Architecture Firm Studies K-12 School Security, Publishes Report

Greenville, S.C. –  For years, American citizens with a deep and abiding concern for the future of education in our country have been on high alert in the wake of constant threats to school safety. Out of this sense of concern, the K-12 Studio of community-based architecture firm McMillan Pazdan Smith has published a white paper detailing the role of Environmental Design in creating safer campuses.

The paper began as an examination of how comprehensive, integrated, and systematic solutions can address the multi-faceted set of problems that continue to lead to violent attacks on innocent people. Focusing on the promise of environmental design, the team applied conceptual layers of security systems and overarching strategic measures to arrive at conclusions. Ultimately, the paper’s purpose is to identify a clear path forward for architects and school districts to work together in achieving a greater culture of safety on campus.

“As community-based architects, this problem demands our attention,” says the paper’s author, Susan Baker, AIA, Senior Project Architect. “We see very clearly our obligation to face this question squarely and thoughtfully while proposing an integrated approach to its solution. This is not an issue we can put off to another generation of architects, but rather a statement of what we value today as a society, and how we will protect the most vulnerable among us — our children.”

To download a copy of the whitepaper, visit the firm’s website: www.mcmillanpazdansmith.com/about/expertise/k12-campus-security.

About McMillan Pazdan Smith

McMillan Pazdan Smith was recognized nationally as #6 on the Zweig Group’s 2018 “Hot Firms” list and #12 in the Architecture category of Zweig Group’s 2018 “Best Firms to Work For” list. In 2016, the firm won The McConnell Award, the Association for Learning Environment’s highest international award, for their educational planning and design work on one of South Carolina’s leading-edge STEAM middle schools.

Featured

  • Construction Begins on 100+ Acre K–12 Campus Designed for Lakota Culture

    The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe (CRST) and the Cheyenne-Eagle Butte School District in Eagle Butte, S.D., recently broke ground on a new K–12 campus that will cover more than 100 acres and serve students and families across 1,600 square miles, according to a news release.

  • University of Washington Opens New Broadcast Studio

    The University of Washington in Seattle, Wash., recently announced the opening of Sundodger Studios, a new broadcast, production, and content facility, according to a news release. The university partnered with Anthony James Partners for the design and development of the studio, which will host about 100 live broadcasts and 120 live videoboard shows per year.

  • Haws Corporation Marks 120th Anniversary

    Haws Corporation, which provides hydration and emergency safety solutions worldwide, recently announced that the company is celebrating its 120th anniversary this year, according to a news release.

  • Sam Houston State University Completes Athletic Stadium Renovations

    Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, recently announced the reopening of Elliott T. Bowers Stadium after an extensive renovation project, according to a news release. The university partnered with Stantec and DLR Group for the project’s design.