The Committee on Architecture for Education (CAE) is a Knowledge Community of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). We are a large and active group of over 10,000 architects and allied professionals concerned with the quality and design of all types of educational, cultural, and recreational facilities that promote lifelong learning in safe, welcoming and equitable environments. The CAE’s mission is to foster innovative and collaborative design of educational facilities and to heighten public awareness on the importance of learning environments.
At present, architects and school administrators across the nation are besieged by public voices, political groups, and vendors of security technologies who have proposed a host of solutions to school-based violence. In light of the ongoing discussion surrounding school safety, security, and school violence prevention, this paper discusses literature highlighting the impact of school security measures, the influence of the built environment on student learning and wellbeing, and how the use of Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) indicates a potential for creating schools that are both physically safe and psychologically supportive. In addition, gaps in existing literature are identified to provide direction for future research initiatives seeking to inform the planning and design of safe and supportive school facilities.