Facility Solutions: Designing for lobby security

A long view of what’s needed works better than responding to critical news events.

Interest in security planning often rises when a news event connects with us and then wanes again when that incident moves to the back of our minds over time.

On the morning of Sept. 6, a man with a pistol walked from Fountain Square in downtown Cincinnati into the lobby of Fifth Third Bank and shot five people, killing three. A few days later, hundreds of people showed up for a police presentation about how to protect yourself in a similar situation. While it is human nature to be more interested in security after an incident, the best way to secure our lobbies and branches are with a systematic, longer view of the risks.

Great design incorporates the best- and worst-case scenarios. In the case of headquarters lobby design, how do we balance the need to deliver a unique and engaging brand experience with an acceptable level of protection for our staff and visitors? Before we try to answer this question, let’s look at what we can learn from videos of the Fifth Third incident.

 

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