"electrical inspection and testing"

Regular onsite inspections in conjunction with the contractor Arc Plaster helped us to forecast any further products required for the project and ensure the project was delivered smoothly.

Working with the site contractor, Expoconti, Rondo supplied products for the project, provided design work, and conducted weekly site inspections. Rondo’s technical assistance allowed for the designs to be simplified, which in turn provided a more cost effective approach.

The Rondo team worked with the architect and builder to overcome the specific fire curtain wall design requirement for the lobby walls, ceiling and bulkhead. Rondo benefited the project through multiple design options and regular site inspections which supported both the contractor and the builder.

Craigieburn Central ­­­­is a highly anticipated development providing residents of the area one of Australia’s freshest retail experiences. Through weekly site inspections and design assistance, Rondo will support the project and in particular builder Lend Lease and contractor Expoconti to achieve their ultimate goal of developing a unique and accessible shopping district for Craigieburn residents.

Since the project commenced work in August 2011, Rondo provided technical support by way of weekly site inspections and specified various wall types for the external Steel Stud walls which was utilised throughout the entire building. This coincided with use of the Rondo KEY-LOCK Furring Channel System which also focused on all external and internal ceilings of the building.

Working beside Doig Architecture, Rondo provided expert design and technical advice particularly with the high internal walls. Regular on-site inspections ensured products were installed to specification and delivered on time. Rondo Technical Sales Representative Tino Cucinotta said “The project benefited from our Technical Service team who were readily available to provide design advice when required”.

Rondo has been a major asset to the project providing reputable advice, technical design solutions and fortnightly inspections, ensuring the development is on track and our systems are installed correctly. Our Technical Services Team has supported Rondo Victoria in assisting project architects Bates Smart Architects and Silver Thomas Hanley and builder Lend Lease improve comprehensive designs for all internal walls and ceilings for the project.

This demanding commercial environment put Alspec’s range of high performance door and window framing products to the test.

Rondo put their Key-Lock Ceiling System to the test with the fascias and soffits, being curved in both directions. To create the exact shape and flow desired by the architect, precise installation was crucial and was achieved through a successful partnership between Rondo and Brunswick Valley Plastering.

Mother Teresa Catholic College, WALocation – Baldivis, Perth, Western Australia      Installation Duration - 3 monthsInstallation Year – 2019                             Project Value - $15-20 millionSpecifying Architects – Parry and Rosenthal Architects TECHNICAL DETAILInstallation Type                                             NumberService penetrations                                     150Cluster penetrations                                      11Control joints                                                   700 LMConcrete slab pours                                       Grid pattern - numerousPerimeter                                                           500 LM  BACKGROUNDMother Teresa Catholic College is a progressive co- educational facility in the fast-growing suburb of Baldivis, 60 kilometres south of Perth in the City of Rockingham.The school opened in 2013 and in 2018/19 a Stage 3 Capital Development Program called for the construction of junior-secondary class-rooms and associated facilities, playing fields, courts, grounds, and extended parking. REQUIREMENTThe College’s ongoing plans for facility enhancements represents a significant investment and is worth protecting with the most effective pre-construction termite management system.The College caters for students from pre-kindergarten to Year 12. Chemical termite controls were not an option because of toxicity issues, making a clean and environmentally safe physical termite barrier the correct solution.APPROACHA typical WA site, the college’s location is predominantly flat, with sandy soils and substrates. In general, this type of environment poses a high risk for termite attack common to this region of Western Australia. SOLUTIONThe main challenge with the installation came from the rammed earth exterior walls. Their natural composition can chip easily, so nailing or sealing the termite barrier onto the wall was not practical.Our solution was to install Termimesh cold joint /paver trays to the perimeter of the concrete slab edge. These protected the concealed entry point between the slab and wall. They also engaged into the external pavement instead of against the rammed earth wall itself.BENEFITSThe Termimesh System which comprises of our 725 grade stainless steel mesh, Termiparge bonding cement and high grade stainless steel clamps not only met their strict requirement of no chemicals it will also continue to provide them with reassurance and peace of mind the comes with our market leading Pledge Guarantee. The Pledge Guarantee provides the client with a 10 year guarantee that requires no annual inspections during that initial period. The client then has the option to extend this on an ongoing basis by having an approved annual inspection.

