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CNN Live Sunday

Interview With Architect Dave Thompson

Aired February 03, 2002 - 17:35   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Let's continue our discussion about the Super Bowl. You might say Dave Thompson is a security conscious architect. He is frequently called upon to design or make changes to large buildings to make them more secure, such as a place that would take place at Super Bowl.

And from Washington, Mr. Thompson joins us now to talk about the challenges at the Superdome. Thanks for joining us.

DAVE THOMPSON, VICE PRESIDENT, ATML: Fredricka, thank you.

WHITFIELD: Well, there's nothing that could be done about the infrastructure of the Superdome leading up to the Super Bowl, but instead they did try to put in place some reinforcements to protect it, such as concrete barricades and even having electronic scanning machines in place for the fans there.

But do you see this kind of high-level protection for a large crowd kind of domain here, as perhaps the precursor of what's to come? Might you be a lot more conscientious of construction of gathering places for the public?

THOMPSON: Fredricka, I think that since 9/11 the profession, architects and engineers, are taking it very seriously. There have been a great number of symposia and conferences on the topic lately. I think the Super Bowl is probably one of the safest places to be this afternoon based on what little I know of the details of that.

But possibly when you focus on securing a facility to that level, especially for a single event, a lot of things are done temporarily that don't look so good. But it still creates a lesser target for the people who might want to be doing something, and puts the focus of their attentions possibly on the areas around the main venue.

WHITFIELD: To make a building terrorist free or terrorist prone, not possible by architects are going to try it seems to come close to that. What's the first step?

THOMPSON: The first step always is looking at what the real requirements of the facility are and the people that are going to be coming in and out and quantities of people.

We're designing the Visitor's Center for the U.S. Capitol and, of course, that's probably, you know, the greatest symbol of our country and the ideals of freedom, and we don't want to make that a facility that they fit into. That's a unique one.

We do also facilities for the intelligence community that are very secure. So a totally different need there and expectation is to the people that you're going to have to be able to allow in and out, the freedom of movement. But you try to get standoff as the first defense, distance between the facility and people that are not cleared.

WHITFIELD: Does it sadden you that it has come to this, that while people are still focused on having a good time at the Super Bowl, they can't help recognize and accept the fact that, you know, security is being taken very seriously, and in some particular cases out there, it may be kind of deflating the fun for some folks?

THOMPSON: Yes, I think that's a fact of life that's with us now. I think to a large degree though, that you can overplay the security. And as you said, you can never guarantee security, so it has to be a wise investment.

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks very much Dave Thompson for joining us from Washington. We appreciate it.

THOMPSON: Thank you.

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