Antiterrorism design and public safety : reconciling CPTED with the post-9/11 city

Abstract

Urban downtowns have changed since September 1 1, 2001, sprouting bollards, planters, and barriers installed on the pretense of improved safety and security. While these interventions protect buildings from vehicle bombs, they have not been properly integrated into the fabric of the downtown, and they have not conformed to good urban design principles. This thesis explores the intersections of crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED), physical antiterrorism design (ATD), and principles guiding the design of public spaces. The thesis focuses on the processes whereby antiterrorism design interventions are sited in Boston and New York and examines current installations. Ultimately, the author argues for better integration of antiterrorism interventions with both CPTED and urban design principles, suggesting that public education and a London-like 'ring of steel' are the best ways to secure downtowns without compromising unique urban character. First, the thesis provides an account of antiterrorism design history within the United States, and follows this with a description of how leading documents articulate antiterrorism design principles at different scales. Next, the evolution of place-based crime prevention strategies is explored, ending with a discussion of CPTED, and a description of this strategy at different scales. A comparison of ATD and CPTED principles reveals that there are few irresolvable discrepancies between the two design strategies. Pictures from downtown Boston and New York are provided throughout the thesis to illustrate ATD and CPTED 'dos' and 'don'ts.' In the second half of the thesis, ATD and CPTED policies of downtown Boston and New York are examined in pursuit of synergies and innovations in design processes. At multiple sites in these cities, ATD violates both CPTED and the principles of good urban design. According to theory discussed earlier in the thesis, these discrepancies are not obvious outcomes. Ultimately, the author argues that ATD should be optimized through the use of CPTED strategies and humanized through the use of civic design principles.