How Secure Is Your Corporate Office Building? A Look Inside

Source: Squarespace/ Unsplash

Backdrop

In the wake of recent violent incidents targeting high-profile executives in Midtown Manhattan, questions are mounting about just how secure New York City’s corporate office buildings really are.

Security for the powerful has evolved dramatically over the centuries, shifting from the physical fortifications of medieval castles to the sleek, high-rise fortresses of today.

In the past, nobility relied on multiple layers of protection — outer walls, inner courtyards, drawbridges, moats, and heavily guarded keeps — all designed to stall, confuse, and repel intruders. Today’s equivalent can be found in the corporate towers of Midtown Manhattan, where the elite work behind badge-access elevators, keycard-controlled doors, and an omnipresent network of security cameras.

Yet unlike their medieval counterparts, these modern structures often rely more on the illusion of safety than actual impenetrability, with unarmed guards and waist-high turnstiles replacing thick stone walls and battlements. The architecture of power may have changed, but the desire to keep danger at bay remains the same — even if the tools have become more symbolic than secure.

Source: Squarespace/ Unsplash

Building Defenses

Most buildings rely on turnstiles at the entrance, but these are often no taller than a standard subway barrier — easy to jump, push through, or simply bypass in a moment of distraction.

While security personnel are typically stationed in lobbies, they are not always armed, and their ability to physically intervene in a high-stakes situation is limited.

The primary line of defense, oddly enough, may come down to the building’s elevators. These can be locked to prevent access to upper floors — but only if someone at the security desk is present and responsive in real time. In other words, if the front desk is left unattended, or if communication breaks down during a fast-moving emergency, an intruder could move freely throughout the building before anyone even notices.

Of course, nearly all corporate buildings are outfitted with extensive security camera systems, offering surveillance and retrospective footage. But cameras are reactive tools — they record what’s happening, not prevent it. And in the critical seconds where lives are on the line, a live security feed is no substitute for physical deterrence.

Police directing pedestrians after the infamous NYC Active Shooter event on 7/28/2025. Source: The Empire City Wire

Notable Incidents

The first victim was UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, shot outside the New York Hilton just before he was set to speak at an investor conference.

The attack, described by police as "targeted and premeditated," sent shockwaves through both Wall Street and Washington. But beyond the tragedy, it ignited renewed scrutiny of the American healthcare system, particularly the predatory practices of insurers that leave millions struggling to access basic care while racking up crushing medical debt.

Months later, another fatal shooting in Midtown NYC claimed the life of Wesley LePatner, a CEO tied to Blackstone’s real estate ETF division, and a figure closely associated with the massive buying spree of single-family homes by private equity firms. For many, this second killing symbolized a deepening anger at how institutional investors have reshaped the housing market, driving up home prices, limiting supply, and locking everyday Americans out of homeownership.

While authorities have not officially linked the two incidents, the symbolism is hard to ignore. Two industries — healthcare and housing — that have become flashpoints in America’s cost-of-living crisis are now at the center of deadly acts of retaliation. As frustration mounts over stagnant wages, rising rents, and shrinking access to essential services, these killings underscore a growing sense that the social contract has been broken — and that for some, protest has turned into desperation.

Preparation

As the line between public safety and private enterprise continues to blur, it’s worth asking whether these gleaming office towers — housing some of the most powerful companies in the world — are truly prepared for the threats of today. In an era of rising economic discontent and high-profile violence, a turnstile and a camera might not be enough.