COLLABORATIONSchool cleaning and maintenance teamBRIEFSchool bathrooms are notorious for bad smells, mould and stains. Our ECOCLEAN team were asked to apply our coatings to the ceramic floor and wall tiles and ceiling surfaces in the boy’s bathroom to reduce smell and provide easier clean.MATERIAL & APPLICATIONECOCLEAN Anti-Odour Coating (for wall tiles)ECOCLEAN Clean and Protect Shield (for floor tiles)ECOCLEAN Antimould Coating (for ceiling)OUTCOMEOnce applied, our ECOCLEAN coatings will remove the unpleasant odours, virus and bacteria that come into contact with the coated surface with the added benefit of easy cleaning.Before application the school bathroom scored a reading a 18,494 RLC on the Lumitester (classified as very dirty). Following cleaning and application of our ECOCLEAN coatings the bathroom presented with a reading of 887 RLU on the Lumitester showing a dramatic improvement in health and safety of the bathroom. Further testing also concluded that the bathroom was much less slippery than prior to the application.ECOCLEAN has provided this bathroom with a fresher and cleaner environment which has also improved the health and safety of all visiting students.COMMENTECOCLEAN coatings have been independently laboratory tested on a wide range of common substances responsible for acrid smells and health issues. These substances are the source of unpleasant odours in a range of environments including bathrooms, smoking areas, gyms, and areas near food waste.

Ireland’s second largest legal firm, Arthur Cox, has moved to its new headquarters, Ten Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin. Located a stone’s throw from St. Stephen’s Green, the LEED Platinum fit-out building is a marker of sustainable design. Architects, Scott Talon Walker, had a specific design requirement in mind so chose SAS International for their longstanding relationship and expertise. To accommodate the number of recurring apertures, Scott Talon Walker collaborated with SAS to create bespoke service panels within the SAS330 hinged mega panel tartan grid. The panel design features five unperforated squares which create a single unit capable of housing fire detectors, movement sensors and other electrical devices. These unique panels satisfy the client’s M&E stipulations, ensuring the building’s sustainable performance well into the future. Additional SAS systems installed include: SAS500 acoustic lighting baffles and SAS150. Both of these systems assure complete design flexibility and service maintenance in equal measure. Nominated for Fit Out Project of the Year – Large Office, SAS International has once again exceeded the mark to deliver premium metal ceiling solutions for its client.

Project Location: Amberley, Queensland, AUSTRALIA.In Amberley is one of the largest base facilities in Australia. The redevelopment works are valued at AU$331.5 million. New construction and refurbishment works to be undertaken include newliving-in accommodation, maintenance facilities, storage, working and training accommodation, a combined mess and a new physical fitness centre.The site is owned by an Australian Government Department. The Atlantis® Turf Cell® was supplied by Atlantis and was installed by Kennedy Projects Group in April 2009. The system is located at the playing fields on the south-western corner of Gannet St and Rosewood Road, Amberley, QLD.A vegetated swale surrounds the playing field. The swale is an open, shallow channel designed to slow runoff, filter it, and promote infiltration into the ground. Excess water moving through the soil profile is captured by Atlantis® Matrix® Tank – Single modules. The use of a swale to collected water results in smaller runoff volumes, lower peak discharge rates and cleaner runoff. The vegetation in swales, usually thick grass, helps to trap pollutants such as suspended solids and trace metals. The Atlantis Matrix modules extend 3m (10ft) wide under the swale for 110m (360ft).Water collected by the swale is collected in a stormwater harvesting tank located adjacent to the north-western corner of the playing field. Perforated corrugated plastic pipes used as subsurface drainage pipes extend for 1560m (5110ft) is also collected by the stormwater harvesting tank.The stormwater harvesting tank is located subsurface and is constructed of a heavy duty low density polyethylene liner and non woven geotextile surrounding Atlantis® Matrix® Tank - Double modules. The Atlantis stormwater tank has a 4,100m3 (144,80 ft3) capacity. Water collected by the swale and stormwater tank system is used for irrigation of the sports field.The Atlantis stormwater tank has eight (8) cleanout / inspection ports placed through the systems. A 1200mm (4ft) dia. wet well with bolt down lids has been installed adjacent to the tank serves as a pump out pit. The overflow from the tank has a 15m (50ft) long x 400mm (1.3ft) deep spill way with scour protection into an adjacent creek.

