UK property firm Endurance Land, which is a member of the Hong Kong-based property conglomerate Nan Fung Group, owns The Bailey.
The property – which is situated directly opposite the famous Old Bailey High Court in London – was originally built in the early 20th Century for the Chatham and Dover Railway Company. It’s Grade II listed Edwardian Baroque façade features classical reclining figures, while a larger ‘western extension’ was built in 1999 to modern City office standards.
Knight Harwood was recently commissioned to refurbish the whole site, along with architect Orms and building design consultancy GDM Partnership. The commercial site meets Grade A office specifications and offers exceptional internet reliability and speed for tenants. It achieved a platinum connectivity rating by WireScore, the Mayor of London’s digital connectivity rating scheme in 2020.
A new and sophisticated access and security management system was part of the refurbishment brief.
Knight Harwood stipulated an access and security management system that would ensure a free flow of users and tenants through reception, without crowding or queues.
System requirements
This would need to include integrating intelligent lift controls, to ensure users were swiftly taken to their designated floor, as well as a good visitor management system that all tenants could use without the need for a central security team to manage requests.
Touchless access, as well as digital sign-in for users was also important. An intercom or entry phone and access control operated doors were needed for disabled users accessing the building from the dedicated disabled parking bay, as well anyone arriving ‘out of hours’ or for trades people and deliveries.
High levels of physical and cybersecurity were needed to keep all legitimate users and the site safe, without hindering access. CCTV monitoring would be needed in strategic locations. Future proofing, including laying underfloor cables ready for entry turnstiles/speed lanes, was desired.
The team
Antron Security project managed the design, supply and installation of the access control and security system for The Bailey and acted as the ‘go-to’ contact for Knight Harwood.
Antron Security is a leading installer of bespoke security solutions and has been providing security installations for the past 30 years. Taking care of the supply, design, installation and maintenance of security systems, Antron Security is NSI and Safe Contractor approved, meaning all staff and systems installed comply with the latest industry standards and are regularly inspected.
Inner Range provided the core access and security management system, Integriti, that enabled Antron Security to build the bespoke solutions needed for The Bailey. Inner Range has been a world leader in the design and manufacture of intelligent security solutions since it was established in 1988. Inner Range systems have been installed in over 25 countries. It’s flagship product, Integriti, offers enterprise-level intelligent security and integrated smart building controls for single sites through to global estate portfolios.
Key integration
Inner Range’s powerful Integriti intelligent access control system, known for its breadth of integration options, integrates with Mitsubishi’s high-level lift controls and Bluepoint’s visitor management system to ensure all users and visitors can access their floors and designated areas with ease.
Fully integrated visitor management
Inner Range’s Integriti also allowed Bluepoint’s visitor management system to integrate with the Mitsubishi lifts. For visitors to access tenanted floors within the building, the following has to take place: a tenant creates the meeting via Bluepoint; an email is generated and sent to the visitor’s inbox where they can create a mobile QR code pass; when the visitor arrives, they use their mobile phone to scan the QR code in the Bluepoint invite; the reception team can then direct them to the Mitsubishi lifts.
To leave, the visitor presents their QR code at the lift or door reader, which tells the system they’re leaving; the QR codes are only valid for one entry and one exit, and only on the appointment date and at the planned appointment time. Afterwards, the QR code becomes invalid and is deleted from the system; the QR code gives the visitor the ability to access everything they will need, including the lifts and any locked doors en-route.
The integration between Integriti and Bluepoint’s visitor management system was achieved using the Bluepoint API. Bluepoint is cloud-based, hosted on the Microsoft Azure platform.
Intelligent access control
Inner Range’s enterprise product, Integriti, provides seamless integration with a multitude of other smart building management systems, underpinned by robust security. This includes encrypting all communications through every device and interface and providing intruder detection to European standard EN50131.
Integriti helps building managers create greener, more energy efficient sites by tracking how tenants use the building and amending heating and lighting settings as a result. Integriti also provides trace reporting, that can identify a user’s movements if they have become unwell and identify who else has been near them.
System benefits for users include: touch-free entry and digital sign-in for users and visitors; no unnecessary stops for users on their way into the building; reduced risk of crowding or queues in reception area; easy to use visitor management system; robust security that doesn’t impinge on access; future proofing with cabling provision for speed lanes/entry turnstiles in place.