DO YOUR
SCHOOL
SPACES
MAKE THE
GRADE?
Architects and engineers often rely on established specifications and familiar building materials when designing schools – and for good reason. Proven approaches save time and effort. But when schools are expected to serve students for 50 years or longer, it’s always worth studying new choices to discover which could best deliver the performance that each school space needs, now and in the future.
Today, school districts face mounting maintenance costs, ongoing security concerns and changing weather patterns that affect classroom comfort. They’re also looking for ways to be more sustainable.
Every challenge adds a new wrinkle to consider, and materials that worked for one school – even one built recently – may not be the best fit for the next. By rethinking wall-system choices early in the design process, resourceful design teams can help make sure each school space has the durability, safety, comfort, aesthetics and acoustic performance it needs.
RE-EVALUATING
SCHOOL SPACE NEEDS
A library is not a laboratory is not a shop class. Different school spaces have different requirements, shaped by countless variables and evolving over time. Concrete masonry units (CMU) offer a combination of durability and versatility to meet more needs in more spaces, as well as cost savings over a building’s lifecycle. So, where do things deserve a closer look?
GYMNASIUMS
Gyms need to withstand decades of intense physical activity, from bouncing balls and crashing bodies to flying equipment. CMU is impact resistant by nature, making it well suited for these demanding environments. CMU also inherently dampens sound, helping keep the racket of gym activities contained so the whistle stops at the wall.
The durability of CMU becomes even more beneficial when spaces are used as community shelters. Properly designed and reinforced concrete masonry wall assemblies can meet the demanding structural and impact-resistance requirements for storm shelters.
HALLWAYS AND
STAIRWELLS
High-traffic corridors are put to the test every school day. Backpacks, carts and other objects scrape and crash into walls between every period, inevitably creating maintenance demands for these spaces over the decades.
There’s no way to avoid the chaos, but CMU withstands and contains it like nothing else. It doesn’t require separate protection or corner guards like framed assemblies do, and its sound-dampening features help keep corridor noises – from shouting and slamming lockers to mobile devices – from disrupting learning.
CMU also has a vital role to play in fire safety. It is commonly used as a firewall to help contain a fire – such as in a lab – and protect other parts of a school. And used in a stairwell it can provide a protected means of escape in the event of a fire.
CLASSROOMS
The best learning spaces are safe-and-soundproof, and wall materials play the biggest role in achieving both.
Whether there’s a study hall or a band room next door, specifying the right wall material is essential to ensure that classrooms are safe-and-soundproof for better learning. Depending on its design and competition, an 8-inch, grouted CMU wall can not only provide strong sound isolation but also achieve a four-hour fire resistance rating.
EXTERIOR SPACES
Exterior walls do more than protect school occupants from weather and other elements. They also help create a school’s identity. Entryways can provide security while creating a warm, welcoming environment. And exterior walls can serve as attractive backdrops for outdoor learning.
Modern architectural CMU is available in a wide range of colors, sizes, patterns and surface textures. These options give architects freedom to create distinctive school identities that reflect their community. And because CMU is typically made regionally, schools can incorporate locally sourced, sustainable materials that can also help reduce long-term energy and maintenance costs.
Clark Avenue Middle School in Chelsea, Massachusetts, demonstrates how architectural CMU can combine distinctive design with durability, acoustic comfort and long-term performance.
NEW WAYS TO
BUILD LASTING
LEGACIES
Designing a new school is a chance to improve outcomes for generations of students – and to learn something new. CMU’s unique durability, safety, performance and design versatility can enhance learning across every space, ensuring that these long-term investments deliver lasting value while better serving their communities.
Have a school project in planning or design? Connect with a BDC expert for no-cost design assistance.
Project SupportFrequently Asked Questions About CMU in K-12 Schools
Where is concrete masonry most useful in school construction?
CMU deserves consideration in gymnasiums, hallways, stairwells, classrooms and exterior walls. Its suitability depends on each space's requirements for impact resistance, acoustics, fire safety, resilience, architectural design and lifecycle performance.
Is CMU a good choice for school interior partition walls?
CMU can be a strong choice for interior partitions in high-traffic or acoustically sensitive spaces. It provides inherent impact resistance and can deliver fire resistance and sound isolation, depending on the wall assembly.
Can concrete masonry be used for school storm shelters?
Yes. Properly engineered and reinforced CMU wall assemblies can be designed to meet applicable storm-shelter structural and impact-resistance requirements. Compliance depends on the complete shelter design, not the wall material alone.
How does CMU compare with framed wall systems for school construction?
CMU provides inherent impact resistance and can deliver acoustic separation and fire resistance within a single wall assembly. Framed systems can also meet these requirements through appropriately designed assemblies, often incorporating additional layers or materials. The best choice depends on project-specific performance, cost and construction considerations.