Rachelle Loyear, Vice President of Integrated Security Solutions at Allied Universal, discusses how to secure America’s most iconic landmarks.
Every week, thousands of visitors ascend iconic buildings in major cities across the US to take in sweeping views, gaze at celebrated artwork in renowned museums or attend events at historic arenas.
These landmarks are more than tourist attractions; they are symbols of history, culture and national identity.
Behind the scenes, while visitors immerse themselves in these experiences, a dedicated cadre of security professionals help ensure the sites remain safe and accessible, blending vigilance with hospitality.
Working to secure iconic landmarks presents distinct challenges. These sites must remain open and welcoming, while security professionals work to protect them against threats ranging from terrorism to vandalism.
The balance between accessibility and security is delicate.
That contrast lies at the heart of security work in iconic public spaces. Security officers at these venues are expected to be both guardians and brand ambassadors; to respond to threats while serving as approachable points of contact for guests who may be lost, overwhelmed or simply curious.
They should be able to recognize and defuse potential risks quietly, without disrupting the flow of a tour group or the atmosphere of a special event.
Training for these staff members is tailored to the unique needs of each location. In cultural institutions, officers learn exhibit layouts, crowd control dynamics and emergency evacuation routes.
In broader public spaces, officers often serve as both watchful eyes and informal guides, helping maintain smooth operations as thousands of visitors circulate through entrances, elevators, observation areas or historical displays.
Many of these venues also host high-profile events, from diplomatic visits to commemorative ceremonies, each demanding heightened awareness and elevated professionalism.
During large-scale events, security personnel are expected to pivot seamlessly between roles; they may have to start their shift greeting school groups and end it managing secure access for VIPs or coordinating with law enforcement on larger-scale security logistics.
Officers assigned to high-visibility environments must be specifically selected for their communication skills, attention to detail, ability to maintain poise in unpredictable situations and calm presence that reinforces trust among the public.
When blending high tech solutions with traditional architecture and facility demands, innovation walks hand-in-hand with time-tested practices.
This is especially evident in the protection of iconic public spaces, where layered defenses are critical but must remain largely invisible to the everyday visitor.
Technology strategies in these environments typically rely on a hybrid model that merges the human element with technology.
Surveillance cameras – both overt and discreet – can be deployed throughout public areas, creating a digital watchtower that extends the eyes of the security team.
These are often supported by advanced analytics capable of identifying irregular behavior patterns, detecting unauthorized access attempts, or flagging abandoned or suspicious items in high-traffic zones.
Access control has also evolved for these iconic spaces. Where a guard checkpoint once stood alone between public and private spaces, it’s now often integrated with biometric readers, radio-frequency identification (RFID) badges or mobile credentials.
These systems allow security teams to maintain a tight grip on sensitive areas (including back-of-house zones, mechanical rooms or staff-only corridors) while also offering detailed audit trails that can be critical during incident investigations.
Equally important is the technology that ties it all together. Command centers serve as the operational heart of the program, where feeds from cameras, access control systems, alarms and two-way radios converge in real time.
Here, security personnel can monitor what’s happening while also coordinating responses across large, complex facilities without delay.
Technology with automation and analytics enhances the ability of the security team to detect and respond to incidents swiftly.
Personnel have tools now to enable faster decision-making – often before a situation becomes visible or disruptive to the public.
In iconic spaces, where aesthetics matter and public presence is high, the interplay between technology and traditional vigilance helps ensure both protection and discretion.
Security in iconic spaces cannot operate in a vacuum. It hinges on coordination between private security teams, public agencies and the institutions themselves.
Whether the site is cultural, civic or commercial, its protection relies on cooperation among all stakeholders.
At the core of this collaboration are strong working relationships with local law enforcement and emergency services.
Establishing these partnerships begins with outreach, like inviting agencies for site tours, initiating tabletop exercises and creating dedicated liaison roles within the security team.
Proactive engagement builds rapport long before an emergency arises and lays the groundwork for mutual support in high-stakes situations.
Security teams that are the most successful often participate in joint planning meetings, contribute to shared intelligence briefings and take part in regular inter-agency drills.
These efforts build trust and familiarity, making it easier to synchronize responses when timing is critical.
Maintaining open lines of communication with all stakeholders helps ensure that security teams are not just reacting in a silo but responding together, quickly and effectively, with all the agencies responsible for securing the site and public safety.
These public-private partnerships are particularly vital during large events or periods of elevated threat, when clear roles, redundant communication channels and unified command structures can mean the difference between confusion and control.
Just as crucial, they create a feedback loop that improves policy, training and readiness over time.
While security is paramount, preserving the visitor experience remains a key priority. The goal is not only to keep guests safe but to do so in a way that enhances, rather than detracts from, their engagement with the space.
Security personnel are trained to be approachable and informative, often serving as the first point of contact for guests.
Whether helping someone navigate an unfamiliar layout, answering questions about logistics, or offering calm reassurance in a crowded environment, these officers help shape the tone of a visit from the moment someone steps on site.
In many ways, these professionals act as the human face of the institution, combining situational awareness with customer service.
Their presence is meant to foster a sense of both security and hospitality, creating an environment where visitors feel protected and genuinely cared for.
The future of landmark security lies in adaptability. As public expectations, technology and threat landscapes continue to evolve, so too must the strategies used to protect our most treasured spaces.
Security professionals at these sites are already shifting from a reactive posture to a proactive one that anticipates challenges before they arise and integrates smarter systems that learn and improve over time.
But as tools become more advanced, the human role becomes even more important. Trust, intuition and communication remain at the core of effective security and are qualities no algorithm can replicate.
Ultimately, securing historical iconic places isn’t just about managing risk, it’s about honoring the past while protecting the future and ensuring that the next generation can enjoy these spaces with the same sense of wonder, reflection and freedom that has defined them for decades.
This article was originally published in the July edition of Security Journal Americas. To read your FREE digital edition, click here.
