Architects Meet Security Halfway
What Should They Do to Go All the Way?
The normal process for building or inhabited space design
goes something like this: the client
goes to the architect and describes his/her vision. The architect interprets that vision using
their creative juices. That’s a good
thing! Once the client approves the vision then project is handed over to an
engineering firm to “build the guts”. Once the infrastructure is done and the
project is finalized. The client accepts
the project. At that point, it’s up to
the client to coordinate the security features of the designed environment.
Sometimes, this process works. But more often than not, it doesn’t for a
very simple reason. Everyone sees the
project differently. The first questions
the architect asks the client is how many people, what type of space
(open/shared/closed offices, how many floors, etc.? During that conversation there should be
questions asked that regard the Design Basis Threat; i.e, what types of threats
are we trying to protect against? This particularly the case when it comes to
man-made threats; such as, active shooter, hostile vehicle, insider
threats. Natural threats to buildings
and people are usually governed by ordinances or codes; fire, earthquake, high
winds, etc. Man-made threats on the
other hand are not usually governed by ordinance.
That said, when understanding man-made threats it is
important to identify several keys elements of the threat:
1) Types of aggressors threats (covert or overt, group or
individual, organized or not)
2) Aggressor motivations or objectives (inflict injury or
death, damage or destroy property, steal equipment or materials, and create
adverse publicity)
3) Aggressor tactics (both the modus operandi and the
tools needed to be successful)
Unfortunately, these elements are usually left up to the
security consultant towards the end of the project. If they were considered during the initial
15% phase or 35% phase of the project, it could easily accommodate
countermeasures that mitigate these identified threats purely by designing the
space to do just that while still maintaining functionality and aesthetics.
The Department of Defense, Department of State and
Veteran’s Administration mandate that a security representative be part of the
design team from the very beginning. The
civilian world should follow suit, instead of the current halfway method.
Other trends in the built environment are discussed here:
Security Industry
Association Technology Insight, Spring edition
Security Industry
Association Technology Insight, Fall edition
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