London, June 2021 – In the last few years, Building Information Modelling (BIM) has grown from relative infancy to a critical element in many construction projects. We speak with Marc Ameryckx, BIM Manager at ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions EMEIA, about the benefits of a process which is much easier than many imagine.

Q: For someone who may be totally new to the BIM process — whether an architect, specifier or building contractor — can you explain what it is?
Every building project needs coordination of vast amounts of information to move it from the original idea to bricks and mortar. Fundamentally, BIM is the digitization of this process.

One important thing to understand is that it’s not just software, and not just the visual model, but rather the process or workflow itself. The 3D renderings so often associated with BIM aren’t only about aesthetics: The data behind the images is very important.

All the products and materials used within a construction process should be included, with as much high-quality data as possible assigned to them. All stakeholders then have access to this centralized source, “the model”, which ultimately helps to minimize design and engineering errors. When one stakeholder makes changes, the update propagates through the entire system. Everyone is always up to date.

Effective BIM helps eliminate mistakes before they happen or allows you to identify them as early as possible: The earlier you solve these problems, the less they cost.

Q: For an architect or building planner, what are the key benefits of involving security specialists in their BIM process?
There is a major education benefit for architects and engineers, who are often not aware of the complexity of doors and security solutions.

As security solutions have developed and become more sophisticated, so has their impact on the overall building environment. If doors, entrances and access control solutions don’t have the features required by the building manager from the outset, it can become a real challenge to implement this at a later stage.

Security systems are expensive and now crucial components within buildings. They should be factored in as early as possible. Partnering with a security manufacturer who has BIM expertise is the best way to do this.

Q: Beyond design and construction stage, can an effective BIM process deliver benefits further down the line?
BIM has benefits through a building’s full life-cycle. If good quality data is put in at the start of the process, there are obvious long-term benefits for those maintaining and controlling the building once occupation begins. For example, the more data you have on the security products and solutions you have, the better you can maintain the building and act when needed.

Security managers should be pushing BIM workflows and data quality, so they can use the “as built” model in their assessments and understand systems that have been selected. If specifiers are thinking about security devices early in the process, this data is available for future use by maintenance or in consultation if something goes wrong.

Rather than having lots of documents stored in different places — many of which inevitably get lost or misplaced — a centralized, easily accessible BIM ecosystem will have all the data available that is required.

Q: It all sounds slightly futuristic. Is this something stakeholders should be looking at now? Or planning for the longer term?
BIM is quickly moving to centre-stage, especially in complex and/or public building projects. Its benefits are too great to ignore: in cost reduction, on-time delivery, futureproofing buildings and creating a trustworthy data store for facilities management down the line.

For anyone who wants to get the most from their building over its full life-cycle, BIM is becoming a must.

Q: Looking further forward, where does the future of BIM lie?
In short, with better data and more sophisticated applications of that data. For example, we’re beginning to see the development of “digital twins”. Users can create a digital twin of a building to simulate different situations in advance, to find out what may happen if systems are changed. For instance, security managers could assess the impact of implementing an upgraded access control solution, reducing the risk of unforeseen complications. This ultimately relies on high-quality, accessible data.

The BIM process can sound daunting, as can the specification of security devices and solutions. This is why we have established regional ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions BIM and Specification teams across the EMEIA region. Digitization of the entire building design and construction process has already begun. We have the expertise to help architects, specifiers, planners and building contractors to offer effective, efficient BIM service.

ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions BIM consultants have experience supporting projects from a single door up to 15,000. To learn more, please visit URL
https://www.assaabloyopeningsolutions.co.uk/en/projectspecification/specification-bim/assa-abloy-openings-studio/

London, June 2021 – After around nine years of construction, the Humboldt Forum is gradually opening its doors. In the heart of Berlin’s historic centre, it was set up as a modern space for culture and science. Modern also describes its intelligent digital locking system which will secure the new events and meeting centre. The electronic eCLIQ locking system from ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions meets high security standards and offers not only contemporary management, but also full flexibility for targeted and convenient control of the Forum’s numerous different user and visitor groups.

Located at a historic location between Brandenburg Gate and Alexanderplatz — right next to Museum Island, Humboldt University and Berlin Cathedral — the Humboldt Forum is a new cultural house in the historic and cultural heart of Berlin. Over more than 42,000 square metres, it will offer space for exchange and diversity in the future and, thanks to its open building concept, will also act as a new public space for Berlin.

