Home to stockbrokers, solicitors, telecoms and insurance companies, Beaufort House has been refurbished by Osel Architecture who envisioned a large, wholly original entrance that makes a dramatic statement to all staff and visitors, and complements the building’s grand 60ft-high atrium. Specialist fit-out firm Sykes, sought out the UK’s leading manufacturer of door and window control systems, GEZE UK, to help deliver this very unusual project with minimal disruption to office workers and visitors.
With extremely high footfall expected at peak periods, a curved entrance was chosen that would enable the largest possible number of people to flow through the lobby at any one time. It was also important to maintain a feeling of space within the lobby area and create an easy transition between the building’s atrium and the busy square outside.
As a result, the lobby’s unique oval design features two automatic bi-parting sliding outer glass doors which are gently curved, and two identical inner doors, maximising footfall, minimising heat loss or gain and enabling access for all. GEZE’s energy-efficient Slimdrive SC, a curved automatic door operator was chosen for its sleek appearance and versatility as it can be tailored to bespoke radii and door dimensions, as well as meeting the highest efficiency and quality standards.
Two glass swing doors with EMD-F automatic door operators were also installed on either side of the lobby for security use and out-of-hours access. These highly compact operators are able to move large and heavy doors easily with virtually no noise.
Part of GEZE’s popular Slimdrive range, both operators are just 7cm high so they can be mounted almost invisibly, making them the ideal choice for this stylish stainless steel and glass entrance. They have also been designed and tested to meet the requirements of all relevant standards and regulations, including Building Bulletin 93, Approved Documents B and M, as well as assisting with the vigorous demands of the Equality Act.
GEZE UK’s operations director Simon Bowden said: “The architects of Beaufort House have created an interesting and unusual design for an entrance, which we were keen to make a reality. Installing curved doors can increase the size of the entrance by up to 40 per cent which is important when looking at areas with high levels of footfall. Slimdrive SCs are ideal for creating a feeling of space without compromising the overall look of the entrance.
“Working with Sykes, we were able to create a curved lobby that is a key feature of the refurbishment that enhances and heightens the scale of the atrium.”