The 8 Things Domestic Violence Shelters Can Teach Us About Secure School Design

Subscriber Access

Flexibility within communal spaces stimulates and encourages a variety of uses. Project Name: Truman High School, a Federal Way Public School. Photo by Benjamin Benschneider.

In our last Editorial, "Post-Traumatic Design: How to Design Schools that Heal Past Wounds and Prevent Future Violence," we discussed how architects must conceptualize school design in the wake of the tragic shootings that have affected our nation. Rather than leaning towards overly secure, prison-like structures, the Editorial suggested a different model, one better suited to dealing with student needs (particularly for those who have experienced trauma): domestic violence shelters.

While the comparison may seem bizarre at first, shelter design is all about implementing un-invasive security measures that could easily make schools safer, healthier spaces for students. To further elaborate this unlikely connection, we spoke with an Associate at Mahlum Architecture, Corrie Rosen, who for the last 6 years has worked with the The Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence [WSCADV] on the Building Dignity project, which provides Domestic Violence Shelters advice to design shelters that empower and heal.

Find out Corrie Rosen's 8 strategies for designing schools that can improve security and student well-being, after the break...

Content Loader
About this author
Cite: Vanessa Quirk. "The 8 Things Domestic Violence Shelters Can Teach Us About Secure School Design" 31 Jan 2013. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/326114/the-8-things-domestic-violence-shelters-can-teach-us-about-secure-school-design> ISSN 0719-8884

You've started following your first account!

Did you know?

You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.