Client: Royal Shakespeare Company
Type of works: Supply of Slimdrive SL automatic door operators

An estimated 279,300 visitors have passed through the doors of the Royal Shakespeare and Swan Theatres since their re-opening in November 2010, following the Royal Shakespeare Company’s (RSC’s) multi-million pound Transformation project, with the new all-glass entrances installed by GEZE UK.

The popular Slimdrive SL automatic door operators from the UK’s leading manufacturer of door and window control systems were chosen to enable easy access at both ends of the modern glass colonnade designed by architects, Bennetts Associates, to connect the two historic theatres.

Integrated alongside the Art Deco and Victorian features of the original buildings, the glass colonnade was given a sense of symmetry with two sets of automatic doors at both the Swan and Bancroft entrances, creating two draught lobbies. This reduces the amount of hot or cold air escaping from the main foyer and improves energy efficiency. A third SL was also installed linking the Bancroft gardens entrance to the RST foyer space leading to the riverside.

The slim design of the SLs was ideal and with an operator height of just 7cm they fit almost invisibly without compromising the overall look. The Slimdrive SL has 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.

Thirty GEZE floor springs with brass plates, an automatic swing door operator at the stage door and manual door closers are also installed throughout the building.

GEZE UK’s contracts and service director Paul Ryan said: “It was very exciting to work on such a prestigious project. I think that when there is a demand on a project for old architecture to meet new contemporary features GEZE UK’s Slimdrive SL is the sleekest option. GEZE can design entrances to meet the needs and vision of any architect through our knowledge and expertise. ”