Luzerne Intermediate Unit’s Lighthouse Academy Installs ASSA ABLOY Door Solutions to Help Keep Students Safe

Luzerne Intermediate Unit’s Lighthouse Academy in northeastern Pennsylvania offers intensive levels of intervention to students with challenges in grades K-8, preparing them educationally and emotionally for a successful transition back to their neighborhood schools. The Academy fosters a culture of success and optimism, where students learn to manage and control their own behaviors, acquire the necessary academic skills, and successfully function at home, school, and in the community. All activities of the academy are conducted within the context of positive behavior management strategies. The academy operates on the belief that students, parents, educators, and therapists can work together to achieve individualized student goals.

Declared “the safest school in Pennsylvania” by well-known security consultant Mason Wooldridge, the academy is unique in that the building is a former Army Reserve Unit that’s been renovated into a school facility featuring specialized classrooms, therapy and sensory rooms, administrative offices, nurse’s suite, multipurpose rooms, kitchen, and gymnasium/cafeteria space.

Security is built into all facets of the facility’s operations, from the main vestibule, which features attack-resistant glass and electronic access control, to sensors on exterior doors that alert staff when they are opened.

“The security features are all about buying minutes,” said Joe DeLucca, Director of Administrative Services for Luzerne Intermediate Unit. “They give staff time to respond appropriately to the situation, keep students safe and, hopefully, de-escalate or compartmentalize problems before they worsen.”

DeLucca and his team consulted regularly with ASSA ABLOY staff before and during the building’s renovations to identify solutions that best fit the Academy’s varied needs. After approving the in-depth door hardware schedules, Kelly Brothers was hired to perform the installations.

Classroom doors are equipped with Sargent 8200 Series classroom security locks, which are heavy-duty commercial locks suitable for demanding environments such as education, healthcare (including behavioral health), and other high-abuse or high-traffic doorways where reliability and security are essential. The 8200 Series meets and exceeds ANSI/BHMA A156.13 Series 1000 Grade 1 for both operational and security performance, and offers electrified options, such as fail-safe/fail-secure configurations, and advanced monitoring switches, including latch monitor, deadbolt monitor, door position switch (IDP), and request-to-exit.

The exterior doors are Curries bullet-resistant door assemblies with Sargent 80 Series exit devices. Made to last the lifetime of the building, the 80 Series exit device easily exceeds ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 requirements for cycle and strength and is available in rim, mortise, surface vertical, and concealed vertical rod configurations. With a modular design, this device is maintenance-free and provides unsurpassed security for any facility. Options are available for unique applications, including delayed egress, alarmed exit, and electric latch retraction.

Sargent 7000 Series multi-point locks secure the administrative conference rooms. The 7000 Series multi‑point lock uses concealed vertical rods to latch at the top (and optionally the bottom) of the door, giving architects and specifiers a robust, secure, and aesthetically clean multi-point lock solution where a high level of security is needed but exit devices (like panic bars) are not.

Rockwood RM3131 door pulls are installed at the main entrance. The Rockwood RM3131 is a sleek, contemporary architectural door pull that combines understated elegance with practical design. Its base materials are flexible — options include stainless steel, brass, bronze, and aluminum — giving designers a wide range of finishes to match architectural styles. Mounting is very versatile: choose through-bolt, surface-concealed, or back-to-back installation, depending on the door type (metal, wood, or glass).

As indicated by its “safest school” moniker, Lighthouse Academy’s security has proven highly effective. Facilities like Lighthouse Academy face unique security challenges that require a level of protection beyond standard commercial settings. Doors, locks, and hardware must withstand frequent use, potential tampering, and high-stress situations while maintaining safe egress and accessibility.

Durable, reliable hardware such as heavy-duty mortise locks, multi-point locking systems, and reinforced door pulls is critical to ensuring that staff can maintain a secure environment without constant maintenance or replacement. Every entry point, from classrooms to common areas, must be designed to resist forced entry or misuse, while also supporting the safety and well-being of staff and students. In such high-emotion environments, investing in robust, dependable hardware is not just about longevity; it is a core component of operational safety and the facility’s overall ability to manage risk effectively.

“There are both internal and external security changes we have to account for. At the same time, we don’t want students to feel like they’re in prison,” said DeLucca. “It’s easy to get information overload when researching security options, and we were fortunate to partner with ASSA ABLOY early in the process to find equitable solutions for our door security needs.”