The new entrance to UNESCO headquarters, delivered by Integrated Design Limited, elevates a security checkpoint to a ‘smart building’.

This transformed what could have been a mere security checkpoint into a formal reception which combines work, reflection, patience and purpose to create a ‘smart building’ which is in harmony with the organisation, the site and the function.

The building receives a very high daily flow of people: there are more than 1,400 staff, plus visitors, conference attendees and delegations who visit the building. Ensuring everyone passes quickly through the security controls is critical to maintaining security, which is why the Fastlane R400MA turnstiles were chosen for entrance control. These turnstiles offer unrivalled processing speeds coupled with an aesthetic design which sits comfortably in a building designed to put everything on display.

The R400MA creates an ‘effective response to functional and technical criteria in keeping with the security constraints, which expresses both serenity and simplicity’, according to UNESCO. For everyone’s safety, the speed at which the Fastlanes control the flow is paramount. If there is no optimisation of the flows of people and groups, and if everyone ends up waiting to enter the building, entrance will be slowed down, which would compromise the safety and security of the visitors and the ability of security officers to intervene if necessary.