The AIA is finalizing plans for the January 10–13, 2002, "Building Security Through Design: Protective Environments in an Open Society" conference in Albuquerque focused on security issues and design. The conference will feature a tour of Sandia Laboratories at nearby Kirkland Air Force base plus special presentations by Sandia Labs representatives on the first and last evenings of the event.

The conference will present an internationally renowned group of architects, consultants, and security experts offering case studies, plenary discussions, and concurrent lecture sessions to help architects glean the skills necessary to help their clients assess risk and take actions to make new and existing buildings more secure. In addition to plenary presentations, the conference will offer five working sessions, each presenting three concurrent programs so that architects can tailor their learning experiences to their practices. Topics to be presented in the sessions include:
• Building Security Systems—Design Considerations Impact on Operation and Staffing Costs
• Existing Architecture and the Urban Environment
• Building Security and the Construction Process
• Security Master Planning: Facility Design, Integrated Technology Solutions, and CPTED Influences
• Recovering from Catastrophic Events: The Need for Contingency Planning
• Physical Security and Blast Mitigating Technology
• Threat Assessment and Vulnerability Analysis: What the Architect Must Know
• Architectural Design for Reliability
• Building Systems—Part 1: Power, Communications, HVAC, Fire Detection, Alarm, and Extinguishing
• MasterSpec
• Chemical and Biological Hazards
• Architecture as Physical Protection
• Case Study: New Federal Center, Oklahoma
• Building Systems—Part 2: Nonstructural Wall Systems, Glazing, Doors, and Entrances.

The last half day of the conference will be a series of issues forums to discuss "Building Security in American Society"; "The Urban Fabric: Planning, Safety, and Security"; and "The Next Generation of Design: New Realities and Predictive Models." Also complementing the seminars will be a product expo of security-related goods and services. Check the AIA's Building Security Through Design Web site for updates as they develop.

Copyright 2001 The American Institute of Architects. All rights reserved.