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

  • Wyoming District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

    Laramie County School District #1 in Cheyenne, Wy., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the upcoming Mountain View Elementary School, according to a news release. The facility has an estimated completion date of summer 2028, and it will have the capacity for 650 students in fifth and sixth grade.

  • Barbara Vick Western Branch

    Barbara Vick Western Branch

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. The Barbara Vick Western Branch has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Grand Prize award in the category of Renovation.

  • Nashville Elementary School Receives LEED Gold Certification

    Goodlettsville Elementary School, part of Metro Nashville Public Schools in Nashville, Tenn., recently achieved LEED Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), according to a news release. The 81,750-square-foot school opened in 2023 and was designed by Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC).

  • Opportunity by Design Framework

    Opportunity by Design

    Educational improvement efforts often focus on curriculum, instruction, assessment, professional development, and intervention systems while treating the physical school building as background. But school design is not a passive backdrop to learning — it is a structural lever for equity.