Client: Frogmore Real Estate Partners
Architect: Black Architecture
Type of works: supply and installation of TORMAX TXP door operators.

Achieving a ‘very good’ BREEAM rating within the constraints of the building envelope, 50 St Mary Axe is over 32,000ft² of prime office space close to the iconic Gherkin building in the City of London and benefits from a lobby entrance system that is powered by reliable, high torque TXP operators from TORMAX™. Setting the standard for sustainable door automation, Swiss-designed TORMAX TXP operators are finely tuned to minimise energy consumption whilst delivering rapid acceleration on opening and closing, effectively cutting heat lost from the building each time the doors are activated.

Designed by award winner’s Black Architecture, on behalf of Frogmore Real Estate Partners, 50 St Mary Axe has been completed to Category A specification throughout and effectively balances economic viability with the aim of limiting environmental impact through a philosophy of reduce, reuse and recycle.

The entrance consists of one inner and one outer sliding door that work in tandem to form a draught lobby, helping maintain an ambient air temperature in Reception. With each door being 1,400mm wide x 2,600mm high TORMAX™ advised using the powerful TXP operator which houses a powerful motor and robust sliding track system making it capable of easily opening a 400kg door whilst also delivering increased reliability and a longer lifespan.

As with all TORMAX™ automatic doors, the TXP makes no compromise on safety with a double set of infra-red safety beams providing instant detection of obstacles when opening or closing and an emergency “stop” function as standard. Additional impulse, presence and safety sensors can be installed if required. Easy to program and operate, door opening and closing speeds as well as hold open time can quickly be adapted to external weather conditions and levels of foot traffic.

Further reducing environmental impact the new iMotion^® generation of automatic door drives from TORMAX™ are almost entirely manufactured using recyclable materials. In addition, energy consumption and a building’s heat loss is minimised as iMotion^® technology sets doors for ‘reduced opening’ but automatically adapts to pedestrian traffic building up from both directions.