Tracy Richter Vice President of Planning Services, HPM
Mark Schoeman Design Principal, Anderson Brulé Architects
David Schrader Managing Partner, SCHRADERGROUP
Michelle Smyth Principal Architect, McMillan Pazdan Smith
Susan Tully K-12 Center of Excellence Leader, Gilbane Building Company
National
President Torrey Sims
STAFF CONTACT
The global architecture and design firm Spacesmith has announced the promotions of three leaders: Ámbar Margarida (pictured center), William Wong (left) and Margaret O’Neill (right). With these elevations, all three principals now share in the ownership of Spacesmith Architecture DPC, which is a design professional service corporation structure that allows ownership interests to be extended to non-licensed professionals such as interior designers and operations leaders.
Ámbar Margarida, IIDA, WELL AP, LEED Green Associate, is an interior designer known for her work on human-centered, sustainable spaces. Since joining Spacesmith in 2009, she has led projects ranging from family support centers to flagship retail and diplomatic facilities, including U.S. embassies. A leader of the firm’s sustainability efforts, Margarida also contributes to city emissions strategy through the AIA NY 80x50 Task Force and teaches at the School of Visual Arts.
William Wong, AIA, LEED AP, joined Spacesmith in 2012. Wong is a skilled architect and project manager known for his ability to navigate complex projects with strategic insight. His portfolio includes academic, civic and retail projects for clients such as Columbia University. His leadership spans academic buildings at Columbia University, Hermès of Paris and the U.S. General Services Administration. He emphasizes durable, high-impact design that contributes to the public realm, particularly in dense urban environments.
Margaret O’Neill is a driving force behind Spacesmith’s operations. She brings more than 25 years of experience in finance and operations and plays a central role in the firm’s administration and business strategy. Her leadership in HR, budgeting and office management supports the firm’s productivity and long-term resilience.
DLR Group has named Melissa Alexander as principal and higher education leader for the Southwest region. Based in the firm’s Phoenix office, Alexander brings nearly 20 years of higher education design experience to the role. She holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Arizona State University and a Master of Architecture from Rice University. Her portfolio includes projects for state universities, out-of-state institutions and community colleges. A member of the International Interior Design Association, Alexander is a frequent guest lecturer at Arizona State University.
Maggie Dolan joined DLR Group’s Orlando, Fla., office as a campus planning leader and principal. Dolan brings experience in campus planning and higher education administration, having worked on master plans, space assessments, capital budgets and building projects. She has also served on the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, where she held roles including director of planning and assistant vice chancellor for academic innovation. She holds a Master of Business Administration from Georgia State University.
RKTB Architects has welcomed Adelaida BaezUrena as a project manager. With more than a decade of professional experience, Baez-Urena brings a strong background managing projects and leading teams in implementing energy-efficient, sustainable design solutions from design through construction. Baez-Urena holds a Master of Architecture degree from the City College of New York’s Spitzer School of Architecture. She is a member of the firm’s K-12 facilities team and is currently contributing to the expansion of Public School 116 in Queens, which recently began construction.
Grace Lawal, a project manager with RKTB Architects, is a recipient of the 2030 Fund, a competitive program created by AIA New York in partnership with the National Organization of Minority Architects’ New York Chapter. The initiative aims to support the advancement of Black architects and includes the goal of doubling the number of licensed Black architects by decade’s end. Lawal is one of five early-career professionals selected in May from a pool of 31 applicants. Lawal earned her Master of Architecture degree from The City College of New York.
Matthias Bulla was promoted from executive vice president to president of Grass America, a supplier of functional cabinet hardware. Bulla brings more than three decades of experience to the role, starting as a trainee in 1991. Over his career he established new ventures for the firm in Malaysia and Austria before taking on the role of executive vice president and overseeing sales and marketing functions for both North and South America. As president, Bulla is expected to drive the company’s next phase of growth and innovation.
Ken Yocom has been appointed dean of the University of Washington’s College of Built Environments. A professor and former chair in the Department of Landscape Architecture, Yocom brings extensive institutional experience, a collaborative leadership style, and a longstanding commitment to the college’s mission of advancing justice, sustainability and resilience through the built environment. Yocom’s research and teaching focuses on the interplay between ecological systems and the built environment, with an emphasis on how infrastructure, water and landscape shape communities. As dean, Yocom will lead a college that includes programs in architecture, construction management, landscape architecture, real estate and urban planning. He holds a master’s degree in landscape architecture and a doctorate in built environments, both from the University of Washington.
Syracuse University in May announced the appointment of Michael J. Bunker as associate vice president and chief of Campus Safety and Emergency Management Services. Bunker, a military veteran with 14 years of service in the U.S. Coast Guard, brings more than two decades of experience in campus safety, emergency management and public safety leadership, most recently serving as chief of campus safety at the University of Denver. Bunker is known for his expertise in proactive threat management; compliance with federal standards, including the Clery Act; and taking a student-centered approach to campus safety. At Syracuse, he will oversee public safety operations, emergency management services, crisis planning and response and collaborative outreach. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Denver and a master’s degree in project management from Georgetown University.
your
Company News
Hord Coplan Macht (HCM), a multidisciplinary design company with offices across Maryland, Colorado, Metro D.C., North Carolina, and South Carolina, has announced that Pennsylvania-based SCHRADERGROUP (SG) has joined the firm.
SG brings a strong portfolio in PK-12 and higher education, mission-critical and publicsafety projects. The move expands HCM’s service offerings and reinforces its commitment to client-centered, full-scale design solutions. With this addition, HCM will now offer enhanced expertise in public safety and mission-critical sectors, while extending its reach across Pennsylvania through SG’s offices in Metro Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Lancaster and State College. According to HCM leadership, the alignment strengthens both firms’ ability to deliver innovative, high-performing environments. SG will gain access to broader resources and a national footprint, while HCM enhances its ability to meet project goals across diverse sectors.
Education Leaders
Creating Safer Schools Through Design
By Mary Ruppenthal
Creating safe environments is the top priority when it comes to designing schools. From an architectural standpoint, addressing both physical and psychological factors when it comes to safety is vital. After all, security isn’t simply a matter of creating a safe and secure campus perimeter and single point of public entry. It’s about fostering community and placemaking, empowering ownership and promoting positive interactions. Effective school design practices nurture belonging, flex to adapt to evolving learning styles and, of course, establish physical security.
Belong: Safeguarding Openness and Inclusivity
Building community starts with framing schools as student-centered spaces. By minimizing secluded and isolated areas and maximizing passively supervisable open spaces, designers can craft places that enhance positive connections while reducing stress and anxiety. Conversely, dark corners and unsupervised spaces tend to increase the potential for bullying and disruptive behavior. Clear sightlines matter, so that teachers, staff, and students can observe or engage across adjacent spaces.
While students need to be seen in the literal sense, they also need to feel seen. Students are less likely to slip through the cracks when their learning environment delivers options for a variety of learning styles, including smaller gathering and break-out sessions, contemplative spaces and room to gather on a larger scale. Therefore, weaving collaborative spaces of different sizes throughout the environment is key to nurturing a sense of connection.
of the student union, teachers and students naturally and informally interact as teachers pass through the communal space.
On larger campuses, the idea of creating a school within a school is gaining traction. Designing educational environments to accommodate cohorts of 250 students or fewer can help nurture a sense of belonging. Technical elements, like comfortable seating and warm colors, help create an inviting atmosphere. Leaning into flexible spaces is also an excellent path to supporting a strong, inclusive culture.
Adapt: Enhancing Flexibility for Maximizing Learning
Accommodating different learning styles requires flexibility in classroom and campus configurations. For example, kinesthetic learning requires ample space for movement and collaboration, ideally with plentiful space for whiteboarding and wallboarding. Without losing connection to the main classroom, break-out spaces for varying levels of smallgroup lessons or contemplative study require passive supervision.
The average 960-square-foot classroom can flex in a variety of ways to meet students where they are. For example, operable partitions can help reconfigure a classroom, creating smaller spaces or opening to a larger collaborative
Architects are also finding ways to shift teacher-student interactions from purely occurring in the classroom to more organic encounters throughout the campus. For example, by building administrative offices at the back
environment. Beyond the classroom, glass walls and windows to common areas allow visible connections to adjoining learning and gathering spaces. In the case of indooroutdoor layouts, a glass garage door connection could provide a supervisory link to an exterior learning space.
At the high school level, creating a multi-use, dynamic space rather than a siloed building not only enhances efficiency, but also checks all the boxes of a safe environment: passive supervision, pride of place and interconnectedness. For example, HED’s Yerba Buena High School’s new performing and fine arts classroom and theater building completely re-envisions and revives the visual and performing arts community on the campus. The design of multipurpose classrooms and stage space (divided by an operable partition as needed), replaces what was once a stagnant and rarely used theater at the end of its useful life. When complete, it will be dynamically full of student life, with space to gather throughout the day as well as room for visual and performing arts classes, performances and community events.
began as a medium for creating sustainable public art, today helps architects and designers transform commercial spaces with the use of color and light. LIGHTBLOCKS architectural resin products can be produced in any color, pattern and translucency to create unique and beautiful spaces, and their non-porous, fingerprint- and scratch-resistant surface makes LIGHTBLOCKS especially well-suited for high-traffic environments.
