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unsplash.com, Paul Green

The list goes on and on ...

• Tree of Life Synagogue
• Parkland
• Emanuel African American Methodist Church, Charleston, S.C.
• Las Vegas
• Sandy Hook
• Columbine
• Oklahoma City
• 9/11

And there are so many more. These examples of terrorism have heightened our awareness and fear when we enter an office building, movie theaters, schools, and houses of worship. Many of us scan these facilities seeking the nearest exit. Others identify the closest place to take cover.

These events and their emotional fall-out on the public's psyche require designers to be aware of the "head space" and needs of those for which they design.

... parents, employees, worshippers, and others are expecting much more from the facilities they frequent. 

Everyone is rightfully planning for the “what ifs.” But in addition to personal vigilance, parents, employees, worshippers, and others are expecting much more from the facilities they frequent. With the continuing trend of shootings and bombings in public spaces, building owners, school boards, and property management firms are increasingly tasked with devising security plans that can minimize damage and injuries.

While they may not be able to eliminate threats, they can develop plans that prevent injuries and deaths and perhaps buy some time for first responders to arrive on the scene.

... it’s important to realize that [secure buildings are] the end result of a collaboration of professionals from disciplines, including law enforcement, technology experts, architects, security firms, and others.

Creating secure spaces

So, what are the components of this “plan”? First it’s important to realize that it is the end result of a collaboration of professionals from disciplines, including law enforcement, technology experts, architects, security firms, and others.

Here are the components of a security plan that hopefully prevents injuries and deaths, while somewhat allaying fears among parents, students, employees, worshippers and others frequenting public places:

• Define the threat: Based on the layout of the building or public space, try to determine the most likely threats. Could it be an armed intruder forcing entry or an explosive device?
• Define the type of likely threat: For example, could the threat be a satchel bomb left in the bushes or in a parked van nearby or in the facility parking lot?
• Analyze the points of entry and the most likely location of a threat: For example, worship areas in churches and in synagogues, etc., are likely targets as are lunchrooms and crowded corridors in schools.
• Analyze building design to determine evacuation routes.

Based on the layout of the building or public space, try to determine the most likely threats.

With this and more information in hand, designers and facilities management can put together a security and evacuation plan with the following components:

1. Increased security personnel at all entry points to the facility
2. Installation of security cameras to monitor all areas of the structure
3. Limit access points. For example, schools should have one access point controlled by electronic entry systems
4. Eliminate bushes, public garbage cans, etc., as places where explosives can be placed
5. Installation of security/blast window film. A variety of films hold shards of glass in place in the event of a blast, preventing them from becoming dangerous projectiles. Also, this security film prevents intruders from breaking glass and entering the structure, thereby buying time for first responders to arrive on the scene
6. Increased measures to be taken in areas that are likely targets (worship centers, school lunchrooms, etc.)
7. Installation of metal detectors
8. Establish a budget that can incrementally address these and other steps to securing and protecting people frequenting these facilities
9. Educate teachers, tenants and others to be vigilant, encouraging them to be on the lookout for suspicious people

While this isn’t the world we want to live in, unfortunately we don’t have a choice. It is a dangerous world and this must be acknowledged and addressed in a comprehensive manner that places a focus on securing public spaces.

By implementing these measures we may be able to deter individuals from attacking sites. Just as important is giving people confidence that public facilities are doing everything in their power to prevent acts of terrorism and injuries.