AIA Takes On School Safety By Design

The American Institute of Architects is launching a new initiative to address violence in schools through the power of design, and we need you to help to make it successful.

In the coming weeks and months, AIA will provide a series of strategically timed opportunities for architects to directly engage their elected officials at the local, state, and federal levels of government. And that begins today, with your signature on this petition to let your elected officials know that architects are an integral part of the solution to school violence.

Whether you design schools or not, we need you to show your support in the name of protecting our students and teachers—the ultimate goal of this important initiative. Achieving that goal begins with this petition. Not only will you be educating elected officials, but your signature will emphasize the “strength in numbers” that we must show to have them work with our profession and pass laws that prioritize design as part of the solution to school violence.

Once we get to 50,000 signatures, the petition will be delivered to your elected officials at the local, state, and federal levels. Can you help spread the word and sign the petition?

As 2018 AIA President Carl Elefante, FAIA, remarked when launching this initiative, “[W]hile public discourse on access to firearms and mental health services remains deadlocked, the power of design can improve school safety now. AIA is committed to working with stakeholders and officials to make schools safer while building the positive, nurturing, learning environments we all want for our children.”

Spread the word and stay tuned for more timely updates about how you and your colleagues can stay involved by texting “AIA” to the number 40649.

Sincerely,

Karina Ruiz, AIA
2019 Chair, Committee on Architecture for Education