In need of a security plan
"Generally there is a noticeable reaction on the market, particularly concerning the tallest buildings such as Warsaw Financial Center or Warsaw Trade Tower, just as there are similar tendencies on the international market," said Robert Karniewski, Associate Director at Colliers International.
Property managers and security specialists alike are looking into ways to improve security in office buildings.
"The recent incident at Kolmex made everyone realize that the threat of a terrorist attack is possible also in Poland and we should undertake steps that would eliminate such attacks or minimize their effects," added Michał Skaliński, Head of Asset Services at Cushman & Wakefied Healey & Baker.
But they are not the only ones interested in building security. Tenants themselves are progressively interested in the security of the office buildings they occupy. Potential lessees often ask about various safety features, such as security gates in front of elevators or explosives-detector systems in the car parks, security badges, CCTV cameras and the like. To some, even the type of glass used for the building's windows is of importance.
"Property managers and building owners should be updating or performing security audits of buildings under their management," said Dr. Jerzy Pawlik, a real-estate safety and security specialist. "Based on this audit, preventative measures and new security procedures should be worked out and appropriate training given to all staff involved in running a building."
Property managers already perceive building security, and attack prevention in particular, in the widest possible way.
"Here we take into consideration active cooperation with each tenant in terms of security planning, creation of action plans for particular threats and planning common aims that will increase the security of the facilities," said Waldemar Wierzbicki, Personal and Technical Protection Director at GP BIS.
The security level at an office building is dependent on many factors, however, the most significant being tenant involvement, real estate sources revealed. The most prominent danger for most office buildings is inadequate control of visitor flow in the building.
"In the larger office buildings where there are many tenants and it is difficult to reach consensus regarding the control of visitors, even the best electronic security systems are helpless if tenants don't agree to a controlled flow of visitors," C&W H&B's Skaliński said.
Despite a large number of high-rise office buildings in Warsaw, with several new projects in the pipeline, experts were quick to point out that smaller buildings are in fact more popular among tenants. This is not an immediate result of potential terrorist threats, but rather a characteristic of the specific nature of the Warsaw market.
"Tenants often prefer smaller projects to larger facilities because they want to be identified with a particular building," said Skaliński.
Waldemar Wierzbicki, Personal and Technical Protection Director at GP BIS
The Kolmex building is private property and has not been entered in the voivodship registry as a building subject to compulsory security care. In such cases the type of security and the functioning of the building are subject only to the owner's foresight. Usually a minimal level of risk is assumed by the owner, which results in the lowest possible number of in-house security who are not equipped with specialized gear, such as explosives detectors. The security function also did not involve inspection of guests' luggage and bags.
An analysis of the incident shows that the owners, despite being blackmailed and threatened, dismissed the potential hazard and did not inform the police about the incident. Imagination, foresight, vigilance and more trust in the police would have certainly prevented the entire event.
Property managers and security specialists alike are looking into ways to improve security in office buildings.
"The recent incident at Kolmex made everyone realize that the threat of a terrorist attack is possible also in Poland and we should undertake steps that would eliminate such attacks or minimize their effects," added Michał Skaliński, Head of Asset Services at Cushman & Wakefied Healey & Baker.
But they are not the only ones interested in building security. Tenants themselves are progressively interested in the security of the office buildings they occupy. Potential lessees often ask about various safety features, such as security gates in front of elevators or explosives-detector systems in the car parks, security badges, CCTV cameras and the like. To some, even the type of glass used for the building's windows is of importance.
"Property managers and building owners should be updating or performing security audits of buildings under their management," said Dr. Jerzy Pawlik, a real-estate safety and security specialist. "Based on this audit, preventative measures and new security procedures should be worked out and appropriate training given to all staff involved in running a building."
Property managers already perceive building security, and attack prevention in particular, in the widest possible way.
"Here we take into consideration active cooperation with each tenant in terms of security planning, creation of action plans for particular threats and planning common aims that will increase the security of the facilities," said Waldemar Wierzbicki, Personal and Technical Protection Director at GP BIS.
The security level at an office building is dependent on many factors, however, the most significant being tenant involvement, real estate sources revealed. The most prominent danger for most office buildings is inadequate control of visitor flow in the building.
"In the larger office buildings where there are many tenants and it is difficult to reach consensus regarding the control of visitors, even the best electronic security systems are helpless if tenants don't agree to a controlled flow of visitors," C&W H&B's Skaliński said.
Despite a large number of high-rise office buildings in Warsaw, with several new projects in the pipeline, experts were quick to point out that smaller buildings are in fact more popular among tenants. This is not an immediate result of potential terrorist threats, but rather a characteristic of the specific nature of the Warsaw market.
"Tenants often prefer smaller projects to larger facilities because they want to be identified with a particular building," said Skaliński.
Waldemar Wierzbicki, Personal and Technical Protection Director at GP BIS
The Kolmex building is private property and has not been entered in the voivodship registry as a building subject to compulsory security care. In such cases the type of security and the functioning of the building are subject only to the owner's foresight. Usually a minimal level of risk is assumed by the owner, which results in the lowest possible number of in-house security who are not equipped with specialized gear, such as explosives detectors. The security function also did not involve inspection of guests' luggage and bags.
An analysis of the incident shows that the owners, despite being blackmailed and threatened, dismissed the potential hazard and did not inform the police about the incident. Imagination, foresight, vigilance and more trust in the police would have certainly prevented the entire event.