The Farr Institute in Edinburgh is a collaboration between six Scottish Universities and the NHS National Services Scotland. They aim to place the country as a global leader in health informatics research whilst improving the health of the Scottish population. 30,000 sq. ft. has been fitted out to accommodate Bio Incubator laboratories and offices together with meeting, conference and dining facilities. The remainder of the building will accommodate laboratories and offices for life science research. SAS International’s acoustic baffles were specified to meet acoustic demand and make the most of the high ceilings and breathable space. The colours, baffle layout and service integration were carefully co-ordinated to the brief. SAS130 and SAS330 were specified and installed in the central core. Both systems offer quick and easy access to otherwise hidden mechanical and electrical systems. With SAS130, tiles can be lifted out to gain access to the ceiling void. SAS330’s hinge notch allows tiles to be hung vertically from C-Profiles, providing unobstructed access to the ceiling void. Ray Kwiecinski at Michael Laird Architects gave the below quote on working with SAS International; “MLA has specified a variety of SAS International’s lay-in grid ceiling systems over the years and we have always been extremely satisfied with the finished product. At the Farr Institute however, we decided to create a feature of the structural soffits and the M&E services and, by careful coordination of these services, the steel beams… [With] the SAS Baffle System and SAS Raft System 600, we were able to create an open, collaborative and exciting office environment whilst maintaining a high degree of sound absorbency. Our Client is delighted with the results as are we.” The Institute’s independent research will support innovation in the public sector, leading to advances in preventative medicine, improvements in NHS care and better development of commercial drugs and diagnostics.

The Burj Khalifa – formerly the Burj Dubai – is a legendary building that can only be described in superlatives. At 828 metres high, it is the tallest building in the world. The Burj Khalifa has 160 floors, more than any building in the world. The building also has the highest floor, the highest façade made of aluminium and glass, the highest nightclub and the highest restaurant, the highest service lift and the lift with the longest travel distance. Finally, the building has the highest positioned revolving doors ever installed in a façade worldwide. In less than 30 years, Dubai has become the leading city in the Middle East and is known for its architectural and technical excellence. The Burj Khalifa has become the symbol of this progress. The Burj Khalifa also takes the title of the highest structure in the world back to the Middle East; the Great Pyramid of Giza used to hold the title 4 millennia ago. International Collaboration The tower was designed by architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merril, known for their designs for the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) and the new One World Trade Center in New York. The three-pronged design is based on the spider lily desert flower and consists of three elements around a central core, with the elements spiralling upwards. It can rightly be called an international project: the construction team consisted of Samsung Engineering & Construction employees from South Korea in collaboration with Besix from Belgium and Arabtec from the United Arab Emirates. The UK consultancy Hyder Consulting was responsible for overseeing construction of the building. In total, companies from more than 30 different countries contributed to the construction of the Burj Khalifa. A Windy Challenge The wind is quite a challenge when building a skyscraper of this size. Without additional measures, the top of the building would move so much from side to side due to the wind that people would become seasick. Dubai is also regularly tested by the shamals: sandstorms that can last for days. As the outer façade of the Burj Khalifa contains an enormous amount of glass, these weather conditions presented a considerable challenge. The three-part design proved to be the solution because the spiral floors break the wind currents around the building, resulting in a stable structure. The World's Highest Revolving Doors Skidmore, Owings & Merril's design includes an observation platform on the 124th floor of the building. Two glass revolving doors provide access to this room. At 442 metres above the ground, these are the highest positioned revolving doors ever installed in the façade of a building. The revolving doors must also be able to withstand an extremely high wind load of at least 3000 Pascal, which corresponds to an F3 class tornado. The Burj Khalifa required two automatic revolving doors with a diameter of 3,000 mm and a total height of 2,700 mm; the cover could only be 300 mm high with the motor installed. Generally speaking, a revolving door with these specifications would only be able to withstand wind loads of up to 689 Pascal. It was clear, then, that not every revolving door manufacturer could supply an entrance that met these requirements. Challenge Accepted Koninklijke Boon Edam was one of only two companies invited to devise a system for this challenge. There were two main problems that had to be solved: the round sides of the revolving door had to be strong enough to resist the wind, and the door set had to be properly fixed so the door wings could not be blown off during a storm. Boon Edam worked closely with Mace, the Hyder Consulting Group, Samsung Engineering and Construction and Turner Construction, the subcontractor, to develop a system that met all these requirements. During the first phase of the process, the second company invited to tender had to give up because their design did not meet the challenging conditions on the 124th floor. Boon Edam persisted in its efforts, and after conducting various wind load and glass tests, it became possible to adapt the construction of the Tourniket to the requirements of the Burj Dubai. A Tornado-Proof Revolving Door at the Burj Khalifa Our proposal for the Burj Khalifa consisted of a Tourniket with specially reinforced door frames twice the width and thickness of a normal revolving door. These were securely anchored with special bolts under the floor to guarantee the structure's rigidity. Although most revolving doors are installed on the top of the subfloor, this door was installed under the top finish layer of the concrete floor. To guarantee the stability of the door set, an extra-thick steel frame was added to the structure. This allows the door wings to easily withstand the wind pressure. Expansion on the 148th Floor in 2014 Boon Edam installed the same specially designed Tourniket revolving door on the 148th floor as on the 124th floor. However, the new project brought an extra challenge: transporting all of the materials from the basement of the building to the 148th floor. First, the materials had to be transported in one lift to the 111th floor. They were then transferred to a second lift, from where everything had to be moved manually from the 149th floor to the 148th floor, to the door's location. Special Projects Based on Standard Solutions The revolving doors we created for the Burj Khalifa were an extreme challenge. The experience and expertise of our technicians combined with the tried and tested technology of the Tourniket enabled us to develop a successful solution. Both revolving doors are now used daily and give visitors a spectacular view of Dubai. The glass design beautifully complements the modern façade of the observation platform and puts Dubai's beautiful skyline in the spotlight.

