GSIS is proud to share the impactful work completed with the San Franscico War Memorial Performing Arts Center Foundation (WMPAC) and resident companies, including the Opera, Ballet, and Symphony.

Date: March 6, 2026

GSIS conducted comprehensive physical security and risk assessments across WMPAC, identified key gaps and vulnerabilities affecting buildings, employees, and patrons, and delivered key technology recommendations. We focused the assessment on active shooter vulnerabilities, ingress security, evacuation procedures, and campus-wide communication structures. Working closely with operation leads from the resident companies, GSIS created a standardized campus-wide emergency response plan with tailored protocols for each building and integrated technology solutions.

To implement the emergency response plan and security enhancements, GSIS designed and led tabletop exercises and active shooter workshops based on the Prevention – Response – Options (P.R.O) Model, which emphasizes preventing active shooter incidents before they occur. By modernizing the emergency response plan and aligning security technology with the culture of the campus, the resident companies now operate with a new sense of security to conduct their daily operations.

The GSIS approach to securing cultural and arts institutions centers on understanding the unique needs of each organization to coordinate across multiple venues or departments. Rather than a one-size-fits-all solution, GSIS considers internal processes, team dynamics, and security concerns to integrate recommendations into daily operations and foster collaboration among teams.

GSIS recognizes that many arts organizations do not have the discretionary capital to invest in security technologies and proactively identifies federal, state, and local grants that align with security enhancements and support arts organizations in developing narratives, writing applications, and finalizing submissions.

GSIS values understanding the culture and purpose of arts organizations to create safer environments that allow artists, staff, and patrons to focus on the arts.