Uniting traditional and modern
The final decision on reconstruction was taken in summer 2002 by a large cross-party majority in the German Bundestag. The Humboldt Forum owes its current appearance, a vibrant contrast between baroque and contemporary architecture, to a reinterpretation by Italian architect Franco Stella, who triumphed in a 2008 international architecture competition for the reconstruction. With three reconstructed baroque façades, the building incorporates large parts of the Berlin Palace heavily damaged in the Second World War and combines them with modern style elements. Breaks in the history of the site are thus reflected in the story of the place and the programmatic core of the Forum itself. Stella’s design also impressed by its urban integration with open urban spaces. Two of the inner courtyards will be open 24 hours a day: the so-called “passage” and the “Schlüterhof”. The newly designed passage, a pedestrian passage across the Forum, connects the pleasure garden in the north with the palace square in the south. The Schlüterhof, in turn, was largely reconstructed according to the plans of baroque architect and sculptor Andreas Schlüter. With his renovation of the Berlin Palace in the 18th century, Schlüter had a major impact on its appearance today.The Humboldt Forum is named after the brothers Alexander and Wilhelm von Humboldt. Their curiosity and ability to explore the world with open eyes is the inspiration behind the artistic and scientific program. In addition to three core themes — history and architecture of the location, the Humboldt brothers, as well as colonialism and coloniality — current socio-political issues are also at the forefront.

Simple and flexible
As a modern cultural hub with presentations, exhibitions and events, the Humboldt Forum will also house the globally important collections of the Ethnologisches Museum (Ethnological Museum) and the Asiatisches Museum (Museum of Asian Art) of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin (Berlin State Museums), the Humboldt Lab of the Humbold-Universität zu Berlin (Humboldt University of Berlin) and the Berlin Global exhibition of the Stadtmuseum Berlin (Berlin City Museum).
The fact that the Forum’s premises are used so differently and are accessed by many employees, service providers and numerous external visitors at different times, placed high demands on security technology for adequate protection of the building. A solution was required that not only offered a very high security standard, but also uncomplicated management of access authorizations.

Modern locking concept
As the building owner, the Humboldt Forum decided on an intelligent, digital eCLIQ locking system from ASSA ABLOY, and commissioned Weckbacher Sicherheitssysteme GmbH for the challenging planning, delivery and installation of the project.
The electronic locking system is distinguished by robust, durable and secure components, as well as its compact form and striking design. The keys and cylinders of the modular locking solution are perfectly compatible with the stringent design-oriented requirements and installation situations of the doors in the Humboldt Forum — and thus optimally integrate into its sophisticated new building concept.
The key factor, however, was that this locking system offers contemporary management with full flexibility. Regularly changing access authorizations can be quickly and easily defined with eCLIQ, for example for changing exhibitions. Any keys that are lost or which people forget to return or knowingly do not return, can be deactivated just as easily via the system.
Authorizations with time and room restrictions can also be configured, allowing administrators to grant cleaning staff access at specific times, for example. The master key system can be managed directly by the Humboldt Forum via an easily scalable and flexible cloud-based platform administered by the CLIQ® Web Manager.

Strong partner for security
A total of around 1,500 intelligent programmable eCLIQ locking cylinders were installed in the new structure, which, including its basement and roof terrace, has a total floor area of around 97,000 m2. In addition, 700 intelligent battery-powered keys are made available to the Humboldt Forum Foundation to enable all authorized persons to access the building.
“In this context, intelligent means that the keys used only close and open doors to which access is also programmed. Lost keys are simply deleted and new, customized access profiles are assigned. This means that security and locking convenience with the eCLIQ master key system are state-of-the-art,” explains Jannis Hlous, Project Manager at Weckbacher responsible for work on the Humboldt Forum. This traditional Dortmund company for locking systems has strong knowledge of public building projects at this scale and, as ASSA ABLOY’s long-standing specialist partner, has over 70 years’ experience in security equipment for large building systems.

To learn more about key operated CLIQ® mechatronic access control technology, download a free Solution Guide at https://campaigns.assaabloyopeningsolutions.eu/ecliq

London, June 2021 – With a combination of duty of care, valuable equipment and personal data, the education sector presents one of security’s biggest challenges. Choosing the right access control solution is critical. Could going wireless be an option?

