Securing Past and Protecting The Future Is Landmark Task
Maintaining the unique character of historic structures often is a challenging and costly hurdle to overcome during security retrofits. Older buildings, whether classical or post-modern, were not designed for 21st Century functions, energy and building system requirements. Design and construction professionals must balance these diverse needs while protecting occupants and ongoing operations.
After the 1995 destruction of Oklahoma Citys Murrah Federal Building, the U. S. General Services Administration addressed security in all federal buildings, especially against truck bombs and other blasts and flying glass shards. "There are creative ways to mitigate blast effects on historic buildings, but with limitations," says GSA Chief Architect Edward Feiner, Washington, D.C. "Reducing the impact of glass fragmentation, with minimal negative effect on historic details or building character, requires care and significant expense. Increased distance or standoff from an explosion is the best protection."