Security, Crime Prevention and Capital Planning: A Study of Two Embassies in Canada’s Capital
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Authors
Coyle, Emilie
Date
2017
Type
other
Language
en
Keyword
security urban planning , security , CPTED , Embassy
Alternative Title
Abstract
singly high, especially in important areas or pedestrian-heavy environments. As
a result, planning of public spaces has started to shift towards more preventative
measures of urban design to protect the public realm in some of the most vulnerable
areas to these attacks. On the other hand, important buildings have also started to
implement similar hardening and security features through environmental design. In
response to these implementations, buildings of importance have been using a physicalstructure
based approach at planning urban spaces through Crime Prevention through
Environmental Design (CPTED) and Anti-Terrorism (AT) planning.
This research project examined the links between Crime Prevention through
Environmental Design (CPTED), Antiterrorism planning (AT) and its integration into the
urban environment of two embassies on the ceremonial Confederation Boulevard in the
downtown core of Ottawa, ON. The two embassies include the British High Commission
and the US Embassy, both located near Parliament Hill. The objective of the study was
to examine each embassy’s use of security and CPTED, identify the embassy that better
integrates security and CPTED with the surrounding urban environment and create a set
of recommendations based on these findings. The research used evaluation criteria
established through CPTED principles and Anti-Terrorism literature and government
reports.
A site audit of the integrated security features of both sites was conducted in the Fall of
2016 and the Spring of 2017. The findings from the audit revealed some of the security
features and integration issues on both sites. This research project promotes the use of security features in a way that better
integrates with the current community design and security practices in Canada’s Capital
Region. Furthermore, it outlines strengths and weaknesses of the current systems used.
It highlighted the role of security planners to take into account the effect the security
features have on the surrounding environment to make decisions that would reduce the
fear of crime, but also reduce crime opportunity. Through good planning and urban
design, these spaces could be managed effectively and more seamlessly integrate
themselves into the surrounding land uses to have a low-profile building with an
abundance of physical security.