DORMA door closers and architectural hardware feature prominently in two of this year’s finalists for the RIBA Stirling Prize – Britain’s most prestigious architectural award.
The Liverpool One Masterplan, by interdisciplinary design firm BDP for Grosvenor Developments, is a new scheme, which has been credited with single-handedly reversing Liverpool’s fortunes by bringing a new social and economic vibrancy to a run-down 42-acre at the heart of the city.
DORMA’s door control products, including TS83 door closers, ITS96 concealed cam action closers and the AD4000 range of panic hardware were carefully selected and presented to BDP by architectural ironmongers Scott Beaven Radius Ltd of Gateshead due to their durability and value for money. Their client, Grosvenor Developments had stipulated from the outset that product durability was paramount for the 6,600 doors throughout the scheme.
At subsequent meetings with the architect and client, Scott Beaven Radius Ltd supplied sample DORMA products for appraisal. To meet the requirement for a fully concealed closer on the residential apartments, Scott Beaven Radius Ltd supplied the DORMA ITS96 cam action closer, a variable powered door closer so slim that it can be installed and completely concealed within the door leaf.. DORMA 182 escape locks were also fitted to each of the apartment entrance doors.
The ITS96 closer features DORMA’s unique heart-shaped cam system which results in low resistance throughout the door’s opening arc, this ensures the door closer can help the doorsets meet the maximum opening force of 30 Newtons between 0-30 degrees of opening and 22.5 Newtons between 30 to 60 degrees (as detailed in ADM and BS8300) when the closing force is set at Size EN3, the minimum for fire doors.
The project’s One Park West residential development features three DORMA ED200 automatic swing doors (two single doors and one double) and the scheme employs around 40 sets of DORMA stainless steel AD4000 Series panic bolts for emergency escape routes.
Through specialist installer Intercity Glazing Systems Ltd, DORMA’s Glass division also supplied HSW sliding glass partitions, plus Patch and Rail fittings for a number of the retail unit shopfronts on the development.
DORMA’s products also feature at Denmark’s Fuglsang Museum development, which was favourite to win this year’s Stirling Prize until pipped to the post by Rogers Stirk Harbour’s Maggie’s Centre in London.
The Fuglsang Museum, designed by Tony Fretton Architects, employs DORMA’s TS93 cam action closer and ED200 automatic door system. The TS93 features the same opening properties as the ITS96 concealed closer with the addition of thinking backcheck and adjustable delayed action.
Got a story? Email news@theconstructionindex.co.uk
