VLK Architects Principal Named to School Safety Group

VLK Architects recently announced that Principal Lauren Brown was recently named a 2023 Co-Chair for the Texas Society of Architects School Safety Work Group, according to a news release. The committee was founded after the 2018 shooting at Santa Fe High School as a means to address issues that state leaders put forward as means to prevent further incidents of violence in schools.

“Emotional and physical safety is a basic human right that can be fortified by the actions and abilities of those who can inspire change and implement proactive measures to protect the most vulnerable,” said Brown. “Engaging in conversations with like-minded peers in the School Safety Work Group is an opportunity to be that instrument of change in this ever-changing environment. As co-chair, I look forward to the opportunity to continue to build upon school safety resources and share perspectives from a bevy of school district clients and first responders, as well as best practices.”

The Texas Society of Architects School Safety Work Group engages in activities like researching school violence and potential solutions like state laws and regulations, and also engages in conversations with state officials.

“Lauren’s dedication to responsible environmental design for public education leaves no stone unturned as it pertains to the safety of all students and teachers,” said Sloan Harris, CEO and Partner of VLK Architects. “Her passion for safe and secure schools and experience in school design brings great contribution to this council.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Academy of Classical Education Breaks Ground in Louisiana

    Charter Schools USA (CSUSA) recently announced the groundbreaking of a new public charter school in Covington, La., according to a news release. The Academy of Classical Education at Covington will enroll students in grades K–8 and is scheduled for completion in August 2026, just in time for the new school year.

  • From Approval to Opening: Inside Travis Unified School District’s Fast Tracked Campus Expansion

    The Travis Unified School District (TUSD) in northern California includes several elementary and high schools serving over 5,400 students. In 2024, the TUSD Board approved the addition of sixth grade to the Golden West Middle School campus for the 2025–26 school year, setting in motion an accelerated effort to bring new facilities online in less than a year.

  • University of Pennsylvania Releases Design of Future Physical Sciences Building

    The University of Pennsylvania (Penn) in Philadelphia, Penn., recently released renderings of an upcoming 350,000-square-foot Physical Sciences Building, according to news release. The facility was designed by CO Architects and will unite the university’s departments of Physics and Astronomy, Mathematics, and Earth and Environmental Science.

  • A digital silhouette works at a computer, immersed in a glowing, interconnected world

    How Will AI Transform Learning Space Design?

    For years, higher education has designed learning spaces around technology as a tool for display, capture, collaboration, and connectivity. AI changes that equation.