Schüco Jansen Steel Fire Doors offer second-to-none security for One Portsoken Street
One Portsoken Street, an iconic brutalist building at the edge of the City of London has recently been the site of the largest design and build (D&B) project in the UK, delivering over 230,000sq ft of commercial and retail units to London—something the UK’s D&B market has never seen before.
Architects: Oktra
Subcontractor: Choice Interior Solutions
Specialist Contractor: Apex Security Engineering Ltd
Picture Photo credit: Oliver Pohlmann
Schüco systems: Janisol 2 NR EI30, VISS Fire
During this project, the building’s infrastructure was entirely upgraded to provide both BREEAM and BCO design standards, while 40,000sq ft of floor space was added solely by re-organising and re-optimising the interior.
Essential to the security of such a prestigious building, Schüco Jansen Janisol 2 unlatched, non-rebated steel fire doors were specified by Oktra after a recommendation by subcontractors Choice Interior Solutions. They were engineered to meet the needs of the application by fabricators Apex Security Engineering Limited.
“This is one of the biggest design and build projects that Oktra has taken on, and involved a lot of spatial replanning,” said Monika Passey, Lead Designer at Oktra, who was Project Lead. “The most remarkable aspect was that we were able to deliver the project on time during the first 2020 lockdown, having worked safely throughout that uncertain period. Being confident in our product specifications, including that of the Schüco Jansen products used, helped us to ensure the project stayed on track, and that the client was happy!”
Fay Allum, Estimator at Apex Engineering, the fabricator for the project, said:
“For this project, the client required the lift lobbies to be protected by fire rated swing doors operating on pull handles and without latching so that users could swipe their access control cards and walk freely through. They were also looking for a sleek and contemporary architectural appearance, so the newly available Schüco Jansen Janisol 2 unlatched fire door system was the perfect specification.
Fay Allum, Apex Engineering
“Apex have been using Schüco Jansen steel systems for many years, so we have extensive experience with their products and, with Schüco, we have provided many innovative, successful glazing solutions for prestigious projects.”
The overall refurbishment includes a full restoration of One Portsoken Street’s original design elements to preserve the building’s history as an example of Brutalist architecture. All modern finishes were kept neutral to better compliment the design. Standout elements include circular turrets, exposed concrete and steel beams, and a naturally lit space on the top floor, featuring amazing views of the city through the atrium’s original glass roof.
“One Portsoken Street is a fantastic demonstration of the benchmark for healthy, secure buildings that use pioneering solutions,” said Business Development Manager for Schüco, Dale Van Rooyen, who also worked on the project. “The unlatched, non-rebated steel fire door that was specified is fully tested and approved, meeting the market demand for extremely slender visible profile widths. It provides the overall transparent look while allowing for fire resistance of 30 minutes integrity and insulation, alongside outstanding durability.”
One Portsoken Street is in the process of achieving a ‘Very Good’ rating from BREEAM, the world’s leading sustainability assessment method. 100% of site waste was diverted from landfill; 99.35% of waste was recycled, while the other 0.65% was incinerated to produce energy. These recycling efforts reduced the project’s carbon emissions by 73%.
- Work material (e.g. tender specifications, BIM objects, CAD data, catalogues)
- Note content
- Direct contact to Schüco