Yerba Buena High School’s new performing and fine arts classroom and theater building. | Photo Credit (all): Courtesy of HED
Well-designed exterior lighting provides a welcoming atmosphere at the Collaborative Leadership Building at Flintridge Preparatory School in La Cañada Flintridge, Calif.
HED created break-out spaces for Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District’s Santa Monica High School Discovery Building.
Why Storm Shelters Are Becoming Essential in K-12 School Design
By Gary Pooley
As resilient design takes center stage, the demand for life-safety structures is reshaping how public buildings are planned, especially in regions vulnerable to highwind events. Architects and engineers are increasingly tasked with integrating safe spaces into everyday environments, balancing code requirements, funding opportunities and functional design. The issue hasn’t gone unnoticed by the K-12 educational community. Across the U.S., more K-12 schools are incorporating storm shelters into their designs. Wells alone has built more than 50 storm shelters throughout the Midwest in the last four years. In addition to meeting 2018 IBC building code requirements, schools are also addressing concerns of student and staff safety, with the growing frequency and severity of extreme weather events like tornadoes and hurricanes.
The Growing Threat of Tornadoes and Hurricanes
Each year, hundreds of tornadoes and severe storms impact the central and southeastern regions of the country, threatening communities and the infrastructure that supports them. Schools play an important role in supporting the community; many are particularly vulnerable, operating in older buildings without adequate protection.
QUICK FACTS:
· The U.S. experiences more than 1,200 tornadoes each year, which is more than any other country in the world, according to the US National Science Foundation.
· There is a significant upward trend in tornado frequency in portions of the Southeast, Midwest, and Northeast portions of the U.S. since 1979, according to NPJ Climate and Atmospheric Science.
· Hurricanes are becoming stronger and more destructive, with the most damaging U.S. hurricanes being three times more frequent than 100 years ago, according to the Environmental Defense Fund.
These realities are prompting a shift: More districts are investing in storm shelter spaces that can protect students, staff and the community when disaster strikes.
What’s Driving the Trend Towards Storm Shelters?
The increase in storm-shelter construction in K-12 schools isn’t coincidental. It’s the result of evolving building codes, expanded funding opportunities, growing climate concerns, and a stronger commitment to occupant safety from both public and private stakeholders.
Updated Building Codes: With the advent of the 2018 IBC Code Requirements for ICC 500 Storm Shelters, all Group E occupancies in designated risk areas with an occupant load of 50 or more are expected to have an extreme-wind storm shelter that can withstand winds speeds of 250 miles per hour (mph).
Federal and State Funding Initiatives: At the same time, funding mechanisms have expanded to support resilient infrastructure. Programs like FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) and the newer Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) initiative offer critical financial support for school districts looking to offset the cost of storm shelter construction. These grants have made it possible for many communities—especially in rural or lower-income districts—to implement safety measures that may otherwise have been financially out of reach.
Climate Awareness and Risk Assessment: The increasing frequency, intensity, and unpredictability of severe weather events has raised public and professional awareness. Tornadoes in non-traditional areas, shifting hurricane paths, and longer storm seasons are pushing school districts and other public support entities (such as Baptist Hospital in Pensacola, Fla.) to rethink how buildings are designed and used in emergencies. What was once considered an isolated risk has now become part of long-term planning for educational and civic infrastructure.
Community Dual-Use Planning: More jurisdictions are creating storm shelters as multifunctional community assets. These spaces—often gymnasiums, cafeterias or auditoriums—are designed to serve both day-to-day educational needs and emergency preparedness functions. When designed properly, they meet life-safety standards without compromising programmatic space or aesthetics.
Prefabricated Concrete Storm Shelters
There’s a clear rise in the number of K-12 projects requesting storm shelters across the central and southeastern U.S., and for many school districts, prefabricated concrete has become the most practical solution for creating a building that lasts. Even before the 2018 IBC code implementation, prefabricated components were a material of choice for school systems in more northerly climates. In Minnesota, for example, precast has been a popular building material in educational settings for nearly 30 years. Voter referendums are typically passed in November, giving contractors a short 19-month window to complete the project, sometimes less. Precast enables them to work through the winter season, since manufacturing occurs indoors, and installation can take place
Maple River K-12 School in Mapleton, Minn., chose a precast solution.
Photo Credit (all): Wells
A large area of growing concern is the central part of the country—often referred to as “Tornado Alley”—where high wind events pose a serious risk.
in any weather. The same can’t be said for cast-in-place, brick, and block construction, as wrapping and heating the worksite, often necessary in colder climates, is costprohibitive.
In part due to the ICC code, precast is now making significant inroads into other regions that have historically relied on other building materials. Schools such as Roosevelt High School in Hays, Kan.; Maple River K-12 in Mapleton, Minn.; Life School in Carrollton, Texas; and Valley Southwoods Freshman High School in West Des Moines, Iowa, all chose a total precast solution for their storm shelters in a departure from more traditional materials.
What did they get in return? In short, a stronger and more durable, sustainable concrete roof and wall system that offers wind and fire resistance, superior thermal performance, design flexibility and greater control over the schedule.
Standard prefabricated concrete safe rooms can easily and economically be designed to exceed the 250-mph windspeed requirement. The standard panel already comes close to the ICC storm shelter code, as they’re typically designed to a 7,000-psi standard, which can exceed 10,000 psi after curing. To comply with the ICC code, Wells increases the size of its insulated panels from 12 inches thick to 14 inches thick—all prestressed with vertical strands to compress the panel.
might be necessary when windows are present, as the glass transfers additional wind load into the
Along with
Usually, the gymnasium is designated as a school’s storm shelter. While it may seem counterintuitive to design such a large space to storm shelter requirements, the reasons are grounded in the ICC code itself. Beyond the obvious fact that gymnasiums can hold more people and are easily identifiable, a storm shelter must be capable of taking the collapsed load of any taller structure nearby. Smaller spaces can be more difficult to design to the ICC standard, making them less feasible.
As weather events become more frequent and severe, school districts are responding by investing in resilient infrastructure. The rise of storm shelters—particularly those built with prefabricated concrete—is a trend rooted in safety, durability and smart design. Ultimately, they’re successfully achieving the dual goals of protecting students and responsibly managing public funds.
Pooley is a regional sales manager for Wells and has been in the precast industry for nearly four decades. He brings a unique and valuable perspective to the industry with inventive solutions for finish designs. Pooley is actively engaged in various construction organizations, currently serving as a board member of Minnesota Prestress Association. Contact him at gary.pooley@wellsconcrete.com.
NOTE: Variations in the design
precast.
prefabricated wall panels, Wells can manufacture Double Tee roof panels with up to 100-foot spans for a high school gymnasium.
Gary
Construction on the storm shelter at Roosevelt High School in Hays, Kan.
There is a significant upward trend in tornado frequency in portions of the Southeast, Midwest, and Northeast portions of the U.S. since 1979, according to NPJ Climate and Atmospheric Science.
The storm shelter at Life School in Carrollton, Texas, includes a durable, sustainable concrete roof and wall system that offers wind and fire resistance.
Inside the storm shelter built for Valley Southwoods Freshman High School in West Des Moines, Iowa.
The Next-Generation Campus: Designing Schools for Digital Natives
By Erin McDannald
Generation Z—those born roughly between 1996 and 2010—came of age in an entirely digital world, which has had profound implications for the role of technology in their classrooms. Their teachers embraced the same devices that Millennials went to detention for using, creating lesson plans that utilized the tools Gen-Z students are most familiar with. Expectations for tech-enabled education have driven similar changes at the university level. As Generation Alpha follows quickly behind them, those expectations are increasing exponentially.
Gen Alpha’s unprecedented access to information online and climbing standards for connectivity have transformed the demands for modern-day education spaces. The “smart campus” is emerging as a model for leveraging the power and ubiquity of technology to improve the student experience, enhance the quality of education, and increase operational and administrative efficiency. By equipping education environments with smart facilities management systems and harnessing the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) integration, the future of learning is here.
AI in the Classroom
The smart campus is adaptive by design, equipped to support different learning styles and instruction methodologies simultaneously. A powerful, reliable, and secure data infrastructure forms the campus’ backbone, allowing each student, teacher, and classroom to seamlessly connect to interactive educational software, digital textbooks and online testing platforms. AI works in the background to adapt material to match the pace and preference of each student at scale, creating a more inclusive and tailored classroom experience. Teachers can leverage this data to identify key knowledge gaps and structure dedicated lessons for sustained classwide success.
A healthy, underlying environment is essential to this ecosystem. Studies have shown that air quality, light and sound can all impact cognitive performance. Clean air is also critical for supporting developing and vulnerable immune systems. Sensors—which can range in size from that of a penny to a small, household thermostat—monitor classroom conditions and send signals to the larger campus MEP control system when values fall outside optimal levels.
