School Locker Room Design Guide

The Best Locker Room Design Trends for 2023
& Why Schools Want It

There’s never been a better time to renovate run-down or outdated areas in schools. One particular area is locker rooms. In 2023, and beyond, it’s more important than ever to provide a safe, private, and inclusive design to locker rooms.

What are the most common reasons for upgrading a locker room? Some may simply need to replace the plumbing and change out rusty lockers. Others might see the project as a way to entirely re-envision a faltering sports program. Whatever the reason for the revamp, today's locker rooms can be so much more than just a place to change and shower.

When renovating your locker room, there are many things that need to be taken into consideration. From addressing privacy and security to choosing the right materials to save on maintenance. As a facility manager, you'll need to make a plan. In this article, we cover that, as well as provide a checklist for your locker room renovations.

Balancing Privacy with Security

In a recent university survey, it was revealed that many of the LGBTQ students did not feel safe or comfortable in the campus rec facility due to the outdated locker rooms. It's more important than ever that locker rooms be designed with inclusiveness in mind.

Schools need to make sure that all groups of students feel safe and secure no matter where they are on campus, especially locker rooms.

Including the following will help students feel safe and provide the privacy they need:

Gender-neutral bathrooms with partitions that include zero sightline doors and overlapping closures for guaranteed privacy.
Private shower facilities with changing rooms near the showers.

The 2023 Floor Plan

The key to a perfect locker room floor plan is to find a balance of comfort and usability while optimizing your available space. So, the first step is to establish the number of users and available space allocated for the lockers.

It is important to ensure that there's sufficient room for clear access at all times, so careful consideration should be taken with the placement of lockers or benches so that they do not obstruct pathways.

With any project of this magnitude, it's important to collect input from many groups across campus, including faculty and staff members. While you may not be able to accommodate every request, having all stakeholder's feedback now will help minimize issues during the project and ensure it's finished on schedule and within budget.

The Locker Room Checklist

Organize your feedback into must-haves and nice-to-haves checklists and begin the research process to put together at least two projected plans - one that includes the minimum requirements, while the other will expand to include extra amenities and features.

Research all the products needed to complete each plan. The following checklist is a great starting point:

Choosing the correct locker material
Choosing locker styles and sizes
Colors to match the brand
Locker room benches/seating
Restroom facilities
Shower facilities
Slip-resistant flooring
Other amenities for increased privacy and security
Make sure locker rooms are accessible and meet ADA-compliant standards

Space-Saving Ideas for Locker Rooms

What do you do if you don't have a lot of space to work with? Evaluate how many users will need to be in the locker room at one time to determine the number of lockers needed.

What will the lockers be storing? If it's just for hanging clothes and shoes, consider taller but more narrow lockers. If students need to store backpacks, books, or other athletic gear, consider offering multiple sizes of lockers that can be stacked.

Consider the traffic flow from lockers to changing rooms to showers so students are not running into one another - if the layout is designed correctly even a small space will not seem cramped.

Build Community Among Student-Athletes

One aspect that is often overlooked in a locker room renovation is the opportunity to strengthen the campus brand. Include graphics of the team mascot as well as highlighting team and individual accomplishments, rankings, championships, and other honors. Use this as an opportunity to communicate the team's history, community, culture, and core values.

This is especially important during student-athlete recruiting visits because even adding personalized touches to lockers makes it feel customized for that athlete. Make sure to incorporate school colors, logos, and branding throughout your locker room to create a cohesive design.

We hope you found this guide helpful. To learn more about solutions to common school maintenance concerns please visit the School Fix® Blog, or explore our collections of products we have everything from locker parts to parking lot barricades or bathroom partition hardware.