The ideal access control solution for a school, college or university should provide control without complexity — and make security management more streamlined and user-friendly in the process. It should save every institution both time and money.

Every challenge can be met with wireless access control
Security managers can benefit from a system with cable-free locks and door readers, connected wirelessly to admin software. This setup combines power with easy installation and operation. It can offer a straightforward, cost-effective step up from mechanical locks and keys — and have a wide-ranging positive impact on school operations.

Filtering access beyond the front door helps education managers protect users, equipment and confidential data. Wireless technology makes this possible because lock installation is more cost-efficient and less invasive when compared with equivalent secure wired doors. Granular access control extending through a site, wire-free, ensures only the right staff and students enter each defined area.

Further, by choosing wireless over wired electronic locking, operational and maintenance costs are minimized. Changing the locks when someone misplaces their key becomes a thing of the past. Individual access rights are updated — and security restored — with a couple of clicks.

Boosting school admin efficiency with a change of access system
Small establishments like local schools do not have the budget or need for an in-house security expert. At the same time, their security challenges match those faced by a large institution. At Vejle Friskole in Denmark, for example, managing security based on physical keys had been eating up “a very long time, approximately 5 hours a week,” explains Henrik Kækel, the school’s Technical Service Officer.

Access control technology suitable for schools wishing to upgrade from mechanical keys must be intuitive to operate — both hardware and software — if they are to administer it cost-efficiently in-house. Maintenance is another challenge: school staff are unlikely to have the expertise and contracting a specialist would be expensive.

Vejle Friskole’s mechanical keys have since been replaced by a wireless access control system. Around 80 doors and cabinets are secured with SMARTair wireless locks. Approximately 250 students and teachers carry their own fob, programmed with individual access permissions. SMARTair’s device portfolio has battery powered locks for many different types of opening, ensuring everyone at the school opens doors and cabinets with a single fob: there’s no need for separate student or staff locker keys, for example. Wireless devices secure offices and classrooms — and are robust enough to handle high traffic at the main entrance door.

“It was really bad [before] because we had big problems with keys that were lost,” adds Henrik Kækel. “There was a lot of work in key administration.” Today, Vejle Friskole staff spend around 5 minutes a week managing their access system. “It’s incredibly easy to figure out… it takes 1 minute to code a student,” he says.

Intelligent keys make students safer on campus
“The safety of our students is always paramount,” says Loughborough University’s Phil Sheppard. “So, it was crucial we worked with a trusted manufacturer when creating our security design manual.” A critical part of his university’s new system is powered by CLIQ® intelligent key-based access control.

No extra wiring is needed to replace a traditional mechanical cylinder with a programmable CLIQ cylinder, because the electronics inside these locks are powered by a battery in the programmable CLIQ key. The user brings power to the door.

Building managers can grant access or block lost and stolen CLIQ keys from a simple, web-based interface, minimizing time and money wasted in replacing mechanical locks. It is also straightforward to generate a complete audit trail for locks or users, providing detailed information about who accessed which locks, and when.

Loughborough’s National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine East Midlands (NCSEM) is among the areas now secured by CLIQ. This facility has achieved BREEAM Excellent rating and is used for research and to provide medical services for sports injuries.

Extending access control by seamlessly integrating wireless locks
To protect the prestigious new site of Hamburg’s HafenCity University (HCU), only a modern, flexible access system would make the grade. They turned to electronic access control from SIEMENS, fully integrated and extended with Aperio® wireless locks from ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions.

Around 500 battery-powered Aperio electronic cylinders are connected to and controlled by the university’s SIEMENS system. Aperio locks are wireless, with built-in RFID readers, so it is cost-effective to add access control to many more doors than would be feasible or affordable with traditional security.

HCU’s new building accommodates around 2,400 students plus 460 staff, and includes flexible-use spaces including a media centre and library, seminar rooms, laboratories and offices. Students and staff open doors with programmable RFID smart-cards. To enhance security, their validity period can be adjusted for different use authorizations and a card’s access rights tailored to every individual.

The flexibility of Aperio means HCU’s facility managers now have greater control. They can respond to organizational changes in real time, only needing to monitor one unified security system. And they no longer have to deal with the daily workload of physical key management.

To learn more about the changing access control market, download the 19-page Wireless Access Control Report 2021 for free at https://campaigns.assaabloyopeningsolutions.eu/wacreport2021