Location: Des Moines, Iowa
Completion Date: August 2026
Project Size: 1,200 sq. ft.
Abstract: Creating a safer and more welcoming point of arrival, Samuelson Elementary School’s renovated secure entry strengthens campus security while bringing a playful new identity to the school’s main entrance.

The project expands the existing secure vestibule to provide greater control and visibility for students, staff, families, and visitors entering the building. Ballistic glazing was incorporated throughout the entry and office areas, while modifications to the main office improve circulation and provide a more direct means of egress.

Overhead, colorful suspended ceiling clouds transform the entry experience with a variety of shapes, scales, and layers. Drawing from the school’s green and yellow colors, the ceiling elements add warmth and energy while creating an engaging environment designed with elementary students in mind.

Balancing security with a welcoming atmosphere, the renovation demonstrates how safety improvements can become an opportunity to enhance the character of an existing school. The result is a more functional, secure, and memorable entrance that reflects the identity of the Samuelson Elementary community.