the procesS

SAFE Design is a three-step process applied to buildings, sites, campuses and other built environments to ensure the risk of crime is mitigated. This process includes:

Risk Analysis

A data-driven, multi-scale risk analysis is carried out to determine priority criminal threats and other issues relevant to a property’s context, location, use, and history.  

Property Assessment & Recommendations

Informed by the priority criminal threats identified in the risk analysis, an assessment of the property is carried out to measure its compliance with SAFE Design performance requirements, identify critical vulnerabilities, and prioritize required mitigations. The SAFE Design toolkit guides users through a standardized assessment of the property’s perimeter, landscape, building envelope, and interiors. Customized performance requirements for specific properties are also available. An assessment report provides policy and design recommendations to assist the property operator to meet the requirements. 

Certification (Optional)

Once a property has implemented required mitigations and meets all SAFE Design performance requirements, it is eligible for SAFE Design certification. If requested by the client, the property may be also placed on the SAFE Design Property Registry.

Both existing and new properties may be assessed. In the case of new construction, SAFE Design input is provided at key points in the design process including pre-design, schematic design, design development and project completion. 

SAFE Design Analysis & Mitigation Framework

There are 6 levels of the built environment’s analysis and mitigation framework. Collectively they ensure the design, policy, and placemaking meet the SAFE Design requirements established for the project.