FORTUNE BANK HEAD QUARTERS, LAGOS. (ENHANCING SECURITY IN BANK BUILDING THROUGH ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN)

Abstract

The banking industry constitute one of the pivots around which the wheel of progress of the nation revolves. It represents the nations treasure house because a sizeable quantum of the wealth of the nation are locked up in the vaults of the banks. To the extent, whatever has the capacity to affect the fortune of the bank either positively or negatively has the potential to affect the progress of the nation likewise. There is specialization in various areas of human endeavors, and this is also appreciable to robbery. There are syndicates specializing in bank robbery. But an assault upon the banking industry is an assault on the economy of the nation because of the principal role which the banks play in the development and sustenance of the various sectors of the economy. This calls for specialization on the part of the key players in the planning, design and total delivery of a bank. Project in order to minimize the incidences of bank robbery while eliminating opportunist crimes. A project designed principally from the view of security will take the form of a purely utilitarian and dumb architecture of defence like the Italian pallazzoes. Yet this is the 21st century, the information age, era of the international and post modem styles in architecture, and of course the era of glamorous banking. What all these call for is the design of an "intelligent building". A building which is not only aesthetically pleasing, but functional, efficient, structurally sound and compliant to the requirement of the information age with its myriad of electrical, cum electronic gadgets in various shapes. Additionally, a building which is also customer friendly and enhances workers productivity by being comfortable and secure.) The research work that leads to this thesis is motivated by the need for the socio - cultural relevance and contribution of the architectural profession to glaring societal problems. Security in bank relies on other security sensitive building an expository study of building related crimes. Their levels and metamorphosis have been analyzed. The role of architects and architectural solution has been proffered. Also that which constitute basic components of secure design have been itemized for easy digestion.