Case Study: Cherry Creek School District, Colorado — Largest School Security Film Project in U.S. History
Technical Abstract
In August 2025, one of Colorado's most accomplished school districts — Cherry Creek Schools — awarded the largest school security window film project in U.S.
- Cherry Creek School District (Colorado) awarded the largest school security film project in U.S. history: 300,000 sq ft across 70+ schools
- 3M Scotchshield S2400 with Impact Protection Attachment (IPA) was selected after rigorous field testing outperformed competing products
- The district conducted live ballistic and impact testing — a rare evidence-based approach that should be a model for other districts
- Epic Security & Architectural Window Films won the contract; installation planned across the 2025–26 school year
Key Technical Chapters
In August 2025, one of Colorado's most accomplished school districts — Cherry Creek Schools — awarded the largest school security window film project in U.S. history. Spanning 300,000 square feet across more than 70 schools, the project represents a new benchmark for how school districts evaluate, test, and deploy window hardening technology at scale.
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Important clarification: Security window film is not bulletproof. The 3M™ Scotchshield™ S2400 film used in this project is designed to delay forced entry and hold shattered glass together — it does not stop bullets. True ballistic protection requires certified multi-layered glazing systems with specialized framing. The value of security film is in the critical seconds it buys for lockdown procedures and law enforcement response.
Project Overview: Cherry Creek School District, Colorado
District profile: Cherry Creek School District serves more than 53,000 students across 70 schools in eight municipalities in the Denver metropolitan area. With a 91% graduation rate, among the highest percentages of teachers with advanced degrees in Colorado, and nearly 250 state athletic titles, Cherry Creek is widely regarded as one of Colorado's premier school systems.
Scope: District-wide installation of 3M™ Scotchshield™ Security Window Film S2400 — 300,000 square feet across all 70+ school buildings — making it the largest school security window film project ever undertaken in the United States.
Product: 3M™ Scotchshield™ S2400, a polyurethane-based security film with greater tear strength and elongation than traditional PET films of similar thickness. Combined with the 3M™ Impact Protection Attachment (IPA) system, which anchors the film to window and door frames using structural sealant.
Awarded to: Epic Security & Architectural Window Films and Graphics (Epic), a multi-year 3M National Dealer of the Year.
Timeline: Announced August 28, 2025. Installation planned across the 2025–26 school year, Cherry Creek's 75th anniversary year.
The selection process: Cherry Creek conducted rigorous field testing for ballistic and impact resistance — something few school districts do. Epic's installation of 3M S2400 significantly outperformed competing products in these tests. A critical finding: competing products failed to maintain the integrity of the security film and glass during testing, while Epic's IPA installation ensured the film's full protective performance.
What They Said
"That diligence is exactly why this partnership is so meaningful. This school district demanded evidence, and the results showed that our installation process with 3M's S2400 and IPA system provides unmatched protection."
"Our partner school district's choice sends a powerful message: when lives are at stake, there is no room for compromise."
"The school district's rigorous evaluation affirmed what our research has shown — that the 3M™ Scotchshield™ Security Window Film S2400 provides the strength, flexibility, and clarity that customers are requesting to support delayed entry."
Why This Project Is Different
Evidence-Based Procurement
Most school districts select security film based on price, reputation, or peer recommendations. Cherry Creek did something different: they conducted live field testing of multiple products under ballistic and impact conditions. This is the same approach used by federal security agencies, and it's rare at the K-12 level.
The results were unambiguous. Epic's installation of 3M S2400 with the IPA system held firm while competing products failed. This data-driven approach should be a model for every district considering security film.
