GEZE UK opens up heritage of No 1 New Oxford Street with circular sliding doors

GEZE UK recently supplied automatic circular sliding doors for the redevelopment of No 1 New Oxford Street, enabling the entrance to echo the heritage of the building and combine it with modern aesthetics and convenience.

GEZE’s automatic circular sliding doors allow the entrance to blend seamlessly into the curved and streamlined contours of a building which stands proud, like the prow of a ship, on a site where New Oxford Street and High Holborn meet at an acute angle. 

A GEZE Slimdrive SCR was used to provide the light and airy entrance, flanked by curving glass panels to the side which flow into the original columns, and topped with a glazed fanlight overhead. This frontage allowed the sliding doors to be recessed into the entrance, allowing it to seamlessly flow into a new lobby area.

One of the benefits of the Slimdrive SCR is that it combines high performance while remaining discreet. It has a low operator height of just 7 cm and is therefore very unobtrusive. In this case, the Slimdrive SCR was fitted as freestanding entrance – the 360° drive solution is usually incorporated into a building’s facade – but as this entrance was recessed, the installation was adapted to the bespoke requirements of the design.

A circular canopy and black glass wrap was placed over the doorway, blending into the metal framework of the frontage. This included additional detailing by Fleetwood Architectural Aluminium (FAA) which simulated the art deco style.

GEZE UK worked closely with Fleetwood to ensure that the design brief was met while ensuring that GEZE’s GC 365 sensors could still function properly. The sensors combine motion and safety detectors which operate the open and close mechanism while alleviating the need for separate sensors. 

Andy Howland, GEZE UK’s Sales and Marketing Director comments: “This project is an outstanding example of how the refurbishment of a historic building can enhance its facilities while remaining true to the vision of its original architect.

“Orms had very detailed requirements to refit No 1 New Oxford Street to such a high standard in order to future-proof the building to the demands that would be placed upon it. We are delighted that GEZE products were incorporated into this scheme which can rightly take its place among the landmark architecture of the capital.”

The entrance now leads into a distinctive mono-chromatic lobby with terrazzo flooring, fluted glass walls, gold coloured reception desk and a ‘Guggenheim-inspired’ stepped inner atrium that echoes the glamour of a bygone era. 

Contact:

GEZE UK,
Blenheim Way,
Fradley Park,
Lichfield,
Staffordshire,
United Kingdom,
WS13 8SY

Phone: 01543 443000
Fax: 01543 443001

Visit the GEZE UK website

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