Supercar, Super FinishThe new Porsche dealership in central Hamburg provides customers with the high-level comfort, convenience and safety associated with the brand. A striking new complex is being erected in Hamburg city centre, which includes the Porsche Center Hamburg Alstergate, due to open this spring. Hamburg is a leading Porsche stronghold, reputed to have the highest density of Porsche owners in the world, with a 0.8% quota of the city’s car population and nearly 1,000 vehicles a year sold regionally since 2014. Covering almost 8,000m2 of land, the Alstergate plot has over 200 parking spaces, including an underground car park with valet parking service. Attending to the growing Porsche model range, the building will have four new charging points for electric and hybrid vehicles and will be one of the few German competence centres for the 918 Spyder supercar and Carrera GT. Along with the new building, Porsche’s workforce in the region is set to grow to 115 employees.Such a prominent Porsche dealership in northern Germany’s foremost metropolis demands extraordinary standards from the construction and décor contractors entrusted with the project. Applicators Strahl, Reinigungs & Anstrichtechnik of Kiel, with whom Hempel already has long-standing commercial relations, were required to produce the extra smooth surface finishes sought by thedesigners. Furthermore, public safety is an inherent factor that has to be considered in all aspects of construction, so applicators chose to apply Hempacore One as the intermediate coat on ready-primed steelworks, prior to finishing with a topcoat of our Hempathane 87481 enamel.Both Hempacore One 43600 and its fast-drying 43601 version provide up to 120 minutes retardation in the event of fire, a factor of great importance in buildings designed for public access. Significantly on this occasion, Hempacore One does not just offer excellent passive fire protection but also certain additional features of great value to designers and applicators alike. The fact that its full fire retardant properties can be achieved with much lowerlayer thicknesses makes for speedier work and also more natural aesthetics on visible steelwork. Lower layer thickness naturally means less paint consumption, thus allowing project managers to make significant savings.Porsche’s new state-of-the-art centre in Hamburg underlines the company’s values of Tradition & Innovation; Performance & Practicality; Design & Functionality; and Exclusiveness & Social Acceptance and the professional application of Hempel coatings help to uphold and enhance those same values.

