Life-Saving Streets

'Hardened street furniture' could save city streets both from terrorism and the fashion police.

1 minute read

October 21, 2003, 6:00 AM PDT

New fortified parking meters, "drinking fountains, trash cans, benches, bus shelters, newsstands, planters, traffic lights and street lights...are intended to replace concrete barricades used to protect many public buildings since" major terrorist attacks. The furniture "looks like conventional urban fixtures, but is reinforced with internal bars of hardened steel buried deep in cement." Proponents hope that "the new designs will help restore public confidence shaken by terrorist attacks," and restore some "traditional beauty" to the landmarks they protect. "[D]esigning with terrorism in mind 'is just like adjusting to handicap and sprinkler codes...[it] is part of retrofitting our cities,' " said one planner.

Thanks to David Gest

FULL STORY: Urban streets getting security-conscious makeovers

Thursday, October 16, 2003 in Jewish World Review

Architecture United States

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Start Learning

Advertise with us

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.