Meet Randy Atlas | Architect and Criminologist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Randy Atlas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Randy, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I was working for other architecture firms, when I got out of college. Every time the firm got a great contract in, and I did a wonderful job, that would be the last project coming, and they would do Firm layoffs. After being laid off twice with two different firms, I decided if I was going to be poor and unemployed, I would prefer to work for myself. So I formed my own company in 1984.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
As America’s only Architect and criminologist, I formed Atlas Safety & Security Design Inc. in 1984. We provide Security design consulting to architects, property, managers, government, agencies, and attorneys. So far too long the field of security has been ignored as a preventative to measure as compared to a reactive measure. The prime directive of what I do is to make a positive difference every day by preventing some kind of act of terrorism or criminal act.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Fort Lauderdale is the fun and sun capital of the world, with every day being like Spring Break. The great assets of Fort Lauderdale are the beaches, Las Olas Blvd., the great restaurants and fun night life. I would take my guest to explore and experience less old Boulevard, go to one of the amazing rooftop bars and see the city and the ocean. There are really fun opportunities to go sailing on the ocean front of Fort Lauderdale and the beaches.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My uncle was the chief of Police of Miami Beach, Rocky Pomerance, and as I was graduating high school from Miami Beach, he met with me and told me about Oscar Newman and Defensible Space. The book was about urban design and architecture influencing crime and deterioration in the cities and housing projects of the 1960’s. His confidence in me opened a space for architecture, criminal justice, and criminology to merge. I was interested in law enforcement, but didn’t want to be a police officer because I don’t play well with others in the sandbox of life, and architects are very comfortable being lone wolves. So I combined the fields, got degrees in all of them, and became America’s only architect/criminologist.

Website: Www.CPTED-security.com