With a glass façade symbolising the transparency of justice and a glossy metal exoskeleton, the new Maison de l’Ordre des Avocats (House of the Paris Bar Association) is a stunning addition to the French capital’s new Batignolles judicial city. For the building owner, safety is a top priority. Therefore, the exoskeleton needed a proven passive fire protection coating that would enable the steel to maintain its load-bearing capacity for up to 60 minutes during a fire, giving those inside valuable extra time to evacuate.The challenge Specialist paint application and surface treatment company ROTH & Cie was contracted to apply the passive fire protection coating system. ROTH & Cie has worked with Hempel for many years and was keen to work with us on this project. However, due to the project schedule, the tubular exoskeleton framework was delivered to the construction site with a competitor’s epoxy primer already applied. ROTH & Cie therefore wanted a Hempel passive fire protection system that would work with the existing primer. Also, as building aesthetics are important in the overall design, the exoskeleton needed a high-quality matt satin finish. The solution Our solution was to specify a system of Hempafire Pro 315 and Hempathane 55750. A single component intumescent coating, Hempafire Pro 315 complies with the EN 13501-2 standard for the fire classification of construction products. It is optimised to provide 60 minutes of passive fire protection, as well as partial protection up to 90 minutes. In addition, thanks to its exceptionally low loadings, Hempafire Pro 315 requires significantly lower dry film thicknesses than competitor products. As a result, ROTH & Cie could apply the coating in a thinner coat, significantly reducing paint consumption, application time and project costs. The full system was completed with Hempathane 55750, a polyurethane topcoat with quick crosslinking properties that provides the matt satin appearance required by the specifications. Our dedicated passive fire protection R&D Centre in Barcelona, Spain verified that Hempafire Pro 315 could be applied on top of the existing primer. The entire system was spray applied using an electric airless pump, which is ideal for construction sites as it does not require an air compressor. The project is just another in a long line of successful collaborations with ROTH & Cie, which also include previous passive fire protection coating projects, most notably La Halle Secrétan covered market and La Samaritaine department store, both in Paris.At a glance Project Name: Maison de l’Ordre des Avocats (House of the Paris Bar Association) Customer: ROTH & Cie System: Hempafire Pro 315 + Hempathane 55750 Volume: 4,080 litres

To protect the priceless infrastructure and mission-critical IT information in Australia’s first custom built, high-tech data centre, Polaris, Project Manager Thiess turned to the leading manufacturer of specialist building products, Construction Specialties.Integral to the $121 million construction was the regulation of airflow to safeguard the computer hardware; Construction Specialties’ customised performance louvres were the only product in Australia able to meet this construction challenge.Boasting 14,000m2 of floor space on 5 storeys with 7000m2 of raised floor over three data centre levels, the project, based in Springfield, Queensland, is the largest of its kind in Australia and will be Queensland’s only Tier 3+ data collection point.So important were the Construction Specialties performance louvres to the development, much of the building design was driven by the positioning, material specifications and design of the louvres.Lawrence Issa, Project Manager for Construction Specialties, and project partners Darryl Wright and Steve Emery of Project Sales worked closely with the Polaris construction team from project inception to completion to devise the most effective weatherproofing and airflow option for the building which also matched the intended aesthetic.“In-depth collaboration with the Polaris team led to the selection of our Architectural Line Louvres, of which two types were used – our RS7305a and LSM louvre models,” Lawrence said. “Unlike other louvres on the market, this range prevents up to 99% water penetration and maximises airflow, while also complementing the building facade as the horizontal louvre frames selected are hidden from view.“Our performance louvres cover 345m2 of the exterior building and are specifically customised in terms of size, shape and colour for the data centre,” Lawrence said.Miguel Thievent, Senior Project Engineer at Thiess, remarks that the CS Louvres perform to the highest standard, which was essential in meeting the building specifications.“It was vital we didn’t compromise on weather proofing and airflow,” Miguel said. “For example, we have six generators integral to maintaining the whole IT system in case of power failure which would not run if the airflow was affected or they were damaged by rain.“The Construction Specialties performance louvres were the only ones on the market that could guarantee damage would not occur as a result of bad weather conditions,” Miguel said.Construction Specialties’ performance louvres are at the leading edge of louvre design and are tested under real world conditions to meet the maximum standards demanded.Construction Specialties offers a broad selection of louvres under 3 main categories:Storm Resistant/Performance Louvres – The main objective of Performance Louvres is to allow the passage of air, whilst providing the area beyond the room with protection from rain penetration.Standard Louvres – A standard louvre will provide the maxiumum airflow required, but with minimal rain defence.Screening Louvres – Screening louvres, are low cost solutions that hide plant or other equipment from view.CS Louvre systems are available in a comprehensive range of finishes and colours, ensuring there is a Construction Specialties Louvre system to suit most aesthetic and performance needs.Louvre panels are factory assembled in a controlled and quality assured environment and provided to site in a fully finished modular form; thus, allowing for trouble-free and fast installation.A comprehensive range of accessories including insect/bird mesh and blanking panels in various materials and finishes is available to complete the application.

