He says that on average owners have expended $1.50 more per sf for infrastructure related to security. "Security is essential to the city and the global economy." He notes that the building management is the first line of defense and that the costs for day-to-day operations could be passed along to the tenants. "It could make it more difficult to do business in New York." He says BOMA is formulated a response and urging its membership to contact legislators to voice their opinions on this issue.
"The matrix is highly flawed and rife with politics," says Gary Green, CEO, Alliance Building Services. "The potential impact is on the private sector picking up the slack and increasing security, especially Downtown and around icons."
Alliance has seen a 30% growth in the first quarter throughout the New York metropolitan area. The firm recently picked up security contracts at 509, 521, 535 and 545 Fifth Ave. The firm provides cleaning/maintenance, security, courier/messenger center and restoration services to more than 100 buildings encompassing more than 60 million sf. Green points out that since 9/11 spending on technology to increase security has increased and he expects it to continue to do so.
One private sector firm, the Chicago-based Trizec recently partnered with the Department of Homeland Security on a drill in Los Angeles. It was the only private-sector company chosen to participate. The firm has implemented advanced technology in its fire and life safety program. "We have been focused heavily on emergency preparedness and last year alone, our security team created 43 building-specific evacuation videos for the tenants available online – 24/7/365 days-a-year," a company spokesperson tells GlobeSt.com.
Trizec also created Tenant Emergency Response Teams made up of volunteer tenants who are willing and able to take charge of an emergency and help co-workers during emergency situations at each of the properties. To date, there are more than 6,000 emergency response team members making up 1,522 teams throughout the portfolio. Trizec's national security team partnered with Medtronic Emergency Response Systems to implement an American Red Cross Adult CPR and Automated External Defibrillator training program at each of its properties. Approximately 375 Trizec employees and support staff have been trained. The company also created a message center where tenants and employees can receive up-to-date information about the operating status of their building.
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