from the series "Modern office buildings - trends 2024"
3T Office Park, the largest office complex in Gdynia, gets its name from both its unique architecture (Three Towers) and its location in the Tricity. The development was awarded the title of "Best Office Development Poland 2020-2021" by the European Property Awards. The complex's three towers, located at the foot of moraine hills, offer breathtaking views of the Gdansk Bay and surrounding sports areas.
3T Office infographic
© Roger
In addition to modern office space, the complex also offers space for medical centers, restaurants and even a nursery and kindergarten. Such a variety of functions requires advanced security systems to cope with both the large number of users and their diverse needs.
System requirements
Due to the nature of the new facility, in which part of the space was intended for rental without yet defined target users, the contractor faced the challenge of selecting a solution that would allow flexible adaptation to future requirements. The selected technical security systems had to ensure not only seamless integration, but also the ability to modify and adapt to changing user needs, while being intuitive to use and service. A key element to ensure security became an access control (KD) system integrated with elevator operation, as well as a video surveillance system (VSS).
Solutions used
The 3T Office Park building in Gdynia is made up of three towers of varying heights, connected by a two-level underground garage and shared two floors for various common functions. The entire structure was designed with maximum functionality and flexibility of use in mind. The two side towers are 10 stories each, while the central tower stands out with thirteen stories. In total, the building offers 33 repeatable office floors, making it one of the largest complexes of its kind in the Tri-City.
The implementation of the access control system used MIFARE® technology, which has become a key standard for reading proximity cards due to its high level of security. MIFARE® Classic 1k cards, which are more advanced than the popular UNIQUE (EM 125 kHz) standard, were used. In addition, readers were installed that support MIFARE® DESFire® and MIFARE® Plus cards in SL3 mode, which offer the highest level of protection available to meet stringent security requirements.
Nearly half of the passageways use electric locks, which allow users to leave a room by pressing the handle, without the need for readers or exit buttons. This solution streamlines the flow of users while enhancing the convenience of daily use. GEZE locks have been installed in other parts of the complex, which offer programmable timed automation, allowing people with disabilities to easily open passageways using special buttons. Outside of set hours, access to the zones is possible only with proximity cards.
After analyzing the market, the decision was made to implement Roger's Polish RACS 5 system, which offers comprehensive hardware and software solutions. Key factors in choosing the system were:
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direct access to the manufacturer's on-site technical support,
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flexibility in hardware and software modifications,
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favorable value for money compared to foreign alternatives.
Currently, the facility has 237 MCT80M-BLE series readers, which work with MC16-PAC controllers in various versions. The system is designed in a modular way, which allows scaling the number of supported passages according to the needs of users. Integration with the Schindler elevator system required adjusting technical parameters such as user names and assigned access profiles. As a result, each user has specific access to the appropriate floors, ensuring precise control of traffic in the facility.
The access control system was also