Guard Booth Maker B.I.G. Enterprises Bets on Data Center Boom After Acquisition

When organizations commission a security guard booth, they often hand the specification work to their architects and engineers. According to Jeff Crooymans, Sales Manager at B.I.G. Enterprises, that's where projects can go sideways.

"Not leading with the state's requirements — or worse, not considering the threat environment the booth will operate in — are the most expensive mistakes a buyer can make," Crooymans said.

The observation points to a structural gap in how the industry operates. Architects and engineers are trained to design large structures, not functionally secure enclosures engineered to stop specific real-world threats. State regulations governing guard booths — which can mandate features such as onsite bathrooms — add another layer of complexity that general design professionals rarely encounter.

B.I.G. Enterprises, founded in 1963 and based in the prefab security enclosure market, has built its business around filling that gap. The company manufactures custom guard booths and protective enclosures for mission-critical, industrial, government, and high-security environments. Its sales process begins with a full security profile assessment — evaluating everything from door hardware to bullet resistance — before minimum requirements ever enter the conversation.

The company claims to have introduced eight features that have since become industry standards: long-lasting HVAC systems, acoustic tile drop ceilings, durable flooring, secure door hardware, low-voltage system configurations, Wiremold electrical systems, interior shelving, and dual-insulated walls. B.I.G. says its own specifications remain more stringent than what the broader industry has adopted.

Acquisition and Expansion

B.I.G. Enterprises was recently acquired by VITALSpace, a modular construction company with holdings across the justice, industrial, and healthcare markets. The company will continue operating under its existing brand and leadership team.

"Over the past year, VITALSpace companies have expanded production capabilities, strengthened partnerships, and increased demand across justice, industrial, and healthcare markets," said Mike Smith, VITALSpace CEO.

The timing coincides with what B.I.G. describes as a significant uptick in demand from the data center sector. Dave King, B.I.G.'s VP of Sales, said the company has tracked the guard booth market as it has evolved from parking lot kiosks to perimeter security installations at energy facilities, government campuses, and distribution centers. Data centers represent the latest frontier.

To respond to that demand, B.I.G. is opening a new manufacturing facility in Georgia this spring.

For Crooymans, the acquisition carries personal weight. "For 18 years, I've been with the company that my grandfather built and my uncle has grown," he said. "Now my family's business is part of something much bigger. Our legacy and leadership will continue."