Despite its importance, security has been an afterthought in architectural design until recently, Brivo said.
Security was an afterthought rather than a consideration from the beginning. This can lead to costly renovations such as installing cameras to cover areas where natural surveillance is not possible, adding barriers such as planters where necessary, and even adding security patrols. It meant work. While we have learned to consider many other aspects of building design, such as heat, air conditioning, lighting, and elevators, security is not always considered in the same way.
Physical security essential to modern architectural design
This report highlights the real recognition that it is essential to treat physical security like essential equipment such as heating and lighting, and to incorporate physical security into the design of buildings. Client demand for such integration is well understood, and practitioners are proactively responding to this growing need.
Ten years ago, the top three priorities in architectural design were safety, materials used, and reliability, and security was not among the top three. Today, things have changed and sustainability, safety, and security are now ranked as the top three priorities.
Despite industry commitments to make security a fundamental part of design, visible challenges remain in integrating physical security into building design.
The current reality falls short of industry expectations and highlights the ongoing process of change. But it also shows that the industry has not yet reached the desired destination that is critically needed for customers.
The good news is that architects, engineers, and construction professionals (AEC) professionals have responded to this demand, with 56% now having a process for integrating security into building design and 41% currently implementing such a process. That’s what we’re implementing. The need to make physical security an integral part of the design rather than “patch-in” it afterwards is also well understood, with his 94% of AEC practitioners agreeing.
Post-build security issues cost time and money
However, the reality is that the goal has not been reached. When responsible for post-construction security, many report that fixing physical security issues adds as much as 20% additional cost to him.
“The time and money spent fixing security issues post-construction is a problem, but it’s the retroactive effects that can cause real problems,” says Paula Balmoly, director of global security design and systems integration at Brivo. says Mr. “Failure to meet milestones can trigger contractual clauses leading to damages and, if delays are excessive and lead to termination, the client may also be subject to legal action. ”
When asked about the biggest barriers to implementing security by design, respondents cited regulations, budget constraints, and design and aesthetic conflicts as the main challenges they face, something that the industry is still not fully addressing. It reflects a change in priorities that has not been addressed.
However, the demand for integrated physical security in design continues. Eighty-nine percent of respondents said security was included as part of the design briefs they received, and 88% felt that customer demand for security integration was increasing.
“Today, it would be madness to design a building and then leave plumbing, heating, and lighting as an afterthought.Similarly, construction is postponed because of poor planning for these major public facilities. I don’t think so,” Balmoli said. . “Physical security needs to be thought of in the same way. Too often we see substandard solutions being implemented because security was not fully considered during the design stage. The good news is that the industry We understand the problem, and now we just have to see if the results match this understanding.”
Most project briefs now explicitly require the integration of physical security, a general trend that challenges the concept of security as an afterthought in architectural design.
