Now-a-days buildings are not known only for their aesthetics and strength but also the security it provides its inhabitants. When one hears about bombings, hijacks, robberies; it is important that the building offers maximum protection. Here are 10 buildings which will make you feel that the world is a better place to be in!
1. Pentagon, Washington
Headquarters of the US Department of Defense, the ‘Pentagon’ is considered as the one of the highly secured buildings in the world. The security of the 280 acre building is under the Pentagon Force Protection Agency which comprises federal police officers, Untied States Pentagon Police, expert technicians and anti-terrorism investigative and security personnel. The security is very tight with various identification and references required to enter the building. The Defense for Public Affairs department conducts tours giving insight into this industry.
2. Jewel House, Tower of London
The Jewel House in the Tower of London houses priceless treasures of England’s past and present rulers. Its collection includes crowns and scepters of Queen Victoria, Elizabeth etc. A Major General controls the security of the Jewel House. A dedicated control room provides constant monitoring of the Jewel House, while additional £4.5 million has been spent on fire safety and security. The jewels are encased in 2-inch thick shatter-proof glass and there is constant security provided by the Tower Guard and the Yeoman Warders and is regarded as one of the most secure buildings in the world.
3. AT&T Long Lines Building, New York
This 167.95 m building has been built with the sole purpose to protect its sensitive and expensive telephone equipment. It is ‘windowless’ and its exterior walls are constructed of granite-faced precast concrete panels. This brutalist style of architecture was utilized so that it’s self-sufficient and protected from nuclear fallout for up to two weeks after a nuclear blast.
4. Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels, Los Angeles
A literal case in point is the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels, which is constructed using the base isolation tool in earthquake engineering, which is one of the most powerful and cost-effective technologies till date. This Church can house 3,000 worshippers at a time thus protecting them against any earthquake threats.
5. Empire State Building, New York
The Empire State building is an office building which proves to be very safe for its inhabitants. This 102 storied building is the 15th tallest building in the world is built in a steel frame and is clad in Indiana limestone and granite. It has been constructed to withstand high intensity winds and earthquakes to make it safer for the 21,000 employees that work in the building. Strict security measures are enforced for the safety of all the people in the building. Security checks are a must, while visitors can only enter with a valid ticket, every visitor must pass walk-through scanners.
6. Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty building, Czech Republic
The building in existence since May 2009 is considered as one of the most secure buildings in the world. Radio Liberty provides free press to people in countries where free press is banned, thus making its journalists and freelancers vulnerable to threats their lives. They are also favorite targets of terrorists. These concerns have been taken into consideration when constructing the state-of-the-art building. It also has elaborate security measures in place to provide safety to its employees.
7. Buckingham Palace, England
The Buckingham Palace is the home of the Royal family of England and is also a highly secured palace. The Royal Family have their own armed guards at all times and the famous sentries guard the palace at all times. The palace also has its own police station. The Foot Guards Battalion at Wellington Barracks and Chelsea Barracks units and Hyde Park Barrack units are on the stand-by and minutes away if required in case of emergency.
8. The White House, Washington D.C
The White House is the official residence of the President of the United States of America, the White House is under constant surveillance against threats, nuisances, crowd management etc. The security of the White House is under the United States Secret Service and United States Park Police. The White House is not open to visitors for added security.
9. Guantanamo Bay Prison Camp, Cuba
A parody to the title but well, it keeps prisoners locked in; this prison is the most isolated and heavily fortified prison in the world. It was built to house terrorists from the Al-Qaeda network. This prison is constantly guarded by heavily armed military guards and marines. It is also surrounded by 70,000 minefields, swamps and the ocean making escape virtually impossible. However, due to its unpopularity in treatment of its prisoners, the prison will be closed.
10. Headquarters Joint Operational Command (HQJOC), Australia
The HQJOC is a 28,000sq.m area building that houses the strategic and operational staff from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Special Forces. The facility is built in such a way so that it is self-sufficient in times of emergency without compromising the operations of the employees.
