SAFE ROOMS
MORE THAN JUST A SAFE ROOM
Sapp Design Architects is a recognized leader in FEMA-compliant safe room design, with over 70 completed projects since 2006. We’ve helped dozens of school districts and communities across the Midwest secure funding, design, and build tornado shelters that meet FEMA P-361 and ICC 500 standards—offering near-absolute protection.
Our team specializes in creating dual-purpose safe rooms that serve daily as gyms, classrooms, cafeterias, or community spaces—and double as life-saving storm shelters when severe weather strikes. Whether you’re planning an addition, a stand-alone shelter, or a fully integrated safe room within a new facility, Sapp Design delivers proven expertise from grant writing to final construction.
SPECIALIZED SERVICES
Preliminary FEMA Analysis
If you are considering a safe room but don’t know where to start, let our Safe Room Experts assist you with a preliminary analysis of your needs, potential dual-use for a new safe room, probable cost, and what options may be available for assisted funding.
Cost Estimates
Maintaining and making sure your project stays on budget is one of our top priorities. Through our proven process and track record of cost control, all costs in a project are considered day one and through each phase of your project.
Grant Writing
We understand the FEMA Safe Room process. From putting in a formal notice of interest, grant writing assistance, design, construction to final closeout of the grant.
Design
The addition of a safe room to your campus not only provides near-absolute protection from an EF-5 tornado for your students, staff, and community but, when correctly planned, can help fill many programmatic gaps by creating dual-use spaces. Our extensive experience with Safe Rooms can provide you a seamless transition from standard construction to safe room construction.
Construction Administration
Just as important as design, it is imperative during construction to have someone that has the experience and knowledge of the critical components of a safe room to ensure that it is not only designed to meet FEMA or ICC-500 standards but to be your trusted advisor throughout construction.
Project Management
Our collective team can assist you with the management of your project by collaboratively guiding you through the sometimes daunting task of managing the grant through the construction process on to final closeout of the grant.
EXAMPLE SAFE ROOMS: USE TYPES
Safe Room as Classrooms
Gym
Performing Arts Center
Indoor Practice Facility