The new Student Center at Columbia College Chicago, located at 754 South Wabash Avenue in Chicago, opened its doors in the fall of 2019. This brand-new building offers five spectacular stories of spaces for students including music and film-screening rooms, dining options, a fitness centre, a reflection room for meditation and prayer, and event spaces for meetings, performances, and receptions. Columbia College Chicago has a closed campus. In order to enter any building on campus students and staff must have a Columbia ID or visitors must have a valid appointment. The main entrance at the Student Centre is the Tourniket manual revolving door that leads to a public foyer that includes a coffee shop and lounge. Since the speed gates are just past the security desk at the boundary of this area, they serve as a visual and physical indicator of where the public area terminates. Next to the Speedlane Open speed gates, which are notable because they do not have any closing barriers, guards watch as people pass through them to ensure that everyone is scanning their IDs and that the IDs are valid, in which case the speed gate shows a green light. In a situation where a red light shows and the gate alarms, the guard will check the person’s credentials and can try to troubleshoot the ID card. “The decision was really about what creates the least barrier to those entering and exiting the building,” said Dutil. “We don't really want our students to feel like they are overly policed or that our buildings are not accessible to them. So the design of the Open speed gates provided the best solution in terms of controlling access without being obtrusive." Swift Passage While Maintaining Accountability Before the Student Center was built, students entering any campus building would just show their ID to the security officer as they walked past. The administration realised that while this does provide some level of security, it is not foolproof – particularly when many people are entering at the same time for a class. The College’s head of security made the suggestion to install a system that would allow for swift passage of authorised people while maintaining accountability around who enters and exits the building. As anticipated, there was a brief learning curve for the students using the new system. “This was the first system like this on our campus,” said Dutil. “And the first few days that the new Centre was open were also the first few days of school. There were a lot of people new to the campus who required a bit of coaching from guards and our student staff in terms of where to place your card, and to not walk through before you place your card.” Coming Out Ahead of Swinging Doors Dutil confirms that the access systems placed at Boon Edam speed gates are actually outperforming those placed at swing doors across the campus for convenience and adoption. Across the campus, there is a card reader at every swing door entrance of a building where you present your card and a light turns red or green. But oftentimes the card reader is missed, or depending on the placement of the lights and placement of the guard, it can be kind of hit or miss with students walking right by it. “But with the Open speed gates, they're very visible and although they're not a total barrier to entry, they are something that's right in front of you. Because it's very noticable and not easily overlooked, the students have learned pretty quickly to get their ID out. In fact, this was meant to be a test run for the campus to ensure it would be viable and worthwhile for other buildings as well.” Advanced Features Add Value and Flexibility The speed gates have delivered additional benefits beyond basic campus security, according to Dutil. “One of the nice things about a system like this is that we can count visitors to the Student Centre because we get the data of everybody that scans in. So on a busy day for us it's about 2500 people throughout the day. That can range depending on what's going on and what time of year it is. On weekends we're very slow, since there are no classes – maybe 900 to 1200.” “We are a rental venue as well, so we have times where the building is open to non-Columbia College Chicago people for events or other functions. There's a really convenient touch panel right at the security desk called the BoonTouch, where the officer can turn off the turnstiles during those times and then attendees can move through freely without any alarms going off at all.” A New Revolving Door Adds Comfort and Peace of Mind Finally, the Tourniket manual revolving door delivers one additional benefit to the Student Centre, located in a city known for harsh weather. “Revolving doors are always preferred at a building like this that gets a lot of traffic going in and out. We have cold, drafty weather that blows right into our main space at that first floor entry. The revolving door helps to keep the building warm and saves energy and utility costs as well,” said Dutil. “Students feel safe and comfortable entering the building at night,” he concludes. “Our building has a lot of nooks and crannies, and someone can end up alone in a space. And so I think knowing that the only people that are in that building are the ones that are supposed to be there is helpful. Overall, our students appreciate the effort to try to keep them safer.”