Group-based activities and classwide discussions can increase the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the air, which should remain below 1,000 parts per million (ppm) according to the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). Studies have measured concentrations as high as 4,000 ppm in classrooms around the world—making this technology even more critical for maintaining a non-toxic learning environment. Simultaneously, ongoing exposure to bright-white screens and overhead lighting can lead to eye strain and fatigue. Automation tools trigger real-time adjustments to ensure that the classroom is continuously fine-tuned to student and teacher wellbeing and focus. Further, these metrics can be fed to wall-mounted dashboards, allowing students, teachers and even parents to see the system at work.
In addition to supporting academic performance, AI enables the campus system to learn from classroom data—such as when students change classes or when they’re out at recess—to optimize how energy is produced, used, and stored to support sustainability and efficiency while reducing costs. By reading changes in sensor data, the system determines where power can be saved based on real-time occupancy to strike a balance between comfort and efficiency.
At the higher education level, the energy savings can be even greater, because classroom use is often less predictable
for greater campus safety and efficiency.
Beyond the Classroom
Smart technology infrastructure and seamless connectivity are equally important outside the classroom to extend the benefits of automated facilities-management tools for greater campus safety and efficiency.
Security is paramount in both K-12 and higher education environments, and an AI-supported detection and response program can be a critical differentiating factor in emergencies. Smart cameras can analyze and flag behaviors that may indicate potential risk—such as someone lingering in an unusual area or wielding a weapon—prompting security personnel in real-time to assess the situation. Sensors can be used to detect sounds like gunshots or breaking glass anywhere on campus, alerting teachers and administrators as well as older students via text message to avoid the area until it’s been investigated. AI can also automate these systems to dial 9-1-1 and dispatch nearby officers to campus for back-up.
Smart security technology not only enhances campus safety and emergency response capabilities, but also provides administrators with a data roadmap for future planning and resource allocation. By evaluating trend lines and crime patterns, schools can identify weak points.
Coordinating pedestrian and vehicular traffic to flow seamlessly with the use of AI can minimize both frustrations and accidents. On college campuses, which are often interwoven with the towns surrounding them, smart traffic management systems monitor streets and sidewalks continuously, making dynamic adjustments to stoplight times and suggested routes. This technology helps to improve travel times for both students and community residents and reduces the potential for accidents. Similarly, these systems help to reduce bottlenecks during elementary school drop-off and pick-up times.
When integrated with university campus maps and smartphone apps, traffic management technology can also make it easier for new students to navigate to class and find available parking.
Making the Smart Change
The emergence of the smart campus offers a glimpse at how new generations of digital natives will continue to shape the world around them. As institutions prepare for the expectations of Gen Alpha, the federal E-Rate program is providing financial support for enhanced digital infrastructure at K-12 schools, including improvements to telecommunications services and internet access. High-speed, stable broadband is the first and most important step toward making the transition to a smart campus.
Reliable network coverage not only enables students to engage with online coursework but also allows for the integration of smart technologies with HVAC, lighting and security systems. By embracing connectivity and its potential when coupled with AI, the future of education—and by extension, campus life and learning—is more adaptive, supportive and sustainable.
Erin McDannald, chief executive officer of Lighting Environments, Elevated and Environments, has been a dynamic force in lighting design and construction for more than two decades, championing growth, innovation, and enhancement of the human experience at every step.
Contact McDannald at erin@lightingenvironments.com.
The emergence of the smart campus offers a glimpse at how new generations of digital natives will continue to shape the world around them. | Photo Credit (all): Courtesy of Elevated
Not All Heroes Wear Capes— They Wear Hard Hats
Contributed by Butler-Cohen Design + Build
At Butler-Cohen, safety is part of the foundation we build on every school project. From the beginning, we’ve prioritized creating job sites where people feel supported, respected and protected. That commitment has shaped our culture and strengthened our teams across all the work we do.
Our approach to safety is rooted in consistency. No matter the project, whether it’s a school, an industrial facility or a commercial space, our teams apply the same high standards. Superintendents and project managers receive comprehensive training and lead with clear, proven practices. Every job is guided by shared expectations, and every person on site plays a role in upholding them. There is always room for improvement in safety, and coaching can sometimes feel punitive. We balance this by recognizing all of the good things that happen on our project sites each and every day. That’s why we created the Butler-Cohen Empowerment Program.
Launched in 2018, the Empowerment Program recognizes employees who go above and beyond in their commitment to safety, quality, teamwork and initiative. Many of these honorees are field craftspeople whose hands-on leadership and attention to detail have a direct impact on job site performance, safety and team morale. They are nominated by their peers or supervisors based on real contributions that have helped make the job site safer and more successful.
Each month, one team member is selected for the Empowerment Award. This award isn’t about checking boxes, it’s about setting an example. Honorees support others, prevent problems before they happen, and lead with focus and integrity.
Recognition through the Empowerment Program does more than highlight individual performance, but reinforces what we value most: team members who show leadership, take initiative and contribute to a culture of accountability.
Michael, our May 2025 Empowerment Award recipient, is a clear example of that standard. During a critical project deadline, Michael completed his assigned scope of work, but he didn’t stop there. He voluntarily stayed late to support the broader team effort, taking time to re-inspect all of his installations with care and precision. He prioritized both safety and quality, ensuring his work product exceeded expectations. His leadership, attention to detail, and willingness to step up played a key role in helping the team deliver a quality project on time and without injuries. His actions were a powerful example of what professionalism and teamwork look like in the field.
Recognition through the Empowerment Program does more than highlight individual performance, but reinforces what we value most: team members who show leadership, take initiative and contribute to a culture of accountability. It reminds all of us that safety is not just a program, but a way of working and looking out for one another.
At Butler-Cohen, we believe that when people are empowered, they lead with purpose. The Empowerment Program ensures that kind of leadership is seen, appreciated and shared. Because in the end, safety isn’t just about avoiding accidents: It’s about building a place where people are proud to show up and confident in what they’re building together.
Photo Credit (all): Courtesy of Butler-Cohen
New Compton High School Puts Students and Community at the Center of Design
By Lindsey Coulter
After years of planning, the $225-million, 34-acre Compton High School celebrated its grand opening in May. More than just a collection of education, athletic and arts facilities, the campus is a new civic landmark— one that reflects the aspirations of a district determined to reshape its future.
Compton Unified School District (CUSD), long known for producing talented athletes and musicians despite outdated infrastructure and learning spaces, in recent years faced a growing challenge: retaining students.
“The need for this project was very straightforward,” said Alenoush Aghajanians, AIA, LEED AP, a senior K-12 design leader based in the Los Angeles office of DLR Group, which designed the project. “Their facilities were aging, there was not much they could do with their existing buildings and they were losing students to other districts. They had big visions of transforming their educational pathways, and they needed facilities that could support them.”
Additionally, CUSD wanted to create a sense of excitement around learning, moving beyond the basic classrooms-and-corridors design approach. To find a team that would align with and deliver their vision, leaders launched a design competition that drew proposals from four architecture firms. DLR Group’s winning concept stood out for its emphasis on transparency, inclusion and community connection. According to Aghajanians, the firm carefully studied the district’s goals and values, developing a design that balanced the idea of common ground with an “academic boulevard” programmatic concept. These ideas shaped the site’s layout and the experience of all students, educators, administrators and community members who move through the space.
Constructing the Right Team
The inclusion of project management firm Cumming and construction firm Swinerton Builders ensured the project was in capable and committed hands. CUSD and Cumming opted for a traditional design-bid-build model with a Project Labor Agreement.
“The goal of the [agreement] was to achieve a 35% local-hire workforce, and Swinerton is proud to have achieved a 58% local workforce hire,” said David Cramp, P.E., LEED, DBIA, director of SoCal Education Markets for Swinerton. “Additionally, through the success of this program and other outreach events, Swinerton directly employed several young professionals to work on this project that are graduates of Compton High School, who are now employee-owners of Swinerton Builders.”
Those local employees and former students can now see the fruits of their labor invigorating their community, as the sprawling new campus boasts an academic building, a performing arts center, gymnasium, football field and track, soccer and
CUSD wanted to create a sense of excitement around learning, moving beyond the basic classrooms-and-corridors design approach. | Photo Credit (all): DLR Group
Neighborhoods Within the School
Academic Boulevard Offers Visibility and Inspiration
The new 223,650-square-foot campus is anchored by the 36,000-square-foot gym building at the north and the nearly 41,000-square-foot Performing Arts Center at the south. This balance reflects the CUSD’s desire to offer state-of-the-art sports facilities while supporting the school’s already strong musical programs and industry partnerships.
To reflect the idea of common ground in the instructional spaces, DLR Group introduced the concept of an Academic Boulevard, where all the classroom and teaching spaces are visible and open. For example, where many schools have separate career and technical education (CTE) buildings, Compton High School blends these spaces into traditional learning areas. To achieve desired learning and engagement outcomes, transparency was key. Along the interior of the academic building, classrooms—especially those focused on career and technical education—are highly visible to students walking past to build interest.
