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ARA Conducts Site Risk Assessment for National Museum of African American History and Culture
Applied Research Associates, Inc. conducted a security threat/risk assessment in March for the new Smithsonian Institution National Museum of African American History and Culture. The design of the museum, which will be located on
the National Mall near the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C., is based on the results of a project specific risk assessment that identified and quantified the design basis threats and tactics and appropriate level of protection for the facility. The threats, tactics and level of protection identified in the threat risk assessment will be a major factor in determining the most effective protective design of the proposed 430,000 square foot NMAAHC facility.
ARA utilized the current customer guidelines to determine the appropriate security level. Challenges on this project included the threat environment of the location for the proposed facility, the controversial exhibits expected to be displayed in the museum and the need to provide adequate security in a venue open to the public. The NMAAHC site is on the National Mall close to highly visible museums, monuments, memorials, federal facilities and the White House.
Having worked with the Smithsonian Institution on many projects in the past, these issues were addressed through regular discussions with the NMAAHC Director, collection management and exhibit staff and the SI Office of Protection Services. ARA conducted interviews with local and federal law enforcement officials and studied several law enforcement intelligence assessments to gauge the threat levels posed by potential aggressors. ARA also conducted telephone interviews with officials from several similar museums in the United States.
The assessment took into account the proposed facility’s potential iconography and symbolism, visitation, location and mission of the proposed facility, as well as the relationship to the Federal government. Additionally, the assessment considered the potential intrinsic and cultural value of the museum’s future collection and other factors (museum retail and food services) associated with potential crime. At the conclusion of the assessment, ARA produced a comprehensive written report, augmented with visualization tools provided by our Security Engineering Group.
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