There is a saying that “Everything is Bigger in Texas,” and the Dallas, Texas police department is no exception. The city of Dallas is ranked in the top 10 cities in the U.S. in terms of population, at 1.2 million people. The Dallas Police Department is the ninth largest municipal police force in the U.S., based on 3,012 sworn officers. It is led by Chief of Police, U. Reneé Hall. Security a Concern When Designing HQ Building The department is located in the Jack Evans Police Headquarters building, which was built in 2003. It is 358,000 square feet, has six floors, is spread over a three-acre site, has a separate 1,200 car parking garage and a two-acre, open parking lot for additional visitor parking. Prior to 2003, the department was housed in the circa 1914 former City Hall Building. The Jack Evans Police Headquarters building was under construction when 9/11 terrorists flew airplanes into the World Trade Buildings in New York. That event was preceded by the Oklahoma City Murrah Federal Building bombing in April 1995. Therefore, security was a concern in its design. Police officials worked with a Police Design Consultant – McClaren, Wilson, and Lawrie Architects of Phoenix – to help design the building to resist a terrorist attack and isolate potential hazards. The building also needed to control visitor traffic and access. On an average month, there are 5,000 public visitors to the Jack Evans building. In addition, shots fired at police buildings nationally are not uncommon, says Paul M. Schuster, Senior Corporal/Facilities Management for the Dallas Police Department. “For the most part they are random, single shot drive-by shootings. Often, the officers are unaware that the building has been shot at, until they find a bullet hole in the brick or glass. Increasingly, police tend to be a symbol of government and some citizens see that as a visible target to lash out at. Police officers are trained to expect the routine types of calls, such as domestic violence, traffic accidents, and other crimes. Yet they must be flexible to anticipate the non-routine that can be dangerous and change in a heartbeat.” An Active Shooter Incident Led to an Increase in Security On June 13, 2015, after midnight, a 35-year-old male placed a duffle bag with a remote-controlled bomb to detonate later between cars in the parking lot of the headquarters building. The suspect then began shooting continuously at the lobby windows. Officers responded to the scene, a vehicle chase began, and the incident ended outside the city. Luckily officers in the lobby took cover and were not injured. Following that incident, the Dallas Police Department conducted a security assessment of the building and also at seven patrol stations throughout the city. The assessment included testing various construction materials for bullet resistance to various types of weapons. Gensler Architects and Guidepost Solutions, LLC developed the solutions and plans. “Yesterday we were concerned about handguns, today we are worried about rifles, and the idea of terrorism is always present with outright attack or bombs,” Schuster notes. “The police officers and police staff only want a place that is safe and where they can do their good work.” Funding of $1.3 million was approved to upgrade the lobbies of the seven patrol stations to withstand rifle rounds, and $1.9 million to improve headquarters lobby security, and to upgrade an aging security system. Turner Construction Company and Convergint Technologies, LLC conducted the renovations and security technology integration. Challenges to the Security Design The headquarter’s lobby was initially designed as a two-story glass-walled structure, with an information desk and public records service windows. Visitors were allowed free entry into the lobby and were only screened in an open area to the side if going to other floors. “The challenge in upgrading lobby security was the two-story lobby entrance glass. “In addition, there were concerns about keeping an ‘open’ and friendly service concept in mind and ensuring that the lobby would not resemble a ‘fortress’,” Schuster notes. Screening Room with Security Revolving Doors to Contain Incidents The solution was to keep the existing exterior unchanged and focus on adding a layer of security once a person enters the lobby. Visitors now enter the headquarters and immediately proceed to a side room where security screening is conducted. A new secondary wall with bullet-rated glass and solid bullet resistant wall materials was constructed inside the lobby to channel visitors to the room. Once inside the screening room, which also has bullet resistant walls, the visitor has belongings x-rayed, and they walk through a metal detector. In the event that anyone was to produce a gun and begin shooting, the incident could be contained inside that room. Once a visitor has been cleared, they proceed into the main lobby via a Boon Edam Tourlock 180 security revolving door. This automatic, four-wing door is the most advanced, security revolving door in the Boon Edam product range that offers maximum throughput, allowing users to enter and leave the building simultaneously. In the event that a large number of persons try to force their way into the facility, the Tourlock 180+90 will determine that more than one person is trying to enter and will reject the person and lock out any others from entering. Once a visitor is ready to leave the lobby and exit the building, they pass through another Boon Edam Tourlock 180+90 that leads to a vestibule with exterior swinging doors. In the event that someone tries to go back into the lobby from the front vestibule area, without going through the security screening room, the Tourlock security revolving door will reject their entry.