Federal Reserve Bank of Houston

Kroll Security Group (KSG) served as security consultants on the Houston Federal Reserve Bank project, which included the construction of a new facility, stand-alone parking garage, and remote vehicle screening building, all totaling approximately 450,000 square feet of space.  KSG provided comprehensive planning, design, bid and construction management services for this project.

The primary design challenge was the interpretation and compliance of the revised Federal Reserve Bank Facility and Security Guidelines.  KSG was responsible for the interpretation and coordination of these guidelines not only for the electronic security systems, but also for the architectural and structural elements.  From a compliance standpoint, KSG was required to transform the guidelines into feasible, cost effective, realities.

FRB Houston was the first of the Federal Reserve Bank facilities to implement a remote screening building.  Although the advantages from a security standpoint are relatively straightforward, the operational implications can be overwhelming.  KSG was instrumental in the design and location of the remote screening building, especially as it applied to adjacencies and vehicular flow patters to the Cash Dock, the Parking Structure and the primary facility.

To maintaining the aesthetics of the project while also complying with vehicular penetration and site intrusion detection requirements, a structurally rated ornamental fence utilizing integral intrusion detection fiber optics was designed.

From a technology standpoint, cost/benefits were conducted in an effort to identify the most sensible, cost effective solutions.  Specific technologies specified for this project included:

• Handheld explosive vapor detectors
• Under-carriage CCTV vehicle inspection units
• Fingerprint biometric access controls
• Digital video recording
• Fence fiber intrusion detection
• Tailgate detection at control points and above ceiling intrusion detection