Investigating effective elements of the interior environment in which are proactive strategies related to active shooting prevention are explored through passive and active measures. The research analyzes changes to the interior environment at Virginia Tech after the 2007 shooting based on the strategic implementation of certain actions, features, and experts involved in the decision-making process. This study aims to investigate effective proactive interior design strategies for higher education campuses (or classrooms) that engage both passive and active tactics, and to identify the process in which the decisions are made and implemented. The reviewed literature identifies important aspects of the policies, procedures, psychological/behavioral contingencies of space, and the convergence of design and the built environment. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the study will use interviews, photo-ethnography, and forced connections to identify changes made in policies and design which have impacted the higher education environment and safety. The findings are expected to suggest an intersecting approach between decisions made by outside experts and their effect on the interior environment. The potential impact of this research will guide and encourage collaborative, standards, and best practices relative to evidence-based decisions on protection and proactive actions against active shooter situations at Institutions of Higher Education.

Through the study of Biophilic Design, Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design, and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, this thesis investigates how physical characteristics of a space influence human behavior and proposes Architectural Natural Measures to reduce opportunity for a school shooting. These measures are intended to be a cost effective and holistic alternative to conventional, highly visible security measures that often have an adverse effect on student perception of school safety.