Page 58 - Security Today, November/December 2023

CAMPUS DESIGN STUDENT-CENTERED SOLUTIONS SPACE-EFFICIENT SLIDING DOORS SOLVE CHALLENGES IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DESIGN AUTHOR TYSEN GANNON IS THE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND MARKETING CONSULTANT AT AD SYSTEMS. IMAGE PEOPLEIMAGES.COM - YURI A/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM I n early 2023, John Diemer Elementary School, located in an east Kansas suburb, was transformed into a facility that em- bodies the idea that learning happens everywhere. The new facilities feature innovative classroom designs that balance flexibility and security—a plan that had been developed col- laboratively between the architects and project owners. After several visioning meetings with parents and staff, the architects at incite Design Studio focused on designs that prior- itized “visual openness, safety, flexibility, collaboration and grade level cohorts where students can help define their individual path- way towards learning.” These concepts, however, were not the only goals of the renovation. The architects and the Shawnee Mission School District also wanted to create a design that contributed to a more secure school environment. The solution to both challenges came in the form of mini maker spaces, dubbed “Co-Labs,” that were situated be- tween classrooms. Complete with storage space, restrooms and collaborative tools, these spaces ensure students have access to a variety of learning experiences. They are also designed to double as shelter-in-place locations in the event of an emergency. Key to the shelter-in-place aspect of the Co-Labs, the sliding doors that led into the spaces included minimal locking hardware and were customized with markable surfaces to camouflage the opening. The markable surfaces also double as a way for students to engage with classwork or to sketch out their own ideas. Their durable hardware and space-efficient design also helped the team meet their build- ing goals, including creating long-term, easy-to-maintain spaces. SPACE-EFFICIENT SLIDING DOORS CONTRIBUTE TO DESIGN FLEXIBILITY Integrating the Co-Labs between classrooms required a creative use of space. The design team specified sliding doors to preserve square footage. Sliding doors eliminate swing arc trajectories, sav- ing up to 30 square feet of useable space per door. For this pro- ject, because there was no need to plan for swing arc trajectories, the design team could maximize the size of the Co-Labs without drastically reducing classroom space. Further, because the doors slide along the wall, students and teachers can operate them without rearranging desks and other furniture to minimize disruptions. “Extreme flexibility was a driving force in the design,” said 14