15 Mar Form and function: the leading organisations marrying style with secure access control
Access control creates an important first impression for everyone who enters your corporate environment. A well-lit, stylish and user-friendly lobby and entryway can help position your organisation as on top of its game, while clunky or outdated technology might just suggest that you’ve fallen behind in other areas too.
Recent high-profile installations by Entrance Control across Australia demonstrate how leading organisations are increasingly investing in state-of-the-art access control that balances robust security with eye-catching aesthetics and enhanced functionality.
Entrance Control General Manager Michael Bystram said organisations are often surprised by how much access control gates and other security technology has advanced in recent years.
“The difference between entrance control systems installed 10 years ago and current technology is substantial. Modern speedgates integrate seamlessly with building management systems and offer a vastly improved user experience.”
Complementing architectural vision at 205 North Quay
Brisbane’s 205 North Quay demonstrates how entrance control can complement the aesthetic of landmark prestige buildings by offering bespoke security in impeccable style.
The 38-storey office tower, featuring a cathedral-like ground-floor plaza, required security which complemented its sophisticated design while managing access for more than 4,000 employees across multiple floors.
The solution was nine lanes of custom EasyGate LC speedgates with specially engineered slimline 1,000mm pedestals – 200mm less than standard. This allowed banks of three speedgates to fit into narrow reception areas without compromising performance.
The high-tech installation featured RFID readers with Bluetooth connectivity, QR code readers and seamless integration with Schindler destination lift control – allowing easy yet secure access for employees and visitors alike.
Bystram said this standard of technology integration is becoming commonplace for smart buildings.
“Modern commercial towers like 205 North Quay demand entrance control that integrates fully with other building systems to partner security with convenience.”
Protecting critical infrastructure in Western Australia
Modern entrance control is an essential choice for organisations protecting key infrastructure assets and the people who operate them, especially when they secure the energy future for critical sites like Western Power’s $123M South Metro Depot in Perth.
Western Australia’s main electricity provider chose four lanes of EasyGate SPT speedgates driven by Entrance Control’s maintenance-free Magnetic Direct Drive motors with extra-secure 1,800mm high glass barriers to protect its almost 900 staff and 500 vehicles.
The 26,000 square metre operational hub houses 34 electric vehicle charging stations, a drive-through loading area with 28 bays and a one-megawatt battery energy storage system, charged by a micro-grid powered by 10,000 square metres of solar panels. Its outstanding execution of form and function won it the 2024 Western Australia Excellence in Construction Awards for the Best Industrial Building between $50M and $100M.
Bystram said critical infrastructure demands entrance control that can be relied on to perform consistently under pressure.
“This depot represents everything we love to see in modern infrastructure – cutting-edge security integrated with environmental responsibility. Our speedgates are protecting a facility that’s actively contributing to Western Australia’s renewable energy future.”
Decent older systems can still benefit from an upgrade
Even quality entrance control installed a decade ago can’t match the functionality of its modern successors. Cancer Council Australia recognised this when it decided to retire the access control at its Sydney headquarters after ten years of reliable service.
The charity upgraded from EasyGate LX to EasyGate SPT and enjoyed the benefit of the new installation’s svelte 180mm pedestals, allowing two 1,000mm-wide DDA-compliant lanes rather than the previous one.
EasyGate SPT’s intuitive door-like barrier motion and inviting cobalt-blue wing lights provide a warmer welcome for visitors – crucial for an organisation supporting people during some of the most challenging times of their lives.
Bystram said the time between installations demonstrated how much entrance control technology had evolved.
“Cancer Council’s decision to upgrade after ten years using EasyGate LX demonstrated the trust they place in our technology. The new EasyGate SPT installation provides a friendlier first impression and more intuitive access for users.”
Time to move into the future?
These entrance control installations across key government, corporate and charity sites underline the array of advantages advanced technology can deliver – above and beyond simply security.
Bystram said savvy organisations approach entrance control as a long-term strategic infrastructure investment.
“The common thread across all of these installations was that each client realised the need to future-proof their entrance control and chose a solution that integrates holistically with its building,” he said
“If your access control is more than a decade old, it’s worth considering whether it’s still fit for purpose and what the benefits of an upgrade would be.”