For the park, see Washington Square (Philadelphia). Washington Square West is a neighborhood in downtown, or Center City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Electric Door Strike (image from bigasterisk.com) A better solution for door security hardware during a power outage is to use electric strikes. An electric strike is a mechanically operated strike that releases a door when the mechanical part is activated.
On the jamb above a strike plat is installed much like a strike plate used on a regular door, but this strike has a small indentation to fit the contour of the ball rather than a hole for the latch. As the door shuts, the spring loaded ball rests in the indentation on the strike and keeps the door closed.