Increase Campus Safety and Security

It’s game day and the campus is bustling with excitement. Students are hurrying to class, bicyclists are speeding down the pathway and a large group of marching-band members are heading towards the stadium.

This all-too-familiar scene illustrates a huge threat to campus safety and security; how can a campus safely integrate pedestrians, bicycles, wheelchairs and vehicles? Events in the past five years show that there are numerous records of crashes involving distracted drivers, vehicle intrusions into bike lanes and pedestrians struck, injured or killed by impaired drivers. More worrisome are the many cases involving the deliberate use of a vehicle to damage property or harm students and faculty.

There are many methods and products that can be effective in preventing vehicles from entering into protected areas on campus. One of the most common and effective solutions is the use of bollards. While barriers, gates and landscape features can also be used for protective measures, they often interfere with the flow of pedestrian traffic and can be difficult to navigate around, especially for bicyclists and handicapped individuals. Bollards however, are easily navigated around and do not hinder the movement of pedestrians, bicyclists or wheelchairs.

Bollards are offered in a wide range of styles, dimensions and colors. Furthermore, they can be installed with a variety of features. Lighted bollards illuminate pedestrian areas and help distinguish walkways from roads and vehicle areas. Retractable and removable bollards allow for emergency vehicle access. Fixed bollards provide a quick and cost-effective solution for protecting pedestrian areas.

Installing bollards throughout your campus not only creates a safe and secure environment for students and faculty, but also protects vulnerable buildings and equipment from potentially devastating damage.

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

About the Author

Carlos Gonzalez is bollards product manager for Calpipe Security Bollards (www.calpipebollards.com). He can be reached at 877/283-8518.

Featured

  • textured paper collage shows a school building on fire as a fire truck sprays water into the flames

    Why a Fire Loss Is More than Flames

    We've all seen what fire damage can do to a property, but the types of damage building owners often encounter after a fire loss can exceed expectations. Having full awareness of the different forms of damage properties can sustain helps owners respond faster, reduce continued damage, and get back on the road to recovery in short order.

  • classroom with crystal ball on top of a desk

    Call for Opinions: Spaces4Learning 2026 Predictions for Educational Facilities

    As 2025 winds to a close, the Spaces4Learning staff is asking its readers—school administrators, architects, engineers, facilities managers, builders, superintendents, designers, vendors, and more—to send us their predictions for educational facilities in 2026.

  • El Paso District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

    The Canutillo Independent School District in El Paso, Texas, recently announced that construction has begun on a 119,000-square-foot elementary school, according to a news release. The district partnered with Pfluger Architects, Carl Daniel Architects, and LDCM Solutions on the new Davenport Elementary School, which has an expected completion date of 2027.

  • UNT Dallas Holds Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for $100M STEM Building

    The University of North Texas at Dallas in Dallas, Texas, recently celebrated the opening of its new, $100-million STEM Building, according to local news. The ceremony on Dec. 2 preceded the first day of classes in the facility on Jan. 12, 2026.

Digital Edition