“Some kids might not be part of a particular program,” Aghajanians explained, “but once they walk along the building, they will see all the learning and teaching that’s happening there. That will invite them in to maybe take that class the next semester.”
To support the needs of modern students as well as educators, learning and activity spaces are equipped to support both individualized learning and collaboration. Interactive Cleartouch TVs and Samsung Flips (giant, movable screens that help facilitate smallgroup work and allow students to mirror their laptops) are offered throughout the learning spaces. Even the dining area includes a projector and screen, making it an additional venue for presentations and events. The media center library is similarly multi-functional, and in the weight room students can even use iPads to design their own workouts.
As the school is designed to support up to 2,200 students, DLR Group also developed a sense of community on the micro scale via smaller learning communities to foster a sense of belonging and to make the building feel less intimidating.
“We created neighborhoods and learning suites that kids will feel part of,” said Aghajanians. “Each one has six classrooms and shared learning spaces, so it breaks the school down into a scale that’s more manageable.”
Students primarily remain in their dedicated neighborhoods throughout the day, while teachers move between learning spaces, using dedicated prep areas to plan lessons. “That gives students more autonomy over the spaces,” Aghajanians explained.
The layout, which was strategically designed for safety and sightlines, also reflects an intentional inversion of traditional security strategies. Instead of fencing off the school from its surroundings, the buildings themselves form a secure perimeter.
“We don’t have fencing on the street,” Aghajanians said. “When you arrive, you have to check in, but there’s a sense of openness and a welcoming experience for everyone.”
The school was also intentionally positioned to face the community, making it more visible as a shared resource while also subtly communicating a sense of safety and security. The main academic building, which spans 140,639 square feet, is fronted by a spacious and welcoming entry plaza.
“We are inviting community members in,” Aghajanians said. “They are part of the experience.”
Performing Arts Center as a Learning and Community Hub
While the campus now includes a plethora of athletic facilities, perhaps the most ambitious and defining space is the Andre “Dr. Dre” Young Performing Arts Center. Thanks to a $10 million gift from the hip hop artist (who grew up in the neighborhood), the facility houses music, dance and performance programs as well as a new 900-seat theatre and multiple recording studios.
“You can record not only the classrooms adjacent to each recording studio, but also whatever is happening on stage,” Aghajanians said. “It gives [the school] a lot of opportunities for different types of teaching and learning.”
lacrosse field, baseball and softball fields, an athletic building, tennis courts and even the first swimming pool built in the city of Compton.
The school’s signature color plays a defining role, particularly throughout the interiors and furnishings.
The new 223,650-square-foot campus is anchored by the 36,000-square-foot gym building at the north and the nearly 41,000-square-foot Performing Arts Center at the south.
PROJECT DATA
Project Name: Compton High School
Location: Compton, Calif.
Size: 223,650 square feet, 34 acres
Cost: $225 million
Architect & SMEP: DLR Group
Contractor: Swinerton Builders
Civil Engineer: VCA Engineers
Landscape: Moore Iacofano Goltsman & Kimley-Horn
Aquatics: Aquatic Design Group
Food Service: Webb Food Service
Fire Sprinkler: WSP & Mudry & Associates
Electrical: Taft Electric Co.
Mural: Pulling Paint Murals
However, the performing arts center did present some construction challenges. As the district had taken over large portions of two neighboring streets to increase the size of the school, the project team had to contend with a “powerful” problem.
“One particular challenge was that two existing sets of power poles ran ... directly through the middle of the future Performing Arts Center and greatly delayed the start of construction for that building,” Cramp explained. “The power and low-voltage lines running on those lines needed to be relocated.”
Thanks to quick collaboration between all project partners, Swinerton was able to begin ground improvement and foundations work while the poles were still in place to avoid further delays.
“Also, structural steel was prefabricated and other products were procured as much as possible so that the construction of the building could be completed on time,” Cramp said.
Form, Function and Community Pride
In terms of design aesthetic, the school reflects a balance of modernity and community pride. In selecting exterior materials, DLR Group opted for simple and sophisticated textures.
“You’ll see a lot of metal panels, especially on the gym building, and CMU blocks that are both structural and visual elements,” Aghajanians said.
The school’s signature color plays a defining role, particularly throughout the interiors and furnishings. Graphics and murals inject additional life and vibrancy into the buildings.
“We wanted all the buildings to feel inviting,” said Aghajanians. “It’s about showing students that this is their space—and it’s a place they belong.”
A Personal Milestone for the Design Team
Designing Compton High was not only a professional milestone for Aghajanians, but it was also a personal one. DLR Group first embarked on the design competition when Aghajanians was new to the team. She recalled how leaders from across the firm gathered and collaborated for three days to develop a vision for the project.
“That was when I saw the power of design,” she said. “How everybody can come together and bring ideas that solve a challenging problem.”
That spirit of collaboration eventually carried through every phase of the project and continues to define the finished product. “Seeing the excitement from the community, students, and teachers—it’s a next-level kind of experience,” she said.
PRODUCT DATA
Exterior Sealant: Micro-Seal and VandlGuard IsoFree by Rainguard Pro
Fire Gasket and Sound Gasket: Marino/Ware and Trim-Tex
Fire Suppression: Firestop by CEMCO LLC
Flooring and Molding: A & D Building Supply Inc.
Furnishings: D&D Learning Space, VS America, Paragon Furniture, Fomcore, WB Manufacturing, OM Seating
Landscape: Agromin and Republic Services
The layout, which was strategically designed for safety and sightlines, also reflects an intentional inversion of traditional security strategies. Instead of fencing off the school from its surroundings, the buildings themselves form a secure perimeter.
As the school is designed to support up to 2,200 students, DLR Group also developed a sense of community on the micro scale via smaller learning communities to foster a sense of belonging and to make the building feel less intimidating.
Indiana University Receives Design Approval for Bioscience Facility
By Lindsey Coulter
INDIANAPOLIS — Earlier this month, the Indiana University Board of Trustees approved the architectural design plan for the new 150,000-square-foot IU Launch Accelerator for Biosciences. The first-of-its-kind academic-industry initiative will be headquartered in Indianapolis’16 Tech Innovation District. The project is supported by a $138 million Lilly Endowment Inc. grant to the IU Foundation, which marked IU’s largest-ever grant in support of research and development.
The new five-story, building, located next to the Herron School of Art and Design’s Eskenazi Fine Arts Center, will take an interdisciplinary approach to biosciences and technology, serving as a hub for discovery, innovation, entrepreneurship and industry partnerships. The dynamic facility will include a variety of research and teaching labs, classrooms, collaborative workspaces, startup and incubator space, and industry studios to power the advancement of Indiana’s growing life sciences ecosystem. Initially, IU LAB will focus on research and innovation in five critical disease areas relating to diabetes and obesity, neuroscience, rare diseases, cancer, and bone engineering and regenerative medicine.
IU LAB will consist of six interconnected and complementary components:
· The Academic Gateway will host new degree programs and offer advanced courses and credentials for students and current professionals that will address Indiana’s workforce needs to attract new businesses to the state.
· The Futures Center will help students and professionals apply their knowledge to real-world issues and engage with experts in various studios focused on specific technologies.
· The IU Innovates Bio Start-Up Center will support entrepreneurs launching new companies, products and services with training, incubation and networking. The Public-Private Partnerships Center will host local, state and national collaborations with faculty and industry representatives.
· The recently announced Joint Center of Excellence for Point of Care Precision Medicine will advance collaborative research between IU, the Indiana Biosciences Research Institute, IU Health, Eli Lilly and Company, the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership and other partners.
· The Translational Bio Center will offer state-of-the-art facilities for companies and entrepreneurs in the life sciences to test their discoveries and perform key translational activities through in vitro and in vivo screening and preclinical studies.
Designed to adapt over time to evolving teaching, learning and research needs, the building will include a large ground floor and modular planning for future reconfigurations as opportunities arise. These features are designed to support the vision and goals of IU LAB, helping to accelerate bioscience commercialization, catalyze industry partnerships and entrepreneurship, and
develop and retain talent in the biosciences.
The building will also reflect its location within the surrounding neighborhood and near the IU Indianapolis campus. Its materials and design are in line with IU Indianapolis’ architectural identity and include limestone accents, brick, and transparent glass with warm-toned metal panels. It also reflects the traditional architecture of Indiana Avenue through its siting and use of brick.
The project will include new parking areas, drives, sidewalks, loading and service areas, a paver plaza, a monumental seat wall and an open space for events.
Construction will begin in fall, with completion anticipated for summer 2027. business and will launch programming beginning in July.
