Learn how well thought-out architecture can prepare your schools against intruders and natural disasters. Also learn about FEMA funded safe rooms.

1. The Architecture of
School Safety
Scott Vrooman, AIA
scott@tri-arch.com
Allison Broyles
abroyles@tri-arch.com

2. Our Background
• Scott is a licensed architect in
Oklahoma, Texas, and Colorado
and has designed dozens of K-12
schools
• Allison has a background in
communications, public relations,
grant assistance, and marketing

3. Secure Entrances
Tornado Safe Rooms
What’s This Talk About?

4. • CPTED--Crime Prevention Through
Environmental Design
• Physical Design--Passive access control and
surveillance while creating perceptions to
would-be offenders
• Technological Design--Hardware-intensive
or mechanical means for control or
surveillance
• Operational Design--rely on a combination of
human resources. Develop procedures for
daily and emergency situations.
• Security=Access Control + Surveillance +
Response
Secure Entrances

5. Security Opportunities
To enhance access control by Ph Te Op
Securing the site perimeter  
Using barriers to prevent passage of vehicles 
Minimizing entrances into the building 
Securing vulnerable openings (e.g. doors, first floor windows)  
Installing electronic acess systems (e.g. parking, elevators,
mag-locks)

Securing critical functions (e.g. IT, mechanical rooms)  
To enhance surveillance by
Placing windows and doors to allow for good visibiliy 
Avoiding spaces the permit concealment 
Defining public versus private interior zones 
Avoiding blocking lines of sight with fencing and landscaping 
Locating public areas (e.g. restrooms) where they can be
observed

Designing lighting to reinforce natural surveillance 
Installing intrusion devices and video systems 

6. Number of incidents involving firearm or
explosive possession in one year in U.S.
K-12 schools (6% of all schools)
7,478

7. Number of incidents involving a knife or
sharp object in one year in U.S. K-12
schools
(16% of all schools)
30,193

8. • Westside Middle School--Jonesboro,
AR
• Columbine High School--Columbine,
CO
• Sandy Hook Elementary--Newtown,
CT
Case Studies

9. • 250 students. 6th and 7th grade.
• 2 shooters, 11 and 13 years old
• Skipped school, one went in to set off fire alarm,
waited in a field 100 yards away from a known
fire escape area
• 4 students and 1 teacher were killed, 9 students
and 1 teacher were injured.
• Doors locked behind the students and teachers
during fire escape making it impossible for them
to re-enter the building
• Entire shooting lasted 15 seconds.
Westside Middle School
March 28, 1998

10. Westside Middle School
March 28, 1998
Shooter Location
Victim Location

11. • 2000 students. 10th-12th grade.
• 2 shooters, both seniors
• Original plan was to plant bomb in cafeteria, wait
outside to shoot students as they exited the building
• Bomb didn’t go off so they went inside concealing guns
in long trench coats
• Walked hallways shooting all they encountered, never
entering or trying to enter locked classrooms
• Walked into Library and found 60 people and shot at
them over the next 7 1/2 minutes. When police closed
in they committed suicide.
• 12 students and 1 teacher were killed
• Shooting spree lasted 46 minutes, in part due to the
confusion of law enforcement about where the
shooters were
Columbine High School
April 20, 1999

12. Columbine High School
April 20, 1999

13. • 450 students. K-4th grade.
• 1 shooter, 20 years old
• School had recently implemented security protocols
including video monitoring, individual admittance of
visitors after 9:30am, and secure entrances
• Shooter arrived at 9:35am and shot the glass on the doors
to gain access
• Administrative staff were in a meeting while morning
announcements were starting when they heard the shots.
Three walked out to administration area and were killed
instantly.
• Shooter walked into two 1st grade classrooms, both of
which knew they were in danger prior to him entering yet
did not lock the door. 20 of the fatalities came from these 2
rooms.
• Shooter bypassed a room that was locked with black
construction paper over the window on the door and it is
believed he thought the classroom was empty
• 20 students and 6 faculty & staff were killed
• Shooting spree lasted 5 minutes, shooter committed
suicide when he saw police closing in
Sandy Hook Elementary
December 14, 2012

14. Sandy Hook Elementary
December 14, 2012

15. • No one believed or imagined what was happening at
the time
• Operational errors were made in each instance
• People ignored warning signs in each case
• Westside Elementary--Shooters were seen walking
toward the school heavily armed without being called
in
• Columbine--bomb container in center of cafeteria for
15 minutes before shooters re-entered.
• Sandy Hook--Confrontation between shooter & staff
the day before (allegedly)
• Training and response of law enforcement has
increased dramatically with time
Lessons Learned

16. • 4 Schools on 3 campuses
• 2500 students in Pre-K through 12th grade
• No secure entrances. High school and Intermediate
school enter directly into cafeteria
• $1 Million to renovate all four schools to ensure secure
entrances
Solutions
Skiatook Public Schools

17. Skiatook Public Schools
Elementary School

18. Skiatook Public Schools
Intermediate School

19. Skiatook Public Schools
Middle School

20. Skiatook Public Schools
High School

21. Resources
• Building Security Through Design, American Institute
of Architects, 2001
• FEMA 428, Primer to Design Safe School Projects, 2012
• The Appropriate & Effective Us of Security
Technologies in U.S. Schools, National Institute of
Justice, 1999

22. Safe Rooms

23. • Fortified Walls
& Ceiling
• 10” thick or
more
• Can Withstand
EF5 Tornados
• Withstands
winds of 250
mph
• Usually doubles
as gymnasium or
multipurpose
room
Safe Rooms
Cast-in-place and Precast Concrete

24. Safe Rooms
Concrete Domes

25. • Withstands winds
above 200 mph
• Typically less expensive
to build
• Claim to be more
energy efficient
• Less efficient functional
space due to curved
walls
• Controversial among
structural engineers
Safe Rooms
Concrete Domes

26. Safe Rooms

27. Paying for Your Safe Room
Typical Costs

28. Paying for Your Safe Room
Typical Costs

29. Paying for Your Safe Room
Typical Costs

30. Tornado Geography

31. Tornado Geography

32. Safe Rooms

33. • Apply to Oklahoma Department of Emergency
Management
• Submit a notice of intent
• Receive letter with e-grant login from state
hazard mitigation officer
• Submit detailed application through e-grant with
help of architect and contractor (200+ pages)
• Review OEM revisions & questions
• OEM submits to FEMA
• Review FEMA revisions & questions
• Wait for approval
• Entire process takes 18-24 months
Paying for Your Safe Room
FEMA Grant

34. •Non-profit: Shelter Oklahoma Schools
•Capital Bonds
•State Government not getting involved in
legislation (Mary Fallin quoted on June 5th)
Non-FEMA Solutions

35. •Bond climate is prime for passing
school security and safety funding.
Paying for Your Safe Room
Passing a Bond

36. • This slideshow and other valuable
information on K-12 design, safety
measures and getting bonds
passed will be available on:
• Slideshare (SlideShare.net/TriArch)
• Facebook
(Facebook.com/TriArchArchitectur
e)
• Twitter (@TriArchOK)
• E-Newsletter
To sign up for our e-newsletter, sign
up on Facebook or email us:
abroyles@tri-arch.com
scott@tri-arch.com
More Information

37. Melissa Moore
Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management
melissa.moore@oem.ok.gov
405-521-0383
Dr. Angie Besendorfer
Assistant Superintendent
Joplin Schools
angiebesendorfer@joplinschools.org
417-625-5200 ext 2006
FEMA P-361
http://www.fema.gov/safe-room-resources/fema-p-361-design-
and-construction-guidance-community-safe-rooms
More Information