22 Dec 2011

A magic world requires magical door solutions

Palatset (the palace) on Riddarholmen in Stockholm houses an amazing world where Harry Potter would feel comfortable. But the magic does not consist of witchcraft, but the children's own creativity and artistic experiences. Such a world requires magical door solutions.

Palatset consists of nine floors with countless rooms, stair halls, winding stairs, narrow passageways, a dining room taken from a British boarding school, Stockholm's oldest elevator and the city's oldest water-heating system. But here is also the latest IT technology, professional television studios, radio and music studios, a cinema with the latest technology and ASSA's most advanced door solutions.

- Palatset can be a logistical nightmare, says Anders Bergh, MD. There are hundreds of doors and passageways that shall work, sometimes a little magically.

Some doors will open, only for you and signs welcome you by name. Others are closed - perhaps a radio recording is going on or a theater workshop where they do not want to be disturbed.

A visitor badge with an RFID chip is the technology behind the magic. And of course the access control system ARX, that allows the entire place to work without keys. By using ARX it is easy to keep doors locked during an activity, while others stay open.

- We are just at the beginning of the knowledge transfer and the development of this technology, says Anders Bergh.

- ARX is a very flexible system and we are in the middle of an ongoing development that will continue.

Some doors will open automatically when you approach, whether you are in a wheelchair or not.

- They increase the house's magic while it is not pointing out anyone. The house is excellent for people with physical differences, everyone fits in.

The old National Archives

But where are we? Well, the old Swedish national archives. This archive was made to hold important documents between the years 1891 and 1968. Then the building was both outdated and too small and the National Archives moved.

The old National Archives slept for over 40 years, but now the house has been brought out of its beauty sleep with a new life ahead as a unique attraction for children and adolescents. A fantasy world, a creative dream workshop, a place where children can create and enjoy movies, books, music and performing arts for real, this is the thought behind Palatset.

Today the rooms are full of schoolchildren. A large group of youngsters are showing their dance for each other after a half hour workshop.

- See how they dare to dance solo though they do not know each other, says Anders Bergh.
Twenty other children knead clay with enthusiasm under the supervision of two art instructors.
A bunch of children with special make up come crashing down the main staircase.

Stunning renovation

The building, owned by the National Property Board, has undergone an extensive renovation to serve in this new guise. The renovation has taken place entirely on the basis of the new business needs. When it started, the house was the oldest non refurbished building in Europe. In principle, nothing had been done since it was built. The idea was to keep as much as possible of the well-preserved environment and to let some flaws remain. It was the type of renovation that appealed to the antiquarians (the building has a maximum of culture-labeling) but also the property owner's budget. Among other things, miles of bookshelves have been re-built into everything from wardrobes to restaurant tables.

But new modern installations have obviously been added. A ventilation system cuts through the house. All spaces have sprinkler systems. An evacuation staircase has been built.

Evacuation is obviously an important aspect in this type of activity. ASSA's emergency exit devices are installed on all locked doors.

Partners

Anders Bergh explains how Palatset has sought partnerships with leading companies in various categories. For all these great things would not be possible without cooperation. For locks and access control, the cooperation has been with ASSA.

- Thanks to these collaborations, we have the latest of everything. It would not be possible for cultural activities to do this otherwise.

This means that the house is filled with expensive technology and why is it so important with security
- We try to be an open house where visitors can move around freely and then we need to have locks that work.

ARX-readers on virtually every door provide maximum security and freedom at the same time. Staff access can be controlled effectively and flexibly. Many employees come at certain occasions to lead a special activity and shall have access from the gate into the heart of the building. With ARX, it is easy to control the access rights of a particular person for specific doors for a specific time. If the cooperation ends there is no problem with keys that need to be returned. Or with lost keys for that matter. The plastic key tag can easily be programmed from the system.

- Being able to control each person's access rights all the way from the entrance gives us a very good security, says Anders Bergh, CEO.