SIA New Member Profile: Thornton Tomasetti

Thornton Tomasetti

New Security Industry Association (SIA) member Thornton Tomasetti has an extensive portfolio of protective design and physical security projects around the world. With a strong focus on focus on optimizing the performance of structures, materials and systems, the company’s GoGuide offers a solution for safe and secure reentry into public spaces, such as stadiums, museums, conference centers, schools and universities. Thornton Tomasetti is headquartered in New York City with offices across North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.

SIA spoke with Thornton Tomasetti about the company, the security industry and working with SIA.

Tell us the story of your company.

Go-Guide

Thornton Tomasetti has a rich tradition of innovation and technical excellence. Our roots date back to 1949, and while we began primarily as a structural design firm, we now also focus on optimizing the performance of structures, materials and systems. Thornton Tomasetti has an extensive portfolio of protective design and physical security projects around the world, and when I joined the firm in 2017, we entered the security design and consulting space. My team is made up of experts in counter-terrorism, counter-theft, cybersecurity and electronic and physical security. We provide leading-edge, customized solutions to property owners and managers, developers and architects and public and private entities to combat a wide range of natural and human-induced hazards.

Tell us where your business is located.

Headquartered in New York City, Thornton Tomasetti comprises more than 1,500 engineers, architects, scientists and security professionals who collaborate from offices across North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.

What solutions/services does your business offer in the security industry? And what makes your offerings/company unique?

We are a full-service security consulting business.  We offer threat, vulnerability and risk assessments, detailed electronic security design drawings (BIM) and specifications, operational security policy and procedures, security operations center design, high-angle attack assessments, cybersecurity consulting, escape and evacuation modeling, virtual reality monitoring and security red teaming. What makes us unique is the ability to draw on many different disciplines, including protective design, resilience, defense and research and development, as well as expertise in many different project types and industries.

What’s something we might not know about your company – or something new you’re doing in security?

In partnership with Intel Corp. and PMY, we have developed GoGuide, a solution for the safe and secure reentry into public spaces, such as stadiums, museums, conference centers, schools and universities. Based on a suite of existing technologies, GoGuide can easily be integrated with a facility’s existing security systems while preserving individual privacy. Additionally, we have been offering high-angle attack assessments to stadiums, arenas and other venues that require secure and safe public space. As experts in the structural engineering of these facilities, we bring a unique perspective to the design of security operations centers and entry control points.  We also have considerable experience in technology design and integration for facility and venue owners.

What is your company’s vision, and what are your goals for the security industry?

Thornton Tomasetti’s big goal is to be the global driver of change and innovation in the industries in which we serve. We are constantly seeking creative, new approaches and technologies to help our clients protect their buildings and the people who use them.

Thornton Tomasetti

What do you think are the biggest opportunities in the security industry right now?

One of the biggest opportunities in planning for and future proofing for the advent of drones. It is estimated that there will be over 800,000 drones in private hands in the U.S. alone by 2021. And as drone technology continues to develop, it presents increasing challenges for security professionals, particularly those overseeing public gathering areas. To keep people safe, we must focus on developing defensive strategies dealing with drones from a security standpoint.

What are your predictions for the security industry in the short and long term?

There will be an increased focus on the secure and safe return to public spaces amid the pandemic and how to translate those solutions to positive post-pandemic operational postures. Tools like GoGuide can get fans back in the seats quickly while meeting the core responsibilities of the venue owner/operator at every step of facility engagement.

What are the biggest challenges facing your company and/or others in the security industry?

The greatest challenge for the security industry is to be able to maintain a level of agility to deal with current and future threats. We have to be able to quickly identify areas of increased risk and deploy smart, effective solutions.

What do you enjoy most about being at your company – and in the security industry?

With a focus on innovation, Thornton Tomasetti is always looking for ways to do things better. This gives us the flexibility to innovate in the security field and partner with our clients to find the most appropriate solutions to their problems. This often takes us in new and exciting directions.

What does SIA offer that is most important to you/your company? And what do you most hope to get out of your membership with SIA?

As a member of SIA, we look forward to taking advantage of the many things the organization offers, including networking and educational opportunities and access to a range of resources. We anticipate that membership in SIA will help us stay current on policies and trends impacting our industry. It will also give our services and comprehensive, layered and integrated security solutions greater visibility in the security arena. 

The views and opinions expressed in guest posts and/or profiles are those of the authors or sources and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Security Industry Association.