Photo Credit: Rendering courtesy of IU Capital Planning and Facilities
STANDOUTPRODUCTS
Put your product in the spotlight by contacting SCN at sales@wmhmedia.com
Vehicle Mitigation System
Perimeter Security System
Block Axess by TrafFix Devices is a versatile and rapidly deployable security solution designed for ease of use and robust protection. With a 14-minute setup time requiring only one person, the system eliminates the need for large crews or lengthy installations. Its modular design supports flexible sizing, allowing users to scale the system as needed. Customizable laser-etched plates offer further personalization for cities, events or organizations. Built from thick, galvanized steel, the vehicle mitigation system is engineered for strength and tamper resistance. The platform also supports integration with a variety of systems including fire suppression and detection, sanitization, hand hygiene units, video surveillance, fencing, access control, locks and sliders.
TrafFix Devices www.traffixdevices.com
Luxer Lockers
Luxer One continues to expand its footprint in secure package management with a smart locker system. Built in the U.S. using 12-gauge, corrosion-resistant steel, the lockers feature a durable powder coat finish and a modular design. The main unit includes a battery backup, internal electronics, and an iOS-powered touchscreen interface designed for intuitive use across all age groups. Each unit contains 15 compartments of varying sizes, with tamper-proof internal hinges and a combination master lock for key-free management access. The system is ADA-compliant and wheelchair accessible. For added security, Luxer integrates a 24/7 cloud-based video surveillance system positioned opposite the lockers.
Luxer-One
www.luxerone.com
Fiber Cement Rainscreen System
The StoVentec Rainscreen System, featuring fiber cement panels, is designed for performance and flexibility, the system pairs Sto’s integrated air and moisture barrier with durable, low-maintenance fiber cement cladding to deliver both aesthetic appeal and long-term building protection. Engineered to support ventilated façade applications, the system creates a continuous drainage and ventilation cavity that helps manage moisture and improve energy efficiency. The panels are non-combustible, impact-resistant, and available in a range of textures and colors. Ideal for both new construction and retrofit projects, Sto’s Fiber Cement Rainscreen System provides a high-performance building envelope with enhanced durability, weather protection and design versatility.
Sto Corp.
www.stocorp.com
Verkada’s school perimeter security systems deliver proactive smart alerts with 24/7 virtual monitoring and advanced video analytics. The system detects and responds to threats before they escalate and can alert facilities managers to unusual activity, allowing them to remotely broadcast live or pre-recorded warnings. The system makes it easy to notify school security personnel when a troublesome visitor or vehicle approaches, as users can simply upload a photo, enter a license plate number or provide a description of the person or vehicle to set an alert. At entrances, intercom in-call alerts discreetly alert receptionists to unsafe visitors, allowing them to deny entry and call for assistance. The cloudmanaged cameras are paired with round-the-clock virtual monitoring.
Verkada www.verkada.com
Air Purification System
Leveraging proven filtration components used in healthcare settings, ISO-Aire HEPA air purifiers for classrooms effectively capture and destroy 99.99% of airborne contaminants such as viruses, bacteria, mold, allergens, smoke and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Manufactured in the U.S., ISO-Aire utilizes long-lasting, commercialgrade components. Classroom air purifiers have a more than 20-year life span and best-in-class noise levels. They are available in 250-CFM to 2000-CFM models with 12-inch-deep, medical-grade HEPA filters that last 5 to 6 years.
ISO-Aire www.iso-aire.com
Duress Solution
Actall’s Ultrasonic Duress Solutions are designed for schools that need simple protection for staff, offering low maintenance and requiring no programming or batteries. The company’s Sentry Pen Mechanical Transmitter is a pen-like, ultrasonic device which, when activated, generates a signal that is received by the company’s PALS Sentry receiver.
The P-105 is an entirely mechanical transmitter requiring neither batteries nor electronics. It operates by the release of a spring-loaded hammer that strikes a resonator bar. Receivers are installed into designated zones requiring staff security. A receiver convers the ultrasonic signal and processes the signal for transmission via LoRa to HubSens, where the exact location will be displayed.
Actall
www.actall.net
can protect students and educators from potential threats
By Allison McKenzie and Todd Thackery
Over the last two decades, the A/E/C industry has seen safety and security become critical design priorities for K-12 school buildings. With this shift, architects and designers are faced with a pressing challenge: creating educational environments that are safe, secure and functional, without turning campuses into bleak and intimidating fortresses.
While physical design strategies for emergency prevention—think open sightlines, layered perimeter security, and reinforced doors and windows—are essential components of school safety, these measures alone are not enough. As architects, we must also consider how thoughtful design choices can protect inhabitants from active threats and facilitate effective communication in the event of a serious emergency or security breach, while simultaneously supporting the wellbeing of students and staff.
Thoughtful Design Ensures Emergency Preparedness
The best way to prepare your school against threats? Prevent them from getting into the building in the first place with comprehensive access control. The new standard in U.S. schools is a single, secure point of entry for the public, with all other exterior doors remaining locked from the outside. A secure vestibule with intercoms or camera systems at that main entrance should funnel visitors into the main office for vetting before they can enter the building proper. Front offices can be strategically located at this entrance with windows overlooking approaching paths, parking, and drop-off zones, giving administrators direct line of sight to observe anyone coming onto campus. If a bad actor manages to enter this area, electronic locks on these doors can be engaged remotely to prevent further intrusion.
Preventing an intruder’s entry to a school will always be a top design priority—but if a threat gains access to the building, it’s important to understand how internal design can passively deter or slow down that threat. Administrative offices and community spaces (like libraries or cafeterias) are often placed near the entrance, while classroom wings are set deeper inside or on higher floors. This zoning creates a buffer between the entrance and student learning areas; it also allows schools to welcome community use of certain areas after hours without exposing the entire school to potential intruders.
Separation
Compartmentalization is another key tactic that can save lives in an emergency. Hallways and building sections can be separated by fire doors or security doors that close during lockdowns to compartmentalize the building and contain a threat. This type of compartmentalization has the added benefit of creating smaller “neighborhoods” within a large school, which can make large buildings feel smaller and more comfortable for young students. New designs often incorporate multiple exits from each learning neighborhood, enabling students to escape the building without backtracking toward a danger point, if necessary.
Doors
To protect students if an intruder does attack, new schools are using target-hardening elements in a discreet way. Classroom doors are one such focus; modern designs require classroom doors that lock from the inside (often via thumb-turn or remote mechanism) so teachers can secure rooms quickly without stepping into the hall. Many districts have retrofitted older doors with magnetic or electronic locks for quick lockdown capability. These strategies must be carefully balanced, though, with the need for students to be able to quickly and easily exit the building in other emergency situations, such as fires. Solid-core or bullet-resistant doors and frames are also becoming increasingly common for classrooms and offices, coupled with ballistic film or laminated glass on windows to slow down forced entry. In addition, design best practices now recommend that each classroom have a “shadow zone,” or safe corner out of the line of sight of door windows to increase protection when students are required to shelter in place.
Training
Beyond the necessary physical safeguards, comprehensive training is an equally critical element of emergency preparedness. All staff should be included in active
Enclosed outdoor learning areas provide safe and secure spaces for students to explore the great outdoors at Chillicothe Primary School in Chillicothe, Ohio.
Photo Credit: Kevin G. Reeves
Harrison Hills City Schools in Cadiz, Ohio, includes transparent wings and connectivity between classrooms clustered around extended learning areas. Photo Credit: Massery Photography
shooter training, which should be as realistic as possible; local first responders will ideally work with school staff members in active shooter role-playing that will allow them to create a mental database of appropriate actions in a crisis. Additionally, multiple staff members should know where to locate and how to use emergency medical bags in the event of serious injuries.
A welcoming learning environment
Importantly, all of these strategies must be balanced with design decisions that make the building feel safe and welcoming. After all, a school can have secure doors and sightlines without losing the warmth, joy and creativity that define a learning space. Elements such as soft and natural materials (e.g., wood, warm fabrics), natural lighting and calming colors can all create a more comfortable, less institutional atmosphere.
Spaces like small nooks, extended learning areas or even areas of diverse seating options within a larger space provide students with choice in how and where to engage with the building and others, giving them an important sense of autonomy. Meanwhile, visible and easily accessible support services (counseling and wellness centers) can encourage students to seek help early and address conflicts or mental health issues before they escalate to safety threats.
Communication is Key
Clear and efficient communication is also a cornerstone of school safety in today’s complex world. In the event of a quickly evolving emergency, advanced security systems and communication tools will be essential.
Technology plays a vital role in communication. Almost all new schools deploy surveillance cameras extensively inside and out, but placement is key—covering entrances, hallways, stairwells, and outdoor areas without infringing on privacy in bathrooms or counseling spaces. Modern camera systems with analytics can alert staff to unusual behavior or entry attempts, and some U.S. schools are taking security technology even further by installing gunshot-detection sensors and emergency alarm systems that tie directly to law enforcement.
Another growing feature is real-time situational awareness for first responders; some schools are adding radio signal boosters and clear wayfinding signage so police and fire departments can communicate and navigate the building in a crisis. Communication technologies like two-way radios, IP wireless phones on secure Wi-Fi networks, and intercom systems that can be accessed by authorized staff or first responders should also be integrated—along with advanced emergency communication tools such as panic buttons and mass-notification systems.
