Spaces4Learning 2024 Predictions for Educational Facilities: Part 2

We asked our readership to send us their predictions for 2024 trends in educational facilities. Across K–12 and higher-education campuses both, we asked for opinions on topics like technology, flexible learning spaces, campus safety & security, disaster response, and more. This article is the second in a three-part series compiling responses from educational professionals and vendors. 02/06/2024

Spaces4Learning 2024 Predictions for Educational Facilities: Part 1

We asked our readership to send us their predictions for 2024 trends in educational facilities. Across K–12 and higher-education campuses both, we asked for opinions on topics like technology, flexible learning spaces, campus safety & security, disaster response, and more. This article is the first in a three-part series compiling responses from educational professionals and vendors. 02/01/2024

Storm Shelters’ Growing Importance in Schools

Reliable storm shelters must include the engineering necessary to ensure safety, comply with required guidelines and create comfort during emergencies. 09/11/2023

Best Practices for Ballistically Protecting Your School

Ballistically protecting a school can be a daunting and complicated task. Focusing on practical best practices streamlines the process and makes your efforts more effective. 08/15/2023

Solving the Challenges of Printer Jams, Card Waste, and Long Lines at the One Card Office

NC State University One Card offices face tough challenges trying to serve tens of thousands of students, faculty and staff. Every person needs an ID card to access various aspects of campus life, from entering residence halls and other buildings to linking to debit accounts and proving student status to participate in university activities. One Card office challenges include improving printer efficiency, reducing card waste, and eliminating the hassles of having to visit one central location to pick up cards. 08/09/2023

Defending the Campus Perimeter with Audio

How can audio from intercoms and IP speakers play a role with perimeter security? 06/27/2023

Five Considerations for Your Emergency Communications Plan

Communication is the lifeblood of any emergency response. Whatever events are happening and whatever your response is, the information must be communicated to the appropriate people. 05/11/2023

Preparing Teachers and Staff for an Active Shooter Event

Tornadoes, Shelters and Tubes, Oh My!

Twister. Funnel. Whirlwind. A tornado by any other name is still considered the deadliest and most destructive natural disaster on earth. Occurring on all continents except Antarctica, tornadoes have both terrified and fascinated mankind for centuries. The U.S. averages almost 1,300 tornadoes per year, more than all other continents combined. How do we protect ourselves when a tornado strikes? It is this question that has driven architects, engineers and the construction industry to develop codes and guidelines such as ICC 500 and FEMA P-361. These guidelines, at least in part, will help to ensure the proper construction of tornado shelters in order to save lives. 05/01/2021

University of Virginia Combats COVID-19 Outbreak

The University of Virginia reported 121 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, Feb. 15, and 229 new cases on Tuesday, Feb. 16. The university has announced a new set of health and safety regulations that are set to last through at least Friday, Feb. 26. 02/18/2021

Schools In Focus: Active Shooter Response Planning

In this episode, we spoke to Tom Saccenti, a former campus police chief and security expert, about active shooter response planning in schools. His first piece of advice is to walk through an active shooter scenario with all teachers, janitors, staff members, etc. at the school. 10/13/2020

Retrofitting University Buildings for Sound Masking

When a physical space offers a little passive noise control, such as high cubicle walls, private offices or softer, sound-absorbing materials, the effects on the well-being of each person — as well as their productivity — can be profoundly impacted. 10/12/2020

Why Now Is the Time for Schools to Re-Evaluate Safety Plans

Many of the CDC’s guidelines can be met through the use of technology, and schools should be investing in and implementing technology solutions that not only helps them adhere to CDC guidelines this fall, but bolsters their overall school safety now and in the future. 08/03/2020

School Safety and Security: The Value of Knowing What You Don’t Know

School districts should conduct comprehensive threat vulnerability assessments that not only focus on existing measures already in place, but also encapsulate a thorough review of operational safety and security focused policies and procedures. 07/20/2020

Specifying for Extreme Weather Preparedness and Safety

The inclusion of storm shelters, safe rooms and best available refuge areas are steadily increasing, especially due to recent code changes in the heart of the United States. By specifying commercial rolling doors and shutters that meet strict wind load and flying projectile requirements, classroom pods, cafeterias and gymnasiums can maintain a welcoming appeal while able to transform into a safe space within seconds. 07/13/2020

Setting the Stage for Success

Rethinking School Spaces and Structures to Maintain Proper Distancing Amid COVID-19

When students finally return to school after months of learning from home, there will be dramatic changes. Even when K-12 leaders are allowed to reopen their facilities, doing so safely and responsibly will require everyone to maintain proper distancing while they’re at school, experts agree — at least until there is a working vaccine for the COVID-19 virus. 07/01/2020

Q&A with the Editor: Tim Nyblom and Dave O’Driscoll, HID Global

We spoke to HID Global's Tim Nyblom, End User Business Manager - Higher Ed, and Dave O’Driscoll, Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives, about cloud and mobile technologies that will be important when universities reopen in the fall and in the next few years. 06/24/2020

Gunfire Detection Systems Are More Important Than Ever in a World Impacted by COVID-19

