The first location is expected to open in summer 2026 and will feature AI-powered medical suites, gourmet dining, swimming pools and wellness programs.
In the summer of 2026, an extraordinary offshoot of Safe—the Virginia-based protective design specialists—will unveil Aerie. This underground doomsday bunker complex will act as a fortified sanctuary, setting the stage for a revolutionary new global network.
For years, Safe (Strategically Armored & Fortified Environments) has delivered outrageous innovations to private homes including flaming lakes, biometrically activated shotgun walls, water cannons and even a Formula 1 track. The new Aerie project will offer a network of luxurious doomsday residential bunkers in 50 U.S. cities with a planned 1,000 affiliate locations worldwide.
A key component of Aerie is its global network of subterranean sanctuaries, nestled underneath its wellness centers in the hearts of cities. The first location will open in Virginia, near Washington D.C., and will come at a cost of $300 million to construct.
“We created Aerie to help vulnerable clients when they leave their fortified homes or yachts,” explains Al Corbi, Safe’s founder and president. “Aerie’s impenetrable residences include SCIF-compliant (Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities) environments for ultimate privacy and security. Each facility features AI-powered medical suites, gourmet dining, and wellness programs, which will blend protection and luxury.”
Director of Medical Preparedness for Safe, Naomi Corbi, emphasizes, “The wealthy are becoming more interested in wellness and longevity offerings as part of their fortified residences. Aerie will utilize advanced AI-integrated medical care, connecting members to specialists around the clock.”
For Members Only
Aerie—named after a resting place for birds of prey—is a membership-based club with innovative wellness and longevity offerings. It is part of a global network of highly secure bunkers that clients can buy into where residences can cost up to $20 million each. Members will also have the ability to customize their bunkers.
Everything but the members’ club and its rooftop penthouse is underground for security purposes. Interactive walls, ceilings, and special lighting effects make everything appear above ground, perched high above the city. But they are very far underground.
“The whole reason Aerie came to be is that after building multimillion-dollar sanctuaries for our clients on their estates and superyachts, they still traveled away from their protected homes to locations with a lower level of protection. When something terrible happens, they can use one of the bunkers and facilities in the city they find themselves in,” says Corbi.
“Aerie is a multifaceted club where members can conduct business in complete privacy because of its SCIF, airgap, and hardwired environments,” adds Corbi. “The Sentinel system protects its members’ privacy, security, and freedom underground.”
Beyond The Cold War Nuclear Bunker
Aerie’s design includes subterranean spaces that feature interactive walls, ceilings, and lighting that simulate panoramic views, creating the illusion of being perched atop a cliff. Spaces range from individual 2,000-square-foot suites to enormous 20,000 plus square-foot multi-level underground penthouses.
According to Safe, “These residences include multi-layer biometric authentication and impenetrable tactical mantraps, going beyond security for even world leaders. Aerie ensures members can travel confidently, knowing they’re protected no matter where they are.”
Safe’s systems are designed to give the owner control, not their staff. For clients with large households, like one with 150 rotating staff members, Safe’s systems track assets and detect problems to ensure nothing is ever misplaced or compromised.
Aerie Residences
There is one spectacular roof-top penthouse suite above ground for exclusivity purposes. All apartments and suites are underground for high-level security. The number of underground floors will vary depending on geographical limitations. Each location will have a minimum of two stories, with most locations planned for over 20 stories below grade, with the potential for over 200 apartments.
Aerie’s rooftop penthouse—marketed as “the pinnacle of exclusivity, resilience, and luxury”—combines opulence with fortress-level protection. Fortified against civil unrest and other threats, it features blast-resistant walls, ballistic glass, and advanced defenses. In worst-case scenarios, occupants are transported via hardened elevators to underground bunkers.
Futuristic technology allows the underground swimming pool and other amenities to appear completely realistic with expansive views. The pool will feel as if it is perched high in the air, when in reality, it could be 20-plus stories underground in a full-on nuclear-proof shelter, 200 feet below the surface.
Medical Suites
These fully functional intensive care units, called MediShield, provide life-saving critical care for clients, ensuring immediate and advanced medical response to emergencies. Equipped with state-of-the-art AI technology, they support continuous monitoring and rapid stabilization to assist where external medical assistance is unavailable.
According to Safe, “The company’s team of highly specialized medical professionals will deliver the same standards of the White House Medical Unit straight to you. The cutting-edge robotic services provide top-tier medical care and emergency response, regardless of location.”
Among the many unique amenities is an underground hyperbaric chamber that will provide health benefits by delivering concentrated oxygen to counteract limited air quality and promote optimal cellular function. This could be beneficial to heal wounds, combat infection, and mitigate the effects of stress and low oxygen levels.
An ice plunge room will also be offered to assist with recovery and resilience in confined conditions. The cold exposure can enhance immune function and promote faster muscle repair while improving tolerance to extreme conditions. The ice plunge will help reduce stress levels, and sharpen mental clarity, providing physical and psychological benefits for life underground.
The IV Therapy Room delivers nutrients, hydration, and medications to support physical and mental performance under stress. The highly curated and customized therapy programs will assist in immune function and combat fatigue while helping recovery from illness or injury.
The wellness facilities will also include a massage room that offers AI robotic treatments for recovery by reducing muscle tension and improving circulation. Living underground for extended periods of time requires mental clarity, and these wellness amenities will help alleviate anxiety so that residents can stay physically and mentally strong.
Safe’s expertise extends beyond Aerie, preparing for scenarios that seem unthinkable. “Imagine a massive solar flare annihilating the global grid, plunging the world into chaos,” warns Corbi. “Within hours, supply chains collapse, society unravels, and civil unrest erupts. This isn’t fiction—it’s a likely reality.”
“We are creating sanctuaries and doomsday bunkers to prepare for the unthinkable,” he adds. “Every defense is designed to protect your family. The future may be uncertain, but your safety will never be in these protected bunkers.”
This story was originally published on forbes.com.
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