Drawing the Line: How Architects Can Improve School Safety & Security

1. Drawing the Line: How Architects Can Improve School Safety & Security Allen Lawrence, RCDD/NTS CEFPI Southern Region Conference April 16, 2011

2. Agenda • Why are we here today • Communicating with the architect • Architects and Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) • Closing Thoughts

3. Why are we here today?

4. Why are we here today? • Because none of us are perfect • Increase our awareness of the relationship between building design & safety/security • Improve our collaboration between the owner, the architect (and law enforcement) • Develop the “question everything” attitude • Maintain the balance

5. Communicating with the architect • What are your priorities as a District for school safety during the design phase? • What are theirs? • Use of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)

6. Architects and CPTED Natural Surveillance: • “Consists of increasing visibility within and around a facility by encouraging its legitimate occupants and observers to increase their observation, detection and reporting of trespassers and misconduct.” Dr. Randy Atlas, 21st Century CPTED

7. Architects and CPTED Natural Access Control: • “Intended to deny access to crime targets and to create a perception of risk to offenders.” Dr. Randy Atlas, 21st Century CPTED

8. Architects and CPTED Territorial Reinforcement: • “…is about establishing a sense of ownership by building owners and occupants to increase vigilance in identifying trespassers and sending the message that a would-be-offender will be identified and challenged.” Dr. Randy Atlas, 21st Century CPTED

9. Architects and CPTED • Natural Surveillance • Windows for staff observation • Glazing, tinting, ballistics • Protection from smash and grab • Observation of entrance and parking areas

10. Architects and CPTED • Natural Surveillance • Interior Surveillance – Direct Line of Sight (LOS) • Hallways • Reduce Blind Corners – Mirrors • Stairwells – Align with hallway traffic flow

11. Architects and CPTED • Natural Surveillance Barriers • Windows in the sun • Vegetation • Structural columns • Recessed classroom door entrances • Hiding areas and blind corners • Vestibules with hidden doors • Other buildings

12. Architects and CPTED Vegetation will one day inhibit surveillance

13. Architects and CPTED Surveillance and safety challenges

14. Architects and CPTED Natural Surveillance – columns

15. Architects and CPTED Natural Surveillance – blind corner

16. Architects and CPTED Natural Surveillance - columns

17. Architects and CPTED What Natural Surveillance?

18. Architects and CPTED Vegetation and Natural Surveillance

19. Architects and CPTED Natural surveillance and solid walls

20. Architects and CPTED • Natural Access Control • Fencing serves multiple purposes • Directs the visitors, • Separates wildlife from students • Defines the transition from school to public property • Avoid the use of solid walls • Sidewalks – how far do you go?

21. Architects and CPTED • Natural Access Control • Driveways and traffic calming • Reinforced planters, barriers, bollards • Proper vegetation • Exterior doors

22. Architects and CPTED • Natural Access Control • Controlled Vestibules • Maintain direct surveillance • Transaction window & acoustics • Bathroom Entrances – S entrance • Classroom Doors – locking from the inside and windows near the handles

23. Architects and CPTED • Natural Access Control • Lay in ceilings in restrooms as a hiding place for drugs and weapons • How many ways can we get to the roof • Athletic Events • How do we separate fans during and following the activity?

24. Architects and CPTED Natural Access Control - Roof Access

25. Architects and CPTED Natural Access Control - Climbing

26. Controlled Vestibules reception Vestibule

27. Controlled Vestibules

28. Architects and CPTED Natural Access Control

29. Architects and CPTED Natural Access Control and Surveillance

30. Architects and CPTED Natural Access Control - Sidewalk

31. Architects and CPTED Natural Access Control - Driveways

32. Architects and CPTED Natural Access Control - Driveways

33. Architects and CPTED Natural Access Control - Driveways

34. Architects and CPTED Natural Access Control - Driveways

35. Architects and CPTED Natural Access Control - Driveways

36. Architects and CPTED Natural Access Control - Driveways

37. Architects and CPTED Natural Access Control - Driveways

38. Architects and CPTED Natural Access Control - Safety

39. Architects and CPTED Natural Access Control - Safety

40. Architects and CPTED Natural Surveillance and Access Control

41. Architects and CPTED Natural Surveillance and Access Control

42. Architects and CPTED Natural Access Control

43. Architects and CPTED Natural Access Control

44. Architects and CPTED • Territorial Reinforcement • Passive Barriers • Natural Landscaping • Elevation changes • Fencing • Clear and Concise Signage • Maintain it

45. Architects and CPTED Territoriality Fencing

46. Architects and CPTED Clear and Concise Signage

47. Architects and CPTED Territoriality must be maintained

48. Architects and CPTED Some additional things to consider: • Designating “shelter in place” areas into the architecture. • Weather use - hallways for shelter, no gyms or cafeterias – glass, high walls. • Designate visitor parking in clear view of the front office. • Office location – “Schneider Scale” • Target hardening practices

49. Architects and CPTED Some additional things to consider: • CATE – banks and child care • Avoid computer labs on exterior walls • First responder radio interference • Where is the custodian office in relationship to the exterior doors/dumpsters? (for planning access control) • How many ways can the nurse get out of the clinic?

50. Closing Thoughts • It starts with the right team - Architect, School District Administration, Structural, Civil, Law Enforcement • City officials – local codes (landscaping) • Include post occupancy evaluations focused on CPTED, Safety, Security during the one year warranty check