Two innovative glass cubes are providing access to the prestigious new offices of Computacenter (UK) Ltd in Hatfield. The 7cm high Slimdrive SL from GEZE UK , claimed to be the most unobtrusive sliding door drive available, has been chosen to power the four sets of doors.  

Architects Scott Brownrigg + Turner were responsible for the design concept, intending to create transparent cubes with a feeling of openness, it was imperative that the minimum amount of operating machinery and cabling was visible. An important feature was that the walk-through to and from the lobby should be as seamless as possible, giving easy access but maintaining the usual environmental controls within the atrium.  

The idea was developed in conjunction with Surrey based specialist glazing contractor Portal Ltd. Portal, who were responsible for the Pilkington Planar screens and entrance, conceived an ingenious way to conceal the necessary cabling within the cubes’ slender channelling framework. At just 7cm high, the Slimdrive SL provides the freedom to conceal an almost invisible and silent but very powerful control unit within an elegant doorway structure, thus maintaining the integrity of the overall external appearance and doing away with the need for bulky and unsightly transoms.

Computacenter is the largest UK-owned IT company and specialises in the provision of client-server systems and related services to large corporate and public sector organisations in the UK , France and Germany . The new offices that, together with an amenity building and warehouse, total 210,000 square feet of floor space, will accommodate an estimated 1500 of the company's 5,000 plus workforce.  

Offering the opportunity to use frameless moving leaves if required and suitable for both internal and external entrances, the standard Slimdrive SL is capable of operating door leaves of up to 120kg each. Openings may be up to 2 metres for a single leaf or 2.5 metres in the case of a bi-parting sliding door. Alternatively, special versions of the unit may be commissioned for extra large openings.

Contact Doug Williams

GEZE UK

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