Designing Safer Schools: Proactive Solutions to Enhance Security and Prevent Bullying

portrait of a man, Troy Miller
Troy Miller Senior Architect, Education Planner

Whenever tragedy strikes our schools, it serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to prioritize school safety and ensure that every child has a secure environment to learn and grow.

While no single solution can eliminate every risk, schools can take proactive steps to enhance safety and security through thoughtful design and community collaboration. These measures not only mitigate vulnerabilities but also foster environments that support students’ physical, emotional, and social well-being.

For years, I have drawn lessons from such tragedies to drive meaningful change, sharing best practices in school design across the country to create safer, more supportive educational spaces. My journey began following the 2005 mass shooting at Red Lake High School. Just weeks earlier, I was part of a team that completed additions and renovations to the high school. In the aftermath, our design team, district leaders, Tribal Council members, students, parents, and the community came together to reexamine the school’s layout and identify design improvements to better address safety concerns — ultimately helping to guide the planning for a new middle school.

At LHB, our team remains steadfast in our commitment to rethinking traditional school spaces. We partner with school districts to incorporate innovative designs that prioritize safety, inclusion, and respect. By examining elements such as building layout, traffic flow, and opportunities for passive supervision, we work to create environments where students feel both protected and supported.

As architects, educators, and community members, we must continue to innovate, collaborate, and prioritize safety measures that foster not only secure but also nurturing spaces for our children.

LHB’s Approach to Designing Safer Schools

Creating school environments that are safe, inclusive, and engaging is a complex challenge for school districts, boards, and communities. At LHB, we recognize the critical role thoughtful design plays in creating spaces that enhance security while addressing issues like bullying. For decades, our architects and designers have partnered with school leaders to craft environments that foster positive interactions, minimize conflicts, and promote a culture of safety.

Rethinking Traditional School Design

Traditional school designs often prioritize securing entrances and exits, focusing primarily on external threats. While essential, this approach doesn’t address internal challenges like bullying and peer conflicts. At LHB, we advocate for a holistic design strategy that improves visibility, supervision, and opportunities for positive engagement among students and staff.

Through extensive research and collaboration with stakeholders, we’ve learned that aggressive behavior often stems from unmet social or emotional needs. Our designs incorporate features that encourage inclusivity, foster positive relationships, and reduce areas where conflicts can escalate.

The commons area at Hutchinson High School provides students and staff with open areas to study, gather, and collaborate all while encouraging inclusivity and reducing places where bullying can occur.

Enhancing Visibility and Supervision

Key to our approach is enhancing supervision throughout schools. We strategically design hallways, common areas, and classrooms to improve visibility and minimize unsupervised moments where bullying is likely to occur. Unlike traditional “cells and bells” layouts with long, narrow corridors, our innovative designs focus on open, flexible spaces that facilitate student flow and allow staff to monitor interactions more effectively.

Students and staff appreciate the open and flexible group learning space at Longfellow Elementary School. Adjacent to the classrooms, it’s ideal for large group sessions, small group study, or para teaching, while offering staff easy supervision.

Strategic Placement of Key Facilities

Facilities like restrooms are often overlooked in safety discussions but are critical in creating secure environments. Our projects strategically place restrooms in high-traffic areas with increased visibility to reduce opportunities for bullying. Additionally, we advocate for inclusive designs, such as gender-neutral or single-compartment restrooms, which enhance privacy while promoting accessibility and safety.

The restrooms at Dakota Middle are centrally located with increased visibility to minimize opportunities for bullying.

Modernizing Spaces for Well-being

Updating school environments not only addresses safety concerns but also supports student well-being. At Amery High School in Wisconsin, for example, we replaced outdated lockers with a redesigned commons area, creating a modern, collaborative space that both students and staff hailed as a transformative improvement. Transparent glass walls replaced solid partitions, increased visibility, and fostered both academic collaboration and safety.

The redesigned commons at Amery High School provide a modern, collaborative space that’s a favorite among students and staff.

Long-term Benefits

Investing in thoughtful school design brings lasting benefits. Schools that prioritize safety, visibility, and inclusivity see reduced disciplinary incidents, improved attendance, and stronger school cultures. These designs also promote academic success by fostering environments where students feel valued, supported, and can thrive.

At Amery High School, transparent glass walls have replaced solid partitions, improving visibility and fostering both collaboration and safety.

Building Community

Creating safer schools is a collaborative effort that requires input from educators, students, parents, and community leaders. By working together, we can design spaces that reflect the unique needs of each school while prioritizing the well-being of students and staff.

By embracing innovative design principles, we can reduce bullying, enhance security, and build a brighter future for all learners. Together, let’s take a proactive approach to ensure our schools are safe, inclusive, and supportive for every child. ∎

With over 40 years of experience, Troy Miller, Senior Architect, Education Planner at LHB, has collaborated with school districts to plan and design safe, inspiring educational environments that meet the evolving needs of today’s students and staff. A frequent presenter at professional associations, Troy specializes in creating tailored solutions that foster well-being, sustainability, and adaptability to help enhance student performance.

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