Even simple measures like clear signage throughout a school building can enhance communication during emergencies.
Building names and addresses should be prominently displayed, and campuses with multiple buildings should ensure each structure is clearly marked. Exterior doors and windows should be clearly and consistently marked with a number or letter; windows should match this nomenclature to facilitate command and coordination of first responders. In some states, like Ohio, this is now a state-mandated requirement.
Additionally, signage reminding staff and students of their social responsibilities, such as “STOP” signs on exterior doors to discourage propping them open, can reinforce passive security measures. Some schools have even added directional signs inside classrooms to help occupants orient themselves and communicate effectively with first responders.
The ideal approach to physical security in school design is proactive and holistic: controlling access at the perimeter, designing the building layout to monitor and compartmentalize, hardening certain elements against attack, and leveraging technology for detection, response and communication. By integrating advanced security measures with thoughtful design strategies, we can create environments that stand as oases of security, growth and resilience for our children.
Allison McKenzie is vice president and director of Environmental Responsibility for SHP. Contact McKenzie at amckenzie@shp.com. Todd Thackery is senior vice president of SHP. Contact him at tthackery@shp.com.
Trendspotting, from page 5
Secure: Establishing Safe Perimeters Without Sacrificing a Welcoming Environment
In well-planned campuses, the building itself serves as a secure perimeter, with fences installed sparingly and thoughtfully or excluded completely. Landscaping can help create defensible areas around schools and serve strategic purposes, such as providing shade or placemaking for collaborative environments. Of course, plantings change over time, so it’s important to look ahead at how, for example, a row of trees might become a supervision issue in 30 years.
Thankfully, today’s campus design is trending away from windowless edifices of 1970s school design due to the importance of providing relational safety and views to the exterior of the building as well as
the myriad health, wellness and performance benefits of natural light. Thoughtful window treatments allow educators and administrators to see outside without permitting someone to see inside. One-way, perforated film applied to windows can have a dual purpose of screening the interior and providing an aesthetic branding opportunity. Affixing a mural or mascot film to exterior windows has the added benefit of boosting school pride. In lockdown situations, installing quick-pulling and/or multi-bay shades helps block an outsider’s view in otherwise exposed windows. One-way, privacy shades are another option. If ground-level windows are not possible in a renovation of an existing 1970s building retrofit, often due to seismic restrictions, skylights and clerestory windows are great alternatives.
In overall campus design, it’s important to provide clear wayfinding to the main entry and a secure and single point of entry to the campus when school is in session. Well-designed exterior lighting provides a welcoming atmosphere as well as important campus wayfinding and sightlines when sports and events take place on campus after dark. There are some excellent solar lighting options that can make campus lighting for joint-use community amenities economical and transformational. If fencing is deemed necessary, attractive and privacy-enhancing and biophilic options can help create a warm and productive learning atmosphere.
Putting more effort into creating a welcoming space can translate into less vandalism and more pride in that place. For example, HED’s San Francisco Unified School District, Jefferson Elementary School Schoolyard Outdoor Learning project transforms a chain-link-lined playground into an extraordinary interactive outdoor educational environment with attractive privacy fencing that’s valued by both the students and the community at large.
The Takeaway
Effective school design prioritizes safety by addressing physical and psychological factors, fostering community, adaptability and relational security. Inclusive planning promotes positive interactions, belonging and supports varied learning styles. Flexible spaces, clear sightlines, and innovative architectural features ensure passive supervision, pride of place and interconnectedness. Thoughtful use of natural light, landscaping, and security measures enhances safety without compromising a welcoming environment.
True safety is established in creating welcoming campus communities that accommodate learning needs, connect students and teachers, and make everyone feel included, protected and valued.
Mary Ruppenthal is an architect and Education Market Sector leader at HED. Contact her at mruppenthal@hed.design.
Technical elements, like comfortable seating and warm colors, help create an inviting atmosphere within the Terra Linda High School Innovations Hub in Novato, Calif. | Photo Credit: Courtesy of HED
With a focus on visibility, each academic wing in Green Local PK-12 School in Franklin Furnace, Ohio, has a boulevard that connects to the heart of the building. | Photo Credit: William Manning
At Liberty-Benton Local Schools in Findlay, Ohio, safety measures include a secured main entry vestibule, cameras and door-locking systems. Photo Credit: Kevin G. Reeves
Soft Play Creates Immersive Indoor Playground Experiences While Generating Revenue
By Soft Play
Innovative ideas bring people together. They push everyone to think outside the box and make life better, especially in ways that inspire more fun. Indoor playground projects are transforming how neighbors interact with each other and the world. Community and school leaders should learn more about those experiences to determine if they’re a good fit.
Immersive Playground Projects Support Residents of All Ages
Playgrounds are excellent spaces for kids and people of any age group because they provide numerous resources. Soft Play, a global leader in contained playground equipment, understands the need for customized structures to reach various demographics.
Structures with the latest entertainment options can appeal to modern families. Interactive play stations with stomping pads may challenge younger kids, while older ones climb non-belayed skycourses. Mixing tech-based entertainment with physical structures that encourage kids to stay active doubles the fun they’ll get from the space compared with an outdoor playground.
Sheltered indoor playgrounds double as areas for seasonal activities as well. When public playtime ends, the facility operating the playground can turn it into an area where residents can celebrate together. They might move play structures aside for seasonal events and festivities, and the expansive floor and equipment could be the best place for high school STEM camps that need extra room for attendees.
Fitness challenges also present additional ways for community members of all ages to practice their gross motor skills. If they get to jump, climb and run around, they’ll use their brains and muscles in ways they aren’t able to at home. Improving those skills helps people retain motor regions and cognitive processing as they age, so including residents of all ages in indoor playground events is crucial.
Indoor Playgrounds Improve Local Economies
The activities happening within indoor playspaces create numerous benefits for anyone who visits, but communities also see their economies improve after their project opens to the public. Local leaders will need to hire crews to help build the space before recruiting longterm workers to maintain it and run events. The unemployment rate may lower and stay that way, which can become a lifeline for struggling communities.
Indoor playgrounds also double as places for reserved events. Families could host birthday parties, while local businesses might organize camps and training events in the large spaces.
The equipment and the playground size are both assets to communities that invest in them. More public spending on local services could bolster a town’s economy, so it becomes a better place to live.
Soft Play Projects Help Communities Have More Fun
Indoor play areas are more than a rising entertainment trend. Soft Play has been changing neighborhoods for the better with projects that combine learning, physical activity and public engagement.
The company’s Mountain America Jurassic Jungle play area opened in Thanksgiving Point, Utah, at the end of 2024. The six-story playground gives kids an immersive experience in the world of dinosaurs. Kids can slide down a snake’s mouth, climb through lava chambers, and solve puzzles before feeding a T-Rex or climbing the volcano structure.
Mountain America Jurassic Jungle is the most ambitious Soft Play project since the brand started in 1984. It has worked with major businesses like Chick-fil-A and SeaWorld, but it also partners with community leaders who want to give residents a place to have fun.
Florida visitors and residents have experienced the immersive world of Soft Play projects, too. The Kennedy Space Center launched its Planet Play area inside its visitor complex in 2021. Kids between ages two and 12 years can wander around the enclosed playground to rotate a foam solar system, climb play towers and compete in a digital satellite game. Meanwhile, parents and family members can relax with coffee or beverages from the connected bar.
Both project sites teach kids while providing new ways to stay active. Families get to relax within the air-conditioned space and even enjoy a drink. Community members know each indoor playground is a place to find employment, take their kids for recreational activities and learn together outside a classroom environment.
Ways Kids Get Immersive Play Experiences Indoors
Many people imagine that playgrounds are exclusively swing sets and slides, but immersive projects like those with Soft Play equipment offer so much more. The durable materials and kid-centric designs create play experiences families can’t find anywhere else.
Interactive screens challenge users’ problem-solving skills while indulging their interests in all things technology. If parents would rather encourage their kids to take a tech break during their playground visit, indoor equipment can also include obstacle course structures and themed climbing towers.
Experts recommend kids older than six years get at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day, which can feel challenging. Gamified playground equipment keeps them active without team sports involvement. Free afternoons may only allow enough time for a family to visit an interactive obstacle course rather than attend a practice or sports competition.
Soft Play even works with project leaders to create structures customized to their needs. Free design consultations are always available. If a community would respond well to an indoor play site featuring their city’s name and local themes, customization is always possible. The extra commitment to each region’s most pressing interests can mean the difference between a popular playground and one that struggles to stay open.
Create an Indoor Playground Project That Benefits Everyone
Outdoor play areas are great for kids, but indoor playgrounds provide year-round spaces for everyone to enjoy. While kids test their gross motor skills and families relax nearby, community leaders can schedule public events to bring everyone together within the expansive rooms. The project could generate enough revenue and jobs to boost the local economy while making the region a better place for everyone.
