The owner and user of the facility should select a team composed of an architect, consulting engineer, security consultant, and construction manager and provide the team with clearly defined special needs that should be met through facility design. The planning should focus first on security free of false alarms and with instant communication and visibility in a minimum response time; secondly, life safety; and thirdly, energy management. Security systems could be designed to distribute responsibility. A separate and early bid package for detention and security equipment can save as much as 4 to 6 months in the overall construction schedule. Other matters that must be addressed early in the planning are the time required to furnish and stock the facility, staff orientation to the physical plant, and training in equipment operation. The sequence of security material and services would be programmed as an integral part of the construction schedule.