HOUSTON – (By Dale King) – The importance of emergency preparedness and crisis management to protect people and intellectual assets in commercial properties has grown dramatically as threats from natural disasters and human-caused events evolve.
Owners and occupants of office buildings, retail centers and data facilities face a wide range of hazards—from terrorism and cybercrime to armed assaults on or near properties—and must continually reassess threat levels and refine their response capabilities.
In its latest issue of Insights, Transwestern, a Houston-based commercial real estate firm, examines how security in data centers, office buildings and leased spaces has advanced to meet more sophisticated risks.
The report highlights how event security has become more comprehensive. For example, during Super Bowl LI in Houston, Transwestern detailed precautions taken around the Memorial City area. “Transwestern team members at the 13 office buildings in the Memorial City area managed by MetroNational prepared security guards and tenants to minimize risks associated with the Atlanta Falcons staying at a nearby hotel,” the piece notes.
“The asset protection manager for MetroNational briefed property managers to expect increased vehicle traffic as fans tried to catch a glimpse of players, and to be vigilant for suspicious behavior. Property teams were specifically instructed to monitor for anyone tracking the Falcons’ movements or observing positions of law enforcement stationed nearby.”
Modern properties increasingly deploy multi-layered access control systems and maintain written response protocols for a range of threats and emergencies. Those protocols define how management will deliver security and handle incidents, reflecting tenant preferences or government-mandated requirements.
Lobby ambassadors—often used alongside receptionists or in locations without a staffed reception desk—are typically trained in both hospitality and crisis response.
“An engaged lobby ambassador creates a welcoming environment while learning building occupants’ routines, including which elevators they use and typical arrival and departure times,” the Insights article explains.
Moreover, making eye contact and engaging with visitors is more than customer service; it is an effective practice for screening potential threats and identifying suspicious behavior.
Building management and security teams now routinely rehearse responses to bomb threats, active shooter scenarios and other emergencies that were once considered unlikely. Joint training ensures coordinated action when every second counts.
“Property and security team members must act in synchronicity, achieved through joint training,” the article states. “Owners and occupiers expect this level of sophistication from those entrusted with the safety of commercial buildings.”
Regular fire drills remain a cornerstone of building safety. These exercises also prepare managers, engineers and maintenance staff to support various types of evacuations or shelter-in-place actions. For example, occupants might be directed to interior corridors during a tornado or guided to designated safe areas on or off the property depending on the situation.
Leased offices typically include basic security measures, but tenants usually decide which additional protections to implement for employees and assets. Advances in technology and competitive pricing have made a broader range of tools more accessible to tenants than ever before.
Traditional keys present challenges as the number of locks, clearance levels and issued keys increases, complicating control and accountability.
Proximity readers, which detect an embedded microchip from several feet away, can automate access to garages or elevator lobbies when an authorized employee approaches.
Biometric readers, which verify identity via fingerprints or retinal scans, remain less common due to higher equipment costs and the need for specialized service providers.
Physical barriers—such as turnstiles and revolving doors—add layers of protection, while modern cameras deliver color, high-resolution video that enhances the security team’s ability to monitor the property.
While vigilance varies across properties, the shared objective among building security programs is clear: to maintain awareness, deter threats and be prepared to respond effectively to incidents to protect people and property.