New Site Security Resources Available on the Whole Building Design Guid

January 7, 2010

In collaboration with the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), the Sustainable Buildings Industry Council (SBIC) has recently contributed new Resource Pages on site security design to the Whole Building Design Guide (WBDG). Effective Site Security Design, The Site Security Design Process, and Landscape Architecture and The Site Security Design Process explore GSA’s evolving view of building site security and practical design applications for security measures. Drawing from GSA’s recently published Site Security Design Guide, the pages are written from an interdisciplinary perspective and reflect the views of multiple experts and organizations. Visitors to the Web pages are encouraged to share their own perspectives and feedback by leaving comments. The Resource Pages can be accessed for free from the WBDG.

In collaboration with the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), the Sustainable Buildings Industry Council (SBIC) has recently contributed new Resource Pages on site security design to the Whole Building Design Guide (WBDG).  Effective Site Security Design, The Site Security Design Process, and Landscape Architecture and The Site Security Design Process explore GSA’s evolving view of building site security and practical design applications for security measures.  Drawing from GSA’s recently published Site Security Design Guide, the pages are written from an interdisciplinary perspective and reflect the views of multiple experts and organizations.  Visitors to the Web pages are encouraged to share their own perspectives and feedback by leaving comments.  The Resource Pages can be accessed for free from the WBDG.

The GSA sees the evolving need for security as an opportunity to achieve the best design, contribute to sustainability and environmental preservation, create a portfolio of buildings that will endure into the future, provide safe and productive federal workplaces, and improve the communities in which we work. Thoughtful site security design can demonstrate and represent permanence and encourage citizen participation. Thoughtfully designed building setbacks can become active public spaces, site security elements can serve as seating areas or landscape features, and new amenities can increase the safety of federal employees and integrate public buildings into their neighborhoods.  Effective Site Security Design addresses the underlying principles that guide every security design project, and identifies elements and tools available to designers.

The Site Security Design Process describes how to apply the principles and tools of site security.  Successful site security design is challenging. In part, this is because key phases – risk assessments, design concepts, funding and construction – are undertaken by different project team members over a long period of time.

Security concerns have made the integration of building architecture and site design increasingly critical. The close collaboration of architect, landscape architect, security specialist, and structural engineer can result in both responsive and inspirational designs. There is a growing recognition that site security measures and design excellence need not be mutually exclusive.  Provided courtesy of the American Society of Landscape Architects, Landscape Architecture and the Site Security Design Process provides an overview of the site security design process, tools and resources, and examples from the landscape architect’s perspective.

For more information about GSA’s Site Security Design Guide and to access an electronic copy of the document, please visit GSA’s Web site.