How School Shootings Are Changing the Design of American Classrooms

High-profile school shootings, and the fear they spread, are shaping how architects design the modern American school. The safety features, some required by state law, include measures meant to keep armed perpetrators out and to help first responders. 

“The typical challenge is to have the building seem very welcoming and yet at the same point not penetrable,” said Jerry Lammers, principal of Alamo Architects in San Antonio.

But he and other architects also embrace open interior spaces to foster a sense of community. The idea is these areas can ease the isolation that might lead a troubled youth to lash out violently.