In a world changed forever by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, architects have embraced a heightened responsibility to understand the nature of the threats and risks to the built environment. As part of that responsibility, they are joining with owners, users, architects, engineers, and law enforcement security specialists to define and develop an appropriate built world for future generations. The second annual Congress on Infrastructure Security for the Built Environment (ISBE) September 16–18 in Washington, D.C., offers an opportunity for allied professionals who design, protect, and secure the nation’s infrastructure to share knowledge about security-related design principles, standards, guidelines, code responses, disaster preparedness, certifications, clearances, and document controls.

Because the ISBE congress will incorporate the Committee on Architecture for Justice’s fall conference, AIA members have an opportunity to attend two meetings for the price of one. CAJ is co-hosting the event, which means AIA members may attend CAJ-specific seminars, as well as four infrastructure preparedness tracks sponsored by The Infrastructure Security Partnership (TISP):

• Threat vulnerability and risk assessment
• Security and design
• Physical and critical infrastructures
• Information, education, and outreach.

AIA members can earn continuing education credits for both the CAJ programs and for many of the co-sponsored classes.

Join national leaders to review and discuss the new World Trade Center designs, the Pentagon reconstruction project, new security and design requirements and guidelines, and ideas for designing outstanding public- and private-sector projects. Topics will include:

• Infrastructure and chemical/biological/radiological preparedness
• Security design principles, standards, guidelines, and code responses
• The ins and outs of certifications, clearances, and document controls
• Interdisciplinary design responses
• Design requirements for and legal and insurance issues associated with homeland security.

Invited speakers
The program will also include a Congressional Leaders Forum, with Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) and invited guest Rep. Jim Turner (D-Tex.). Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge has also been invited to speak at the event. Other invited presenters include:

• Carl Galioto, AIA, partner, Skidmore, Owings and Merrill
• Michael Griebel, Assoc. AIA, HSB Architects
• Hon. George C. Hanks, Texas Court of Appeals
• Richard Kuchnicki, International Code Council
• Barbara Nadel, FAIA, Barbara Nadel Architects
• John Sporidis, PE, Syska Hennessy Group
• Richard Tomasetti, PE, partner, Thorton-Tomasetti Structural Engineers

TISP is an organization formed as a direct response to the events of September 11 and includes the AIA and 170 other public and private-sector groups whose expertise has a direct impact on the future security of America’s built infrastructure.

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