Scale Creates Standards
At 300,000 square feet, this project dwarfs most school security film installations. For comparison, a typical single-school installation might cover 2,000–5,000 square feet. Cherry Creek's project is effectively 60–150 typical schools' worth of film. This scale matters because it demonstrates that:
- Manufacturers can deliver at volume — 3M ramped production to meet Cherry Creek's requirements
- Installation methodology must be consistent — Epic's use of 100% in-house certified technicians ensures every window is installed to the same standard
- Cost-per-square-foot drops — large-scale procurement creates pricing that smaller districts can reference in their own budget planning
The Technology: 3M Scotchshield S2400
The S2400 is 3M's latest-generation security film, using a polyurethane construction rather than the traditional PET (polyester) layers found in most security films. This gives it superior tear strength and elongation — the technical term for how much a material can stretch before tearing. In practical terms:
- More energy absorption — the film can stretch further under impact before failing, meaning it absorbs more of the attacker's force
- Greater tear resistance — once breached, the film is less likely to propagate tears that allow full entry
- Optically clear — UL972 tested for safety glazing, and nearly invisible after installation
The IPA (Impact Protection Attachment) system is equally important. The film itself is only as strong as its attachment to the window frame. The IPA system uses a structural-grade sealant that anchors the film into the framing system, preventing the entire glass-and-film assembly from being pushed out of the frame during an attack.
Implications for Other School Districts
Cherry Creek's Vetting Process Sets a Precedent
The most important takeaway from this project isn't the size — it's the method. Cherry Creek proved that K-12 districts can and should conduct their own performance testing before committing to a security film product. For districts that lack the internal capacity to run ballistic tests, the Cherry Creek results provide a ready-made reference: 3M S2400 with IPA installation passed the most rigorous testing any school district has conducted.
Largest ≠ Most Expensive Per Square Foot
While the total contract value hasn't been publicly disclosed, large-scale projects like this typically achieve 20–40% lower per-square-foot costs compared to smaller installations. This means Cherry Creek's per-building cost is likely comparable to or lower than what a smaller district would pay for a single-school installation.
Colorado's Growing School Security Market
The Cherry Creek project has already had ripple effects. Epic opened an Aurora, Colorado office to support the project and plans to open a larger operations facility near Denver. This expansion means Colorado schools now have access to the same installation expertise that has driven school security film adoption across Texas.
The Competitive Testing Detail
One detail from this case that deserves special attention: competing products failed during Cherry Creek's field testing. This is almost never disclosed publicly in security film marketing, and it highlights a critical truth that many districts don't consider — not all security films perform equally, and the installation method matters as much as the film itself.
3M's IPA system specifically addresses a common failure point in standard security film installations: the film may hold the glass together but the entire glass panel can still be pushed out of the frame. The IPA system's structural sealant anchors the film to the frame, preventing this failure mode. Cherry Creek's testing confirmed that this mechanical-anchor approach significantly outperforms film-only or wet-glaze-only installations.
Funding Considerations
Cherry Creek funded this project through its standard capital improvement budget, leveraging the scale of a 70-school district to achieve cost efficiencies. For smaller districts without Cherry Creek's budget, the project still serves as a valuable reference:
- Grants: Colorado has school security grant programs through the Colorado Department of Public Safety that can offset film installation costs
- Bond measures: Many Colorado districts have passed school safety bonds that include window hardening as a line item
- Scale collaboration: Multiple small districts in a region can aggregate their purchasing power for volume pricing
See our 2026 School Safety Grants Guide for more funding strategies.
Key Takeaways
- Cherry Creek School District's 300,000-sq-ft project is the largest school security film project in U.S. history
- The district conducted live ballistic and impact testing — a rare and commendable evidence-based approach
- 3M Scotchshield S2400 with IPA system outperformed competing products in field testing
- Competing products failed to maintain film integrity during testing, underscoring the importance of both product selection and installation methodology
- The project demonstrates that large-scale school security film deployment is feasible with proper planning and certified installation partners
- Districts of any size can reference Cherry Creek's testing results when making their own product selections
Related Resources
- Real Schools That Installed Security Window Film: Case Studies & Lessons Learned — Full collection of school security film case studies
- Are Security Window Films Required in Schools? 2026 State-by-State Guide — State mandates and legal requirements
- Campus Security: Strengthening School Glass with Window Film — Technical specifications and product comparisons
- 3M vs LLumar vs Madico Comparison — Side-by-side product analysis
Sources & References
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Technical FAQ
How large is the Cherry Creek School District security film project?
It is the largest school security window film project in U.S. history, covering 300,000 square feet across 70+ school buildings in the Denver metropolitan area.
Why did Cherry Creek choose 3M Scotchshield S2400 over competing products?
The district conducted live ballistic and impact testing — rare for K-12 districts — and 3M S2400 with the IPA system significantly outperformed all competing products, which failed during testing.
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