The quality of the process creates the quality of the architecture. The wholehearted participation of the community brought to life their vision of what was needed: a process of revitalization for all of Newtown and the creation of a plan with welcoming arms, embracing all the future students of Sandy Hook. Key to success was the need for the establishment of a strong trust among participants, designers and the community. Through School-Based Building Advisory Committee (SBBAC) community engagement process, along with the “KidsBuild!” Program which invites children into the design and construction process, the process didn’t just earn the community’s trust in design, it helped the community heal.
With security a deep concern, the new Sandy Hook school was designed with an array of aesthetically pleasing features that do double duty as security fixtures. Classrooms with tall windows not only fill the space with light but also provide clear lines of sight; footbridges and a rain garden along the front of the school provide a buffer for the school and channel access along particular pathways; hidden gates secure the property; and what appear to be traditional New England stone walls are cast-concrete blocks that serve as perimeter fences.
For many families in Sandy Hook, returning to this site was an incredibly difficult experience. But the new building, with its thoughtful planning and landscaping, makes it a place people want to be. A place that feels like a part of the community. A place that feels safe — a place that is safe.
