New Research from AIA, Supported by Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope, Finds Growing Demand for Integrated Security in Building Design
Study highlights rising demand for holistic safety strategies that balance physical protection, natural light, and occupant well-being.
DALLAS, October 22, 2026--Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope, Inc. (OBE), North America's leading vertically integrated manufacturer, fabricator, and distributor of architectural hardware, glass, and glazing systems, today announced the release of Safety & Security in Design, a joint research report published in strategic partnership with The American Institute of Architects (AIA).
The nationwide study examines how architects and specifiers across diverse project sectors incorporate safety and security into project planning, design, and material selection. Findings confirm a fundamental industry shift: security has evolved from a reactive, standalone addition into a baseline design requirement.
Rather than relying on isolated "hardened" measures, architects across all firm types are adopting multi-layered strategies that combine controlled access, visual transparency, operational awareness, and advanced material selection. While K-12 leads growth expectations—with 78.7% of architects expecting security considerations in school design to increase—significant growth is also anticipated in data centers (69.2%) and healthcare facilities (64.2%) over the next three years.
"Creating safe environments requires balance. Buildings must protect occupants against physical threats while remaining warm, daylight-filled, and conducive to their primary purpose," said Mark Adamson, CEO of Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope. "As design teams navigate evolving building codes, tighter budgets, and complex testing standards, our role as a technical ally is to make achieving that balance easier through transparent testing data, early collaboration, and reliable system performance."
Key Insights for Architectural and Facility Design Teams:
Layered Defense Over Hardening: Controlled access points lead safety design decisions across all sectors (78.0%), rising to 95.3% in K-12 education. Architects are combining entry controls with surveillance (60.0%) and visibility strategies (55.0%), driving demand for high-performance security glazing that maintains natural light and open sightlines while satisfying critical forced-entry delay requirements.
Sector-Specific Priorities & Perceived Risk: Safety integration varies significantly by building type. While education and data centers lead universal adoption, architects report tailored approaches across retail, mixed-use, and commercial spaces, balancing flow and open circulation with localized threat mitigation.