Skip to content
STV
  • Our Work
    • MarketsThe infrastructure that powers our lives.
    • ServicesWe work harder so our solutions work better.
    • Infrastructure ReimaginedHow STV is shaping the future.
    • PortfolioProjects that are making communities better.
    • Infrastructure is economic development.

      Infrastructure is economic development.

      It helps create a better quality of life and more opportunities for communities.

  • About Us
    • How We WorkWe understand. We serve. We collaborate.
    • Where We Are60+ offices across North America.
    • What We BelieveMaking communities better with integrity, partnership and optimism.
    • How We Got HereGenerational impact for over a century.
    • We’re here to improve communities.

      We’re here to improve communities.

      Our sense of purpose drives us.

  • Careers
    • Make a Positive Impact on Your Local CommunityJoin us to create the future you want.
    • Life at STVWe are a team.
    • Job ListingsFind the right opportunity for you.
    • Forget the career ladder.

      Forget the career ladder.

      At STV, your career path grows around you.

  • Insights
    • Thought LeadershipFirst-person perspectives and reflections from our team.
    • Industry ExpertiseDeep dives for projects that makes communities better.
    • Project ExcellenceHow our work is shaping the trends moving the industry.
    • We have an eye on the future.

      We have an eye on the future.

      Learn what's next in the industry.

  • News & Events
    • NewsRead our timely news and latest stories.
    • EventsConnect with us at industry events in your community.
    • We're on the move.

      We're on the move.

      See what's happening at STV.

  • Contact Us

Trendsetting

Blueprint for Safe Haven: The Role of Design in School Security

Published

April 16, 2024

Blueprint for Safe Haven: The Role of Design in School Security
Sandy Hook school

The evolution of design mirrors the shift in priorities for the communities STV serves – from ADA accessibility to resilience planning to equity in design. As the nation’s understanding of school safety continues to evolve, so too must design standards for the facilities students, faculty, and staff use every day.

“The tragic reality of school shootings and other school hazards has forced us to rethink traditional approaches to school design,” said Angela Cahill, AIA, NOMA, NARB, LEED AP, and project executive. “Connecticut is no stranger to such needs.”

While Connecticut’s 165 school districts originally operated independently for infrastructure improvements, the need for a uniform level of design for school safety was created in 2012 as a collective resource for preventative construction in the wake of Sandy Hook.

For the construction of a new Sandy Hook School, STV provided owner’s representative services for the building, which included a new, state-of-the-art security system and an eco-friendly design. Working closely with the Newtown Public Building and Site Commission, STV maintained compliance with Connecticut’s Office of School Facilities on what served as a case study for advancements in school safety design.

Today, Cahill is on the ground floor for change in the way schools are being designed with safety in mind.

Along with representatives from the state’s emergency response teams, building officials, educators, and municipal operators, Cahill was appointed by Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont to the Connecticut State School Safety Infrastructure Council and School Building Projects Advisory Council to develop and update building criteria for designers to address safety needs. The original manual was released and put into action in 2015.

construction site of school building

In March of this year, Cahill and other council members performed a detailed review of the original school safety infrastructure manual, a crucial document that sets both the required and recommended design features for public school projects throughout the state.

Along with her peers, Cahill’s recommendation for the next iteration of the manual is to include updated design options that meet safety needs beyond lockdowns.

“Since the creation of the initial manual, there have been other safety breaches nationwide that have informed alternative methodologies to keep students and staff safe,” Cahill said. “Our goal for the updated manual is to provide design criteria that are flexible and applicable to a variety of school settings and situations.”

Implementing such criteria requires stalwart collaboration among the project team for any school renovation or replacement.

“As Owner’s Project Manager (OPM), we represent the client’s best interest to confirm the implementation of these safety designs,” Cahill said. “When working hand-in-hand with our design team, we can preempt any inconsistencies or discrepancies with the manual.”

kids sitting on colorful seats in school

Together, the design and OPM teams address safety features for site improvements, entrance sequences, and communications protocols.

“This manual has been used across the country to keep teachers and students safe from exterior and interior threats to safety,” Cahill said. “As major metropolitan areas work to expand their education systems, this framework is a crucial component of design.”

On the horizon, Cahill and her fellow council members will begin the process of revising the manual to adjust to the evolving needs of Connecticut schools.

“Ultimately, STV is dedicated to communities,” Cahill said. “The most important action we can take as OPMs and architects is to safeguard our children.”

Sandy Hook school

Project

Sandy Hook School

Client

Newtown Public Building and Site Commission

Location

Newtown, Connecticut

Markets

Education: Pre K–12

Services

Advisory: Funding and Grants

Project Delivery: Owner's Representative

Project Status

Complete

connecticut construction management design education OPM owner's project management safety security

Featured

Related News & Insights

Curtis High School

Design Observed

Revitalizing Education: Transforming Schools into Modern Learning Environments

Perspectives

Answering the Bell for Our Academic Clients

Sandy Hook School

Education

Sandy Hook School

  • Privacy Policy
  • STV Logo
  • Sitemap
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Copyright 2025 © STV Incorporated. All rights reserved.