To aid in a rapid response, innovative technology companies have developed powerful gunfire detection systems to greatly reduce the time required before a suspect is apprehended. 06/23/2020

Collaborative Design Through the Lens of Interior Sliding Doors

In Bothell, Washington, Dykeman, Inc. worked with the Northshore School District to create a flexible, innovative learning center for 1,600 students centered on collaboration. They incorporated state-of-the-art interior single leaf sliding doors and hardware into eight "collaboration cubes" to pave the way for project-based and problem-based group learning, without compromising design. 03/25/2020

Taking the Panic Out of Panic Buttons

Despite the name, panic buttons are designed to take the panic out of a situation. As instincts kick in, a trained employee can have direct and easy access to alert or summon people for help quickly and discreetly with the push of a button. 02/12/2020

Spotlight On: Online Monitoring and Student Safety

In this interview, Richard Fuller, Executive Chairman of Impero Software, which provides online monitoring and classroom management software to schools, provides his take on using technology to support student safety. 12/04/2019

Schools Must Call for Resiliency in the Face of Increasing Cyber Threats

For policymakers, educational institutions and their IT leaders, and even concerned parents, collaborative cybersecurity efforts should rally around the concept of resilience, or the ability to bounce back. 12/02/2019

Q+A with a Facial Recognition Expert

We spoke to Mike Vance, Senior Director of Product Management at RealNetworks, the company behind SAFR K-12 to get a clearer picture of how their product can boost school safety. 11/08/2019

How to Effectively Utilize Facial Recognition for School Security

It’s been one year since St. Therese Catholic Academy in Seattle made the decision to adopt facial recognition technology as one of their security tools — here’s what they've experienced since doing so. 10/15/2019

Mastering Safe Construction on the Campus Jobsite

The construction industry is bringing real-time information into centuries-old processes. Internet of Things (IoT) devices and sensors can collect job-site data in affordable, efficient, and effective ways, improving efficiency and safety. 09/06/2019

Winds of Change: Storm Shelter Design Guidance

In recent years, the International Building Code has mandated that all new construction for K–12 schools in most of the Midwest and South Central United States include a community storm shelter. This article will explain the requirements of storm shelter design and explore best practices for planning and construction. 09/01/2019

The Importance of Safety Locks for K–12 Schools

Building Trendy K-12 Schools

The world of education is changing more quickly and more comprehensively than ever before. Two key developments are effectively changing the traditional design of K-12 schools. 07/09/2019

Trends: Key Developments Driving School Design

Science on Display

Creative design can solve the conflict between having an open research lab with natural light and views where passersby can see and be excited about the research being done and safeguarding sensitive or proprietary information. 07/01/2019

The Future of School Security

From stronger but less intrusive safety measures and “shut-down” protocols to juggling varying degrees of clearance in a complex environment, schools and airports share many of the same challenges and goals in public security. 07/01/2019

Healthy, Safe Schools

K-12 school environments can cause illness and injuries. What schools must do to prevent these problems. 06/01/2019

Residence Halls and Emergency Evacuation

It's both big things and little things that come together to ensure student safety when evacuating a residence hall in an emergency. Here are three things to take into account. 06/01/2019

Setting Social Media Boundaries Between Teachers and Students

Planning Disaster Responses

Many different kinds of disasters can strike your school. Are you prepared to respond? 04/01/2019

Wildfires Go to College

It doesn't happen often, but every now and then a wildfire threatens lives and property at a college or university campus. 04/01/2019

Are Your Strategies Wanting?

Emerging extreme violent attack methodologies. 03/01/2019

Examining Our Priorities

Sextortion: Another Cyber Danger for Youth

Managing Hazardous Waste on Campus

Colleges and universities should have plans in place at the beginning of the school year to ensure the safe management of hazardous waste. Doing so ensures the safety of both the campus and surrounding communities. 01/04/2019

Lifts to Upper Levels of Schools Need to be Quiet and Dignified

Storm Shelters for Education Facilities

Designers should consider these three things. 10/01/2018

Smart Cards Get Smarter

Card technology is evolving. Are you staying current? 10/01/2018

School Staff Goes Back to the Classroom for Mandated Reporter Training

Safe By Design: Can attention to environmental design lead to a safer campus?

When the conversation moves from how to secure buildings and expands to securing entire campuses, attention to environmental design can help with answers. 09/01/2018

It's In the Details

Make sure to check credentials, qualifications of third-party contractors, staff. 09/01/2018

Stationary Energy Storage Systems

A look at the safety concerns of renewable energy storage. 09/01/2018

Buckets of Rocks and Baseball Bats in Schools

A Safer Dismissal Process, One Pickup at a Time

For one elementary school principal, reorganizing the end of the school day has made life less chaotic for teachers, students, and parents. 09/01/2018

Being Transparent About School Safety Design

This episode's guest is Devin Bowman, General Manager of Technical Glass Products (TGP) and AD Systems. We’ll talk about the relationship between school architecture and designing for safety as design aspects like natural light and floor-to-ceiling windows become more common.