SBC01. Building the Future: The Secure Building Council
Empowering Holistic Secure Design for a Safer, More Resilient Built Environment
In an age where security challenges are constantly evolving, we realized that there is an urgent need to provide holistic design solutions that seamlessly integrate secure design principles into the built environment. The Secure Building Council was born earlier this year and is dedicated to ushering in a new era of secure, sustainable, and resilient building practices that prioritize occupant safety and well-being.
A Holistic Approach to Secure Design
The Secure Building Council’s primary purpose is to champion the principles of holistic secure design in buildings. This organization seeks to raise awareness, provide education, and foster collaboration among a diverse range of stakeholders, including building owners, property management companies, architects, engineers, designers, and contractors. To create secure built environments that safeguard occupants, mitigate risks, and elevate resilient practices while prioritizing the well-being of occupants and their experience with the built environment. This will be accomplished by focusing on two major themes:
Low to Medium Security Solutions: In the ever-evolving landscape of security, it's imperative for the industry to shift its focus from just addressing high-security needs to encompassing low to medium security requirements as well. While high-security concerns are crucial, the reality is that not every building or project demands the same level of security measures. By recognizing the significance of addressing low to medium security needs, the industry can offer tailored solutions that are cost-effective, practical, and scalable. This approach ensures that security measures are proportionate to the actual risks faced, promoting accessibility and minimizing the burden of excessive security on users and budgets. It's a crucial step in making security solutions more inclusive and adaptable to a wider range of applications, from small businesses to public spaces, ultimately enhancing the overall safety and well-being of communities.
Early Design Integration: Integrating secure design considerations earlier in a project is a game-changer in achieving a holistic security solution that balances user experience with safety. Traditionally, security was often seen as an afterthought, tacked onto a project once it was already underway. However, this approach can lead to inefficiencies, disruptions, and increased costs. By incorporating security planning from the project's inception, architects, engineers, and designers can seamlessly integrate security features that blend into the overall design, enhancing the user experience and maintaining the aesthetic appeal of the space. This proactive approach not only ensures that security measures are effective but also minimizes the inconvenience and negative impact on occupants, resulting in more harmonious and secure built environments. In essence, it's a shift from security being a mere necessity to becoming an integral part of the design process, ultimately creating spaces that are both safe and user-friendly.
A Safer Tomorrow: Security Measures Redefined
At the heart of the Secure Building Council’s vision is the development of a certification program, enabling building owners to showcase compliance with industry best practices in designing, constructing, and maintaining buildings that deter crime, enhance security, and withstand man-made threats.
The Secure Building Council’s Certification Program is still in development, but will provide a framework to address a spectrum of man-made threats. By going beyond code minimums, the certification will give communities a tool who want to prioritize community safety and security.
The certification program will stand on four essential pillars:
Resilience: By encouraging the adoption of resilient design principles, operational procedures, and technologies, the certification program fortifies buildings to withstand and recover from various man-made hazards and security threats.
Building Design: The program seamlessly integrates secure design considerations into the early stages of a project, enhancing building efficiency, user experience, and design characteristics.
Compliance and Liability: Recognizing the legal, financial, and reputational risks faced by building stakeholders, the program offers clear benchmarks for compliance and risk management, reducing liability.
Sustainability: In the face of increasing environmental concerns, the program promotes the use of sustainable and energy-efficient materials, technologies, and designs that minimize the environmental impact of buildings while enhancing their security and resilience.
A Collaborative Solution
With security concerns growing globally, the Secure Building Council is committed to reimagining how we protect our buildings. In an industry often marked by siloed practices, the Secure Building Council promotes collaboration like never before. Architects, engineers, contractors, and suppliers are encouraged to work together from project inception to completion, ensuring seamless integration of safety and sustainability measures.
The launch of the Secure Building Council marks a new era for the building industry. It is a bold step toward buildings that not only stand tall but also stand the test of time, in terms of both security and well-being. Please join the cause by following us on LinkedIn and subscribing to our monthly newsletter. This is where we will be sharing updates on the certification development process, as well as opportunities to get involved.
As the world grapples with evolving challenges, the Secure Building Council will strive to cut through the noise by simplifying secure design principles while leading the way to building a safer and more resilient future.