Circulation

Corridors

• Consider circulation connectors throughout the school, eliminating the need for multiple buildings
• Interior corridors minimum of 8’0” clear width, or as required by building code
• Can be widened as collaborative space outside of classrooms or in main academic wings of the school
• Display of student work (short-term or long-term) or display of informational material
• Allow extra width if lockers incorporated into the corridor
• Provide daylighting in stairs and corridors, to the extent possible
• If campus layout of school spaces, main buildings should be connected by covered walkways 

Stairways

• Primary circulation stairwells: minimum width of 6 feet
• Durable materials
• Code compliant but open, if possible, to increase supervision and strengthen connection between floors
• Fire-rated glass into stairwells when they must be enclosed, to aid with visible supervision
• Windows with views to the outside to connect with nature, where applicable, and provide daylighting
• Consider utilizing space on ground floor under open stairs as potential supervisable seating/socialization space

Elevators

• Vertical circulation, handicap accessible
• Freight and furniture handling
• Centrally locate elevator, not only complying with ADA requirements but universal design
• Elevator equipment room

Lobbies

• Welcoming space as people enter or exit the building
• Large gathering space for entry into or exiting from event spaces (such as gymnasiums or auditoriums) or during events
• Informal socialization
• Temporary learning space or practice space
• Exterior entry vestibule, clearly defined from the exterior as either the main entry or after-hours event entry
• If lobby is at the main front entry to the school, provide a secure vestibule entry to main reception area 
• Parking
• Corridors or connections to rest of school and academic wings but with the ability to zone off the academic sections of the building and limit access during after-hours events
• Bathrooms
• Event space (gymnasium, auxiliary gymnasium, auditorium)
• concessions
• large volume space
• display areas of student work or achievements, and team sporting achievements
• sound attenuation
• possible digital display(s) outside of gymnasium or auditorium for announcements to live-stream events within event space or as a reader board at main entry
• warm and welcoming at the main entry as the living room of the school

Toilet, Multi-Stall

• quantity driven by code compliance unless noted otherwise
• Academic wing corridors, gymnasium, theater, and main gathering areas
• Convenient but not prominently located
• One single-user, handicap accessible bathroom should be located adjacent to all group toilet rooms and as designated throughout the building.
• For gender specific group bathrooms, arrange in similar fashion (i.e., boys’ bathroom on the left, girls’ bathroom on the right)
• Consider sightlines to reduce bullying, vandalism, or banned behavior
• Visible supervision into handwashing area, preferably located outside the toilet room, in an alcove or wide area off the corridor, shared by both girls and boys
• Do not locate mirrors where views are created into toilet area
• Open / no door into interior restrooms, where possible, to allow for acoustic supervision, except where restrooms need to be secured during normal school hours
• Consider all user restrooms, open and supervisable, with individual toilet rooms

Toilet, Single Staff

• ADA code compliant
• Occupancy status in locking mechanism

OPTIONAL FUTURE CONFIGURATION:  

With the intention of increasing safety by improving supervision of bathroom areas and reducing bad behavior causing emotional harm to students, alternate bathroom and toilet layouts at every grade level should be discussed during building design.  One option is to create individual toilet rooms, with floor to ceiling dividers, that open into a shared lavatory area that is open to the corridor or heavy circulation space for continual supervision. Nothing is designated by gender but open to everyone to use.

Student Lockers

• Along academic corridors, convenient to classrooms
• Single stack units may be used to help define Learning Commons spaces at the periphery, while not blocking visibility or hindering supervision.  If this strategy is implemented, top the single stack with a solid surface top to multi-use as a work surface.
• In corridors at 4th and 5th grades (28 per class), middle schools, and high schools.
• Lockers should not be grouped together in one long run.