Temporary Barriers for High-Profile Events
High-profile events like the Rockefeller Center tree lighting pose unique challenges. They require rigorous security measures and minimal disruption to daily operations. For a site as iconic and busy as Rockefeller Center during the holiday season, robust yet flexible perimeter protection is essential. This case study highlights how Barrier1 Systems’ Avenger M50 Manual Crash Beams (DACB-PAM-1200) provided an ideal solution for safeguarding one of New York City’s most celebrated traditions: the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree display, including the annual tree lighting ceremony.
The 2024 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting
The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is a symbol of the holiday season, drawing crowds from around the world. In 2024, the tree stands an impressive 74 feet tall and 43 feet wide, adorned with over 50,000 LED lights and topped with a Swarovski crystal star. This tradition attracts tens of thousands of attendees each year during the lighting ceremony, highlighting the need for heightened security measures to protect visitors and ensure smooth operations.
The Challenge: Balancing Security and Accessibility
The Rockefeller Center tree lighting ceremony, a highlight of the holiday season, attracts large crowds each year. Along with the festive spirit, the event presents significant security challenges, including the need to:
Protect pedestrians and visitors from potential vehicular threats.
Maintain flexibility for loading zones, emergency access, and eventual removal of barriers.
Minimize disruption to the daily operations and aesthetics of this historic site.
Temporary barriers needed to meet rigorous security standards and remain crash-rated. They also had to allow easy deployment, operation, and removal after the holiday season. These standards ensure barriers can reliably stop high-speed vehicle threats, providing maximum protection for pedestrians and event spaces.
The Solution: Avenger M50 Manual Crash Beams
Barrier1 Systems’ Avenger M50 Manual Crash Beams were selected for this high-stakes application due to their crash-rated design, adaptability, and ease of use.
Key Features of the Avenger M50 Manual Crash Beams
Crash-Tested Strength: Rated to stop a 15,000 lb. vehicle traveling at 50 mph (ASTM Crash Rating: M50–P3 per ASTM F-2656-07 standard), ensuring robust security.
Temporary Deployment: With a surface-set design, the barriers require no permanent installation. They can be easily moved into place using a forklift.
Manual Operation: The arm raises vertically and rotates horizontally, allowing flexible access control when needed.
Available Spans: Accommodating openings from 14 to 24 feet, providing scalable solutions for different access points.
Implementation and Results: Delivering Seamless Security
The Avenger M50 Manual Crash Beams were deployed at Rockefeller Center in strategic locations to provide robust perimeter protection. Key aspects of their implementation and results include:
Delivery and Placement: Each crash beam was delivered and positioned using a forklift. The surface-set design eliminated the need for invasive ground preparations, preserving the integrity of the site.
Pre-Event Testing: Manual operation of the crash arms was tested to ensure smooth functionality at key entry points.
Event Operations: Throughout the time the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is on-site, including the tree lighting ceremony, the barriers provide robust perimeter security, preventing unauthorized vehicle access while allowing manual operation to grant access to authorized vehicles as needed.
Post-Event Removal: Once the holiday season concludes in mid-January, the barriers will be easily loaded back onto trucks using a forklift and transported off-site, leaving no permanent impact on Rockefeller Center.
This deployment enhanced attendee safety, streamlined operations for staff, and preserved Rockefeller Center’s historic aesthetic.
Strength and Flexibility in Temporary Vehicle Barriers
The successful deployment of Avenger M50 Manual Crash Beams at Rockefeller Center highlights their value as a premier solution for temporary security needs. With their combination of strength, flexibility, and ease of use, these barriers play a vital role in ensuring safety at high-profile events.
Whether you’re planning a major event, managing a construction site, or securing a sensitive area, Barrier1 Systems offers solutions that combine crash-rated protection with easy deployment and flexibility. Contact us to learn how the Avenger M50 can meet your security needs.
Get a Quote Today Interested in renting or purchasing an Avenger M50 Manual Crash Beam for your next event? Contact Barrier1 Systems at 336-617-8478 or visit www.barrier1.com/contact-us to learn more. Ensure the safety of your attendees with reliable and flexible temporary vehicle barriers.