At Planet Play, kids between ages two and 12 years can wander around the enclosed playground to rotate a foam solar system, climb play towers and compete in a digital satellite game.
The Kennedy Space Center launched its Planet Play area inside its visitor complex in 2021. | Photo Credit (all): Courtesy of Soft Play
Mountain America Jurassic Jungle play area is a six-story playground where kids can slide down a snake’s mouth, climb through lava chambers, and solve puzzles before feeding a T-Rex or climbing the volcano structure.
From Retail to Recovery
How a former Sears became a temporary high school in five weeks and helped a community heal
By Lindsey Coulter
When devastating wildfires rendered nearly 40% of Palisades Charter High School’s campus unusable in January, administrators at the Los Angeles school faced a daunting question: how to resume in-person education for thousands of students on short notice.
While students continued their education via Zoom, school officials and project partners found a more concrete solution in the form of an unlikely structure—a 100,000-square-foot former Sears department store. The building was renovated and retrofitted in just over a month into a fully functioning temporary high school for Palisades Charter High School’s nearly 2,500 students, educators and staff members.
The fast-tracked success of the project was driven by a coordinated team of experienced partners. Led by C.W. Driver, a general contractor with a long history of K-12 construction, the project also involved design firm Gensler, the City of Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Fire Department. Key subcontractors included electrical engineer AJ Kirkwood & Associates, ProCraft Construction, HVAC firm ACCO Engineered Systems, contractor Raymond Group and Continental Painting, among others.
A Blank Canvas with Built-In Advantages
While the former department store was never intended to host classrooms, its existing infrastructure, modern upgrades and open-plan layout helped accelerate its transformation to a temporary home for education.
The building had already been partially renovated in 2020 by developers who converted the four-story structure with plans for filling it with offices and restaurants. Those plans were derailed by the Covid-19 pandemic, but the completed work provided the project team with a critical head start. Improvements that were made prior to the conversion—including seismic reinforcement, new HVAC systems, an upgraded electrical system, and code-compliant fire and life safety measures—allowed the design and construction teams to bypass long-lead procurement items and some of the more costly equipment of the project.
“The foundational attributes of the Sears building allowed the team to create a functional, safe, and surprisingly effective temporary high school environment in an exceptionally short timeframe,” said Jaime Macartney, project executive at C.W. Driver Companies.
Each floor of the building offered 20,000 to 30,000 square feet of open layout— essentially, a structural blank canvas. That flexibility proved critical. Cost- and timeeffective partition walls were deployed quickly to carve out roughly 90 classrooms and various support spaces.
The steel-and-concrete structure offered a robust shell, while its adjacency to public transit and ample parking made it logistically appealing. A pedestrian tunnel connecting directly to the drop-off area was another bonus for student and parent access. But despite the building’s good condition, work still had to move quickly.
“The entire construction timeline was approximately five weeks, with crews working six days a week in swing shifts, totaling around 25 active workdays,” Macartney noted.
That kind of pace required not only expertise, but relentless commitment. According to the firm, team members relocated temporarily to stay near the site. Senior Superintendent Ray Weaver led the onsite crew with what colleagues described as “decisive leadership.”
“There were no finalized plans or permits when we started,” Macartney said. “The team had to operate at an unprecedented pace, coordinating around the clock with Gensler, subcontractors and regulatory agencies.”
Retail Roots, Educational Challenges
Despite its advantages, adapting the former retail space into a place of learning required ingenuity and problem-solving. Chief among the challenges were determining ideal circulation and adjusting acoustics to better support learning and focus.
“The building met code for life safety features like elevators and stairwells, but the building conveyance was not designed for high-frequency, high-volume movement, such as class transitions every hour,” Macartney said.
Navigating the space proved difficult in the first weeks of occupancy, especially with several thousand students and staff members circulating simultaneously. The design team and school officials refined pathways and mitigated congestion through operational tweaks.
Mitigating noise, however, was an even trickier obstacle. “The open, concrete-andsteel structure allowed sound to travel easily—so much so that someone could speak from one end of the building and be heard on the other,” Macartney explained.
To resolve this, a multi-layered acoustic strategy was implemented. Partition walls were enhanced with carpet donated by companies including Mohawk and Shaw, and acoustic wall panels were installed. Additionally, Insul-Quilt sound blankets were suspended from the ceiling deck to the top of the walls.
Speed, Simplicity and Supply Chains
Facing an urgent deadline, the team prioritized simplicity in design and materials. Standard-length steel studs and drywall sheets were selected specifically to avoid timeconsuming cuts during installation. Flooring products—totaling more than 100,000 square feet—were donated and staged strategically to ensure matching carpet in each instructional zone.
“Given the urgent timeline and supply-chain constraints, the project team prioritized materials and products that were immediately available off-the-shelf and conducive to rapid installation,” Macartney said.
One of the most pressing tasks was addressing climate control. The building’s split HVAC system, which was installed during a prior renovation, had outdoor units already in place. ACCO Engineered Systems sourced compatible indoor units from within California and installed them in record time—avoiding the typical 12- to 52-week procurement window.
Final touches, including large-scale wall graphics designed by Gensler and installed by AM Graphics, helped lend the temporary facility a sense of identity and warmth.
Restoring a Learning Environment, Not Just a Building
Although the converted Sears could not replicate every aspect of the original Palisades Charter High School campus, it delivered what mattered most: a safe and stable place for students to learn, connect and continue their education.
“The greatest gain for students was simply the ability to return to in-person learning in a shared environment,” said Macartney. “This was particularly meaningful for the graduating seniors, some who had missed out on an in-person graduation during junior high due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Science labs requiring gas and water connections could not be recreated, but the team found workarounds by repurposing other spaces for labs, libraries and music instruction. While physical education and athletic programs were relocated to nearby schools and colleges, students discovered new conveniences in the building’s urban location—including access to food and public transportation.
Mission with Meaning
For C.W. Driver, the project was more than a logistical feat—it was personal.
“Team members had friends, family or personal ties to the region affected by the devastating fire,” Macartney said. “The chance to help restore normalcy for thousands of students, many of whom had already endured the challenges of pandemic-era learning, added a deep emotional resonance to the work.”
Palisades Charter High School expects to occupy the converted Sears site through summer, with a potential extension into the fall semester depending on the pace of fire recovery efforts at the original campus.
Flooring products—totaling more than 100,000 square feet—were donated and staged strategically to ensure matching carpet in each instructional zone.
Photo Credit (all): Brecht Vanthof, Courtesy of Gensler
The former Sears building had already been partially renovated in 2020 by developers who converted the four-story structure with plans to fill it with offices and restaurants.
Security Doesn’t Have to Feel Institutional TM Clark Elementary’s layered approach embeds student safety into every facet of design
By Lindsey Coulter
In Texas’ Gregory-Portland Independent School District, a new chapter in campus planning is unfolding—rooted in the belief that a school should not only be a place of learning, but also a space of safety, connection and inspiration. The new TM Clark Elementary School, set to open in early 2026, will embody this vision through intentional design that centers student experience, security and community identity.
The 94,573-square-foot replacement campus will serve approximately 650 students in grades pre-K through 5, replacing the current TM Clark building that was originally constructed as a middle school. While that facility has served generations of learners, the district and its design partner, Pfluger Architects, are embracing the opportunity to create a space designed specifically for elementary students and their needs.
“This project is about more than just replacing an old building—it’s about creating a place where children feel safe, seen and supported,” said Connie Rivera, AIA, managing principal of Pfluger Architects’ Corpus Christi office. “From the start, we worked with Gregory-Portland ISD to define a clear vision: a school that supports experiential learning, fosters community and places student well-being at the center.”
A Layered Approach to Security
At TM Clark, campus safety is embedded into every facet of the design, following a layered strategy that balances protection with transparency and ease of access. This begins at the perimeter, where clearly defined vehicle and pedestrian access points guide parents and buses through separate drop-off zones, reducing congestion, and improving safety during arrival and dismissal.
From there, visitors are funneled through a secure entry vestibule adjacent to a welllit, transparent waiting area, ensuring visibility and control. Inside, durable materials, controlled access systems and integrated technology further support campus security.
“Security doesn’t have to feel institutional,” Rivera explained. “We designed TM Clark so that it feels warm and welcoming while still being highly secure. Features like high-impact glazing, durable wall panels, and layered access control systems help us create a safe environment without sacrificing aesthetics or comfort.”
Orienting the building toward Billy G. Webb Drive was pivotal in shaping the school’s identity. The location not only enhances the school’s curb appeal but also strengthens its connection to the community and proximity to the local police station.
“It’s not just about visibility from the road,” Rivera said. “It’s about civic presence. TM Clark is meant to be a beacon in the community, a place that communicates care and safety from the moment you arrive.”
