Page 12 - Security Today, May/June 2024

Elevating Security A modern workplace and community hub that delivers to the tenants
By Paul Smith
Willis Tower, an iconic symbol in Chicago for more than 50 years, has undergone significant transformations to become a modern workplace and community hub that delivers the best experiences for its tenants, area residents and visitors. Originally known as Sears Tow- er, it was renamed Willis Tower after a change in ownership in 2009.
Major renovations took place in 2017, culminating in a com- plete transformation in 2022. Today, Willis Tower offers a range of amenities from short-term workstations to traditional leases, as well as dining, retail and entertainment spaces. The Skydeck on the 103rd floor, 1,353 feet above street level, provides breath- taking views of up to 50 miles across four states, attracting mil- lions of visitors annually.
The Transformation
As part of Willis Tower’s transformation, the structural separa- tions between the office and Skydeck areas were eliminated, cre- ating a more open and accessible space for visitors and tenants. Recognizing the need for a customized strategic security plan, said Keith Kambic, director of security, CPP, who spearheaded
efforts to find the right partners to ensure the safety and security of tenants, visitors and employees.
Kambic’s first step was to engage with the national security and technology consulting firm Guidepost Solutions. The next priority was to establish a strong partnership with a Chicago- based integration partner and to identify the best security solu- tions in the market.
4S Security was selected as the integration partner because of their holistic approach to achieving optimal results. The part- nership with 4S Security elevated the security measures at Willis Tower to new heights.
“We are different than the average integrator,” said Leor Elf- assy, director of business development at 4S. “We have software developers on staff who write integrations, and as a matter of business principle for the last 30 years, we only work with soft- ware manufacturers that allow us to do so.”
A Cloud-based Solution
The upgrade to Willis Tower involved retrofitting the access con- trol system to a cloud-based solution and the VMS, Salient Com- pleteView, was selected based on its ability to integrate seamlessly
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