The prevailing trend in building design has shifted to emphasize the importance of security integration from the very beginning, challenging the old notion of security as an afterthought. According to a report by Brivo, this change is a result of a genuine recognition of the imperative to incorporate physical security into building design, viewing it as essential as heating and lighting.
A decade ago, the top three priorities for building design were safety, materials used, and reliability, with security being absent from the top three. However, the current landscape has evolved, with sustainability, safety, and security now ranking as the top three priorities. This shift reflects the growing demand from clients for integrated physical security in building design.
Despite the industry’s commitment to making security a fundamental part of design, visible challenges persist in the integration of physical security in building design. The reality falls short of industry aspirations, indicating an ongoing process of change. However, architects, engineers, and construction professionals have responded to this demand, with 56% having a process for integrating security into building design and 41% currently implementing such a process.
The report also highlights that when responsible for security post-build, many professionals report that fixing physical security problems adds additional costs as high as 20%. This post-build issue not only leads to increased costs but also creates real problems, including contractual disputes and potential legal action from clients if delays become excessive.
The greatest barriers to implementing security by design cited by respondents include regulations, budget constraints, and design and aesthetic conflicts. These barriers reflect a change in priority that the industry has yet to fully grapple with. However, the demand for integrated physical security in design seems to be here to stay. 89% of respondents reported that security was a part of the design briefs they received, and 88% have seen a rise in customer demand for security integration.
According to Paula Balmori, Director of Global Security Design & System Integrations at Brivo, the industry needs to prioritize physical security as it does with essential utilities like plumbing, heating, and lighting. She emphasizes the importance of not postponing construction due to issues with the planning of these key utilities and urges the industry to see physical security in the same light.
The report concludes by highlighting that the prevailing trend is for most project briefs to explicitly require physical security integration, challenging the old notion of security as an afterthought in building design. Despite the industry’s understanding of the issue, the results still need to match this understanding in order to fully meet the growing demand for integrated physical security in modern building design.