As students prepare to return to classes in September, one Michigan high school is finishing up on a series of renovations meant to create a space that will keep children safe from mass shootings, WZZM 13 reported.
Fruitport High School has undergone a $48 million construction project which designers promise will keep students out of harm’s way in the event that a gunman enters the premises.
Some of the major changes to the school included the addition of curved hallways.
This will reduce sightlines, making it more difficult for shooters to have direct targets. The additon of zig-zagged walls will also offer any students trapped outside of a classroom the opportunity to hide behind a wall, taking cover from any potential gunfire.
Additonally, cement block “bump outs” have been installed in the curved halls which Fruitport Superintendent Bob Szymoniak said will give the students extra opportunity to seek cover before help arrives.
As part of the redesign, classrooms are spaced farther apart and each feature blind-zones.
These are areas in which students can hide from the view of someone standing outside the classroom peering in through the door, as well as from the windows.
Impact resistant film will be installed on all classroom windows, and access controlled locks on the doors will give leaders the chance to lock down the entire school at just the push of a single button.
Szymoniak said these design elements will “just naturally be part of buildings going into the future.”
America has experienced a total of 22 school shootings since the start of 2019, and many districts are actively trying to make their schools safer ahead of upcoming school year.
“This building will be the safest, most secure building in the state of Michigan when it opens,” he said. “Our ask is that our community be very understnading, keep the eyes on the prize because when our high school is done it’s going to be magnificent.”
An open house for the community is planned for October, with a special event to be held in December to commemorate the opening of the new classrooms.
h/t: WZZM 13
