Amidst the aftermath of the NYC shooting, the demand for panic rooms is moving from a luxury to an essential feature for homeowners.
In the wake of the tragic shooting in Manhattan on July 29, 2025, the conversation surrounding employee safety has gained momentum. The incident, which claimed the lives of one NYPD officer and at least four civilians in an office building in Midtown Manhattan, has sparked a discussion about the need for enhanced protection for employees in the workplace.
Traditionally, panic rooms and safe rooms have been a luxury reserved for C-suite executives, with reinforced walls, floors, and ceilings made from bullet-resistant materials like fiberglass. However, the landscape has changed in the last 20 years, as workplace shootings have become increasingly random and the agendas of the perpetrators increasingly disconnected from reality. As a result, companies have started to build office panic rooms in dual-purpose spaces such as conference rooms, break rooms, and bathrooms.
High-end panic rooms often require advanced communication systems that enable instant, two-way communication with law enforcement. These rooms are equipped with bullet-resistant doors and windows, custom-designed for both security and aesthetics. The doors and windows feature multilayer construction using materials such as steel, fiberglass, polycarbonate, and ballistic-rated glass. These doors and windows are tested and rated to various UL 752 levels, ensuring resistance against different calibers and types of firearms.
Some common features of these panic rooms include ballistic-rated multi-layer materials, automatic locking and access control, fire resistance, custom design and aesthetics, and structural reinforcements. These features collectively ensure that panic rooms in offices provide a secure refuge against firearms threats, helping protect employees until help arrives.
SaferWatch, a safety and emergency alert platform, is consulting on the build-out of panic rooms in a dozen companies, including some that are housed in the building where the shooting occurred. SaferWatch's panic alert systems can be integrated into businesses with such rooms, providing real-time alerts and helping to activate a coordinated emergency response.
The gunman, identified as Shane Tamura, entered the lobby of 345 Park Avenue and opened fire with an AR-15 style rifle. One victim, 27-year-old Julia Hyman, was shot and killed after stepping out of a panic room inside Rudin Management's Midtown office. This tragic incident underscores the importance of employee safety going far beyond simply creating a physical safe space; employers must ensure that staff receive timely alerts and understand proper lockdown procedures in the event of an emergency.
Geno Roefaro, CEO of Saferwatch, describes panic rooms as "a critical layer of protection during active threats" that allow employees to flee to shelter safely while first responders are alerted in real time. As the need for workplace safety continues to grow, the installation of panic rooms in offices is becoming an increasingly popular solution.
- In light of the Manhattan shooting in July 2025, there's a growing interest in workplace-wellness, focusing on employee safety, particularly in relation to the need for enhanced protection through the installation of panic rooms.
- Following the office shooting, some companies are considering the installation of advanced panic rooms equipped with real-time communication systems, as recommended by safety consultants like SaferWatch, to better safeguard their employees.
- Beyond the creation of physical safe spaces, the tragedy emphasizes the importance of health-and-wellness programs that include preparing employees with proper lockdown procedures and ensuring timely emergency alerts for general-news events like workplace-violence incidents.