Community-Driven Design
TM Clark Elementary’s design reflects a broader trend in campus planning that prioritizes community engagement, flexibility and a sense of place. Rather than positioning the school as a closed-off institution, the design invites connection. Two gable-roof forms give the building a residential scale, providing students with a sense of home and familiarity. The façades and entry canopies are accented with vertical fins in shades of blue—a nod to the school’s culture and a playful visual cue that guides visitors to the main entrance.
“Wayfinding is a huge part of designing for security,” Rivera said. “When it’s obvious where to go, it reduces confusion and makes supervision easier. At TM Clark, we made sure every element, from the colors to the shapes of the rooflines, contributes to clear and intuitive navigation.”
The heart of the school is its central courtyard—an open-air space designed for both informal gathering and structured learning. This sensory-rich environment supports outdoor education while providing a safe and nurturing area for students to explore, play and connect.
“We see the courtyard as the school’s soul,” Rivera said. “It’s not just a design feature—it’s a daily experience that reinforces belonging. When students feel like they belong,
they’re more likely to engage, thrive and care for their environment.”
Learning Environments That Adapt
Inside the building, TM Clark is organized into “learning neighborhoods,” a concept that blends classroom clusters with shared collaboration zones. These open, flexible layouts allow teachers to team teach, supervise students more effectively and foster cross-grade interaction. Each neighborhood radiates outward from a central media hub, which doubles as a library and collaborative workspace. Large windows and open sightlines throughout these spaces support both visibility and passive supervision.
“We’ve learned from previous projects that students flourish in environments that are adaptable,” Rivera noted. “Whether it’s a quiet reading nook, a flexible breakout area, or a tech-enabled learning pod, we wanted TM Clark to support different learning styles and instructional approaches.”
These communal areas are also designed with resilience in mind. The cafeteria and gymnasium, for example, can double as shelter spaces in the event of an emergency, thanks to reinforced construction and access to essential systems. Materials throughout the school were selected not only for durability and ease of maintenance, but also for their ability to contribute to a calming and engaging atmosphere.
Technology as Infrastructure
Safety and learning are further enhanced by a campuswide integrated technology system, which coordinates access control, video monitoring, intercom, fire alarms and communications with the district’s central network. The systems operate seamlessly, allowing staff to focus on students rather than managing manual protocols.
“Technology can’t be an afterthought,” Rivera said. “It has to be part of the architecture. By coordinating these systems early in the design, we ensure that they support—not disrupt—the daily rhythm of the school.”
Collaboration and Craft
The success of TM Clark’s design is the result of close collaboration between the district, design professionals and construction partners. The general contractor, FultonCoastcon, is working alongside structural engineers Dunaway, MEP engineers StriddeCallins and civil engineer Mike York to bring the vision to life.
“Campus planning is not a solo act,” Rivera said. “It takes input from educators, administrators, engineers, parents and even students. That’s how we get a building that truly reflects the community it serves.”
As construction progresses toward its scheduled completion in early 2026, TM Clark Elementary is poised to become a model for future schools—an example of how thoughtful planning can elevate education by centering safety, flexibility and human connection.
“We’re not just building a school,” Rivera said. “We’re building a foundation for the next generation that honors their need for safety, their right to a joyful learning environment, and their place within the community.”
The new TM Clark Elementary School will center the student experience, prioritizing security and community identity. | Photo Credit (all): Pfluger Architects
The heart of the school is its central courtyard that provides a safe and nurturing area for students to explore, play and connect.
The Challenges of Designing Multi-University Shared Buildings
Creating consensus among three clients and two design firms for a city-catalyzing health-sciences campus
By Clay Phillips, AIA
Higher education buildings often have more stakeholders than other projects. Architects are tasked with integrating input from deans, department heads, faculty, facilities staff, and even students and donors. Labintensive health sciences facilities further intensify client coordination—universities are looking for 50-, 75-, even 100-year buildings, and the constantly evolving simulation technology for health sciences education requires us to consider current needs and future possibilities. The benefit of working for universities is that they understand the investment it takes to create enduring, complex projects with high-quality design.
A prime example is a project that is currently under construction and one of the most complex of my 30-year career. The Wichita Biomedical Campus is a collaboration among two design firms—Helix Architecture + Design and CO Architects—and three schools: Wichita State University (WSU), WSU Tech, and University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC). The 350,000-square-foot, eight-story building will consolidate multiple interdisciplinary programs. WSU’s College of Health Professions and Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic, WSU Tech’s Health Professions program, and the Wichita campuses of KU School of Medicine and KU School of Pharmacy will collocate at the new campus. Future doctors, nurses, physical therapists, pharmacists, and medical technicians will learn alongside each other, foreshadowing real-world working conditions.
The COVID-19 pandemic propelled the collaboration between the three institutions after the schools initially investigated separate buildings. Increased local need for health sciences education paired with decreasing resources spawned “better together” conversations, leading to creation of a regionally significant shared campus in downtown Wichita.
Helix and CO were hired jointly to design Phase I of the WBC. The two firms have collaborated on several medical education buildings during the past decade and enjoy a productive working relationship. Creative alignment included a charette with team members from both firms to discuss big-picture ideas. Based on an enduring rapport and collaborative design rhythm, the combined team decided that CO would leverage its expertise in medical simulation spaces and lead the building’s overall design. Helix would lend its proficiency in university buildings and workplaces to oversee the interiors and add context-based local design insights throughout.
adequately represented. Early in the process, we presented multiple stacking diagrams to illustrate options and guide decision-making. The design consensus evolved from our initial approach of integrating the three users throughout to each having separate areas in addition to some common spaces.
Shared learning environments required compromise as well.
The simulation and anatomy labs became the focal points of early planning discussions. These interdisciplinary learning spaces will feature advanced labs and cutting-edge simulation rooms for immersive, hands-on training—expensive learning tools that helped drive the institutions’ decision to do the joint venture.
multifamily housing, student housing, office development, and more, underscoring how a single project can spur communitywide transformation.
Interior Palettes, Exterior Influences
Beyond school-specific spaces, the interior is designed as a collaborative, cross-disciplinary hub for all students. Thus, we wanted the interior palette to not favor one institution or another. KUMC and the WSU schools use bold, high-contrast school colors: red/blue and black/ yellow, respectively. To unify shared spaces, our interiors team selected more restrained tones that subtly reference these palettes. Labs and conference rooms feature warm, modern hues, while brighter, more energetic colors appear in classrooms, student lounges and learning hubs. Staff lounges and offices incorporate vibrant accents for contrast.
Wayfinding strategies were key considerations in interior design. In addition to helping students and staff navigate the building, clear signage also supports the WBC’s public-facing functions, including a new third-floor clinic that will expand high-demand health services in Wichita.
Apportioning Resources
Coordinating a project among three distinct clients with a two-firm design team required extensive front-end planning. The three schools formed a project steering committee of roughly a dozen representatives. Our design team hosted multiple sessions with the steering committee, both in person and virtually. Break-out sessions with more than 15 departments were also held, some with more than 30 people sharing opinions. Having a set end date helped keep the project on track, and we were able to release the project in multiple bid packages to accelerate the design schedule.
Each academic institution brought its own priorities to the table and wanted its respective school culture
For the WBC’s façade, the Helix/CO team drew inspiration from the nearby Flint Hills and their distinctive stair-step geology, juxtaposing terracotta panels and bands of glass on a stepped profile. Transforming Wichita’s skyline, a street-facing, three-story pavilion houses three 80-seat classrooms that can easily convert into an events venue, with an attached rooftop terrace overlooking a major city thoroughfare. To reinforce local connections, key community areas within the building were intentionally positioned to frame views of the city and surrounding landscape. This helps establish WBC’s downtown identity and showcases the role each higher education institution is playing in energizing the city.
Catalyzing Regional Growth
Designed to serve 3,000 students and 200 faculty and staff, the WBC represents the largest investment that the State of Kansas has made in downtown Wichita. It will anchor downtown development and drive regional medical innovation as the catalyst for a large, new health corridor. The WBC is also expected to attract
According to WSU’s Center for Economic Development and Business Research, the WBC will generate an annual economic impact of $60 million, driven by the influx of students, faculty and staff. Longterm projections indicate the potential creation of 15,000 new jobs across the region, thanks to ancillary-services demand created by the WBC.
Scheduled for completion in fall 2026, the project‘s mission is to strengthen healthcare education and research through collaboration, innovation and immersive learning. The WBC reflects the shared commitment of these three higher-education institutions to serve Wichita’s evolving health and education needs.
Clay Phillips, AIA, is a principal and the Higher Education Market leader for Helix Architecture + Design. He is also a member of the School Construction News Editorial Advisory Board. Contact him via info@helixus.com.
Shared spaces feature warm woods and organic textures punctuated by perforated metal accents.
Photo Credit (all): Courtesy CO Architects
ONE TRANSFORMATIONAL JOURNEY
Are Your Learning Spaces Supporting Both Learners and Educators?
Join education leaders, facility planners, and industry experts in Columbus, Ohio to explore how physical spaces shape better outcomes for learners and educators.
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- Jessica Morales, Area Assistant Superintendent Chula Vista Elementary School District
