With an increase in the global number of vehicle ramming attacks over the past decade, protecting and securing our public spaces is rapidly becoming more important. As the University of British Columbia in Vancouver is committed to providing a safe, comfortable experience to all its patrons, efforts are taken to secure the campus against these vehicle-borne attacks. 

Collaborating with Mobycon I analyzed several preselected locations, using the theoretical background around ‘safety by design’ which I developed over the years. In this approach, securing public space goes hand in hand with mobility aspects and the quality of public space. Securing public space is not just placing heavy concrete blocks and bollards, but a process of analyzing necessary traffic flows – both vehicular and pedestrian – and mitigating risk by design measures which block off, slow down traffic and shield and provide refuge locations for pedestrians. 

For the UBC Campus my study resulted in a series of strategic design solutions, which can become the starting point for conceptual designs per location.