architect and contractor (200+ pages)

•Review OEM revisions & questions•OEM submits to FEMA•Review FEMA revisions & questions•Wait for approval•Entire process takes 18-24 months

Paying for Your Safe Room

FEMA Grant

•Non-profit: Shelter Oklahoma Schools

•Capital Bonds•State Government not getting involved in legislation (Mary Fallin quoted on June 5th)

Non-FEMA Solutions

•Bond climate is prime for passing school security and safety funding.

Paying for Your Safe Room

Passing a Bond

•This slideshow and other valuable information on K-12 design, safety measures and getting bonds passed will be available on:

•Slideshare (SlideShare.net/TriArch)

•Facebook (Facebook.com/TriArchArchitecture)

•Twitter (@TriArchOK)

•E-Newsletter

To sign up for our e-newsletter, sign up on Facebook or email us: abroyles@tri-arch.com

scott@tri-arch.com

More Information

Melissa MooreOklahoma Department of Emergency Managementmelissa.moore@oem.ok.gov405-521-0383

Dr. Angie BesendorferAssistant SuperintendentJoplin Schoolsangiebesendorfer@joplinschools.org417-625-5200 ext 2006

FEMA P-361http://www.fema.gov/safe-room-resources/fema-p-361-design-and-construction-guidance-community-safe-rooms

More Information