Build Magazine August 2015

Build Magazine 47 One of the major challenges facing architec- tural design is reconciling robust security with attractive aesthetics. Security is rarely associ- ated with grand design, yet given the inherent security threats posed by an increasingly glo- balised world, incorporating effective security into building architecture is essential. How can design protect both places and people without jeopardising appearance? How can perimeter security work to protect buildings without making them look like high-security prisons? These are important questions for all architects. With the threat posed to buildings evolving, the presence of CCTV cameras on a premises is no longer sufficient to deter security threats. Similarly, high concrete walls and barbed wire fences are undesirable from an aesthetic viewpoint. The National Counter Terrorism Security Office’s list of buildings particularly at risk includes premises as wide ranging as clubs, bars, shopping centres, stadia, schools and places of worship. It’s clear that, given the variety of buildings considered to be at risk, there is a lot to consider when it comes to designing effective and discreet perimeter security solutions. The challenges which face architects are complex and numerous, not least because of the duty of care they have for the public using the spaces they have designed, outlined by the Royal Institute of British Architects in their ‘RIBA Guidance On Designing For Counter Terrorism document. So what solutions exist on the market, and how can they provide the security high-risk buildings need without damaging their appeal? Security through innovative design With duty of care in mind, it is important to ensure that perimeter security products installed to protect vulnerable premises meet the UK security industry standard – PAS 68. Counter-terror (CT) blocks, bollards and plant- ers are all available at this specification and can help provide strong and effective security as part of a hostile-vehicle-mitigation (HVM) system. These systems work to deter the type of vehicle-bound assaults which have come to be associated with terrorist atrocities and pose a significant threat to buildings in which large numbers of people gather. The most popular HVM product we offer is the CT block – a reinforced PAS 68 concrete block capable of immobilising a 7.5 tonne vehicle. These CT blocks weigh 2.2 tonnes and need only to be recessed 100mm below the ground. This puts the product in stark contrast to traditional security produces, such as ram-raid bollards, which require much deeper foundations and, therefore, may not be able to be implemented in instances where underground utilities such as power cables, data cables and water pipes are present. The implementation of a HVM system negates the need for obtrusive concrete walls or barbed wire. Instead such a sys- tem allows for perimeter security which can be suitably tailored to its setting, blending in with surroundings and often services a multiple purpose – providing seating for pedestrians or even plant beds for flora. 20 Fenchurch Street A prime example of an effective HVM system can be found in the work we completed for the Rafael Viñoly de- signed 20 Fenchurch Street in London. 20 Fenchurch Street, well known as the ‘Walkie Talkie’, is now one of the iconic skyscrapers which characterises the City of London skyline. It is remarkable for its innovative design, which sees enlarged flooring plans at the top of the building rather than the bottom. Townscape were enlisted by engineering consultants QCIC to install a state-of-the- art HVM system which would provide robust protection to the building while also creating a high-quality, multi-purpose urban landscape around the base of the skyscraper. In response, we developed and installed 6 granite-laden PAS 68 CT blocks complete with LED spot lighting to create an effective security solution which comple- mented the surrounding architecture. Situated at the base of the building, this HVM system provides 20 Fenchurch Street with a robust deterrent to vehi- cle-bound attacks. At the same time, the system also provides the public with seating in the plaza surrounding the building, properly fulfilling the mul- ti-purpose-function brief provided while enhancing the aesthetics of the area. Jannis Tobias Werner / Shutterstock.com Real Estate Meeting the Evolving Challenges of Architectural Security in a Global Age By Jonathan Goss, Managing Director, Townscape Products Limited