Boon Edam has added entrance solutions to the refurbishments of the busy Finsbury Circus and Broadgate entrances of Park House.
Originally undergoing a full refurbishment by John Robertson Associates back in 2008, Park House - behind the Grade II listed façade, featured 195,000 sqft of office and retail space positioned around a full height open atrium. The 2008 refurbishment saw the installation of a bronze anodised Circleslide as a solution for concerns regarding workplace and Eldon street transitions. An entrance regeneration that has sustained over 10 years of use, and successfully continues to do so, paying homage to the regular service and maintenance undertaken.
The lead architect in the 2019 partial refurbishment of Park House was Stiff + Trevillion.
Having a double entrance like Park House helps to alleviate stress during peak building use times, by allowing access and egress through two areas of the building. However, two entrances mean two security solutions to mitigate risk the surrounding intended secure areas of the building.
Previously positioned as a line of defence located near the lift area sat a bank of Speedlane 900s. The original Speedlane 900s installed featured a stainless-steel cabinet with sliding glass wings which necessitated a wide footprint. In the 2019 refurbishment by Stiff + Trevillion the two banks of 900s were replaced with Lifeline Speedlane Swings. The Lifeline Speedlane Swing utilises a much thinner cabinet design allowing for either more lanes or a wider lane passage. Additional cantilevered barrier work makes for a seamless defence line being recessed into stainless steel channels mounted into the floor which are secured between the gates and walls of reception.
Park house makes for a unique installation, through the sub-floor preparation that secures the lanes onto the floor. Mild steel sub-floor baseplates were bespoke made for Park House. These are installed between the finished floor and structural slab to add extra reinforcement as well as stabilising the lanes, due to their width and increase their longevity when looking at servicing and maintenance. During the construction phase these bespoke baseplates helped to ensure accurate setting out and promote comfort in knowing that electrical requirements are installed correctly before the lanes are installed.
John Robertson Associates specified and installed a bronze anodised Circleslide which is a circular sliding door back in 2008. With the Eldon Street entrance sitting in a close proximity to the busy pedestrian area, a Circleslide was the perfect solution to combine an entrance that complied with current DDA regulations, a means of fire escape and provided a means of controlling the entrance lobby environment. With a double set of bi-parting doors, the external doors that are triggered via sensors open, leaving the interior doors closed helping to keep the reception area a comfortable temperature. A Circular sliding door incorporates the design features of a revolving door with the functionality of two sets of sliding doors.