SAN JOSE, CALIF. — Silver Creek High School’s new K-building, as cool and modern as it is designed, unfortunately proves to be a safety concern for students and staff.

This recent addition to Silver Creek was up and running this 2023-2024 school year. Its primarily glass orientation is what makes this building unique. The reflective glass garage doors in front of classrooms, the spacious lower level and a public elevator to the second floor is what adds to this wonderful aesthetic.

However, already halfway through the first semester a public address (PA) system has only just been installed and effective solutions for emergencies in the building have not been properly addressed. Our only latest inclusion was the metal red and white chairs and tables decorated around the lower level, giving a food court type of vibe.

Its prominence for glass in its design causes many students, like myself, to question the priorities architects and our school hold. Of course, we do not want to think about horrible tragedies such as school shootings happening in our campus, but it’s important to consider them. That is the sole purpose for why we have earthquake, fire, and run, hide, defend (code red) drills.

Recently, Silver Creek initiated a run, hide, defend drill during students’ third period class. Those who were in K-Building’s upper floor were instructed to hide in an echo chamber of a storage room that led to the roof. 

During this drill Luciana Rodriguez mentions that her teacher instructed in the case of a crisis to smash the windows in efforts to jump out despite being on the upper floor. Then to run to nearby public areas like Target in hopes of receiving assistance.

“It is very scary to think that an emergency might happen in K-Building because I don’t trust that the designers acknowledged it enough,” says the Silver Creek junior.

Like myself, Rodriguez is heavily concerned for her safety with how teachers were just given a tarp to cover the garage doors in the case of a code red. However, it clearly will be ineffective once the door is shattered and the perpetrator goes under the tarp, or might even smash through the glass door.

Many students like myself hope when designing new school buildings, authorities will pay attention to the misfortune schools around the U.S. may encounter, and take in consideration the safety of individuals on campus.