Mount Holly, NJ, 02 July 2018 – The architecture firm Regan Young England Butera; Referendums, Engineering, Architecture, Design (RYEBREAD) is creating Secure Entry projects this summer at two more school districts across South Jersey.  Harrison Township in Gloucester County and CharterTech in Atlantic County are enhancing the safety of their students, faculty, and staff by hardening access to their schools.

These projects consist of sets of secure barriers and electronically monitored and controlled external doors.  All school access is via the Main Entry, which is staffed  by Office or Security personnel.  Many transactions can take place via a secure transaction window without permitting visitors to the building interior.

RYEBREAD partner Scott England, AIA, has been recognized as the only architect in New Jersey certified as a School CPTED Practitioner by National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO). Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is an architectural strategy that “naturally” reduces the incidence and fear of crime, often at lower implementation and operational costs then more technological approaches.

“Security planning and implementation is critical to keep students and staff safe in educational facilities,” explains England. “Security vestibules provide additional protection by adding a secured space with two of more sets of doors and an office sign-in area. Once a visitor has signed in and been identified as an authorized visitor, the doors from the sign-in area to the school can be electronically unlocked.”

According to Harrison Township Superintendent Missy Peretti, “In addition to the added security of knowing who is visiting the school, a security vestibule also serves as a single point of entrance for students who are late to school or coming from an appointment, because all other doors to the school remain locked.”

“We are enclosing the circulation between our buildings to provide better protection to occupants of our educational campus,” explains Dr. Brian McGuire, Principal/Lead Person of CharterTech High School for Performing Arts in Somers Point.  “Their safety is our top priority.”

Over the past decade, RYEBREAD has provided design, documentation, bidding, and construction administration services for security upgrade projects in Pemberton, Mount Holly, Southampton, Tabernacle, Eastampton, Hainesport, Medford, and Ocean City School Districts.  Three additional projects are in the pipeline at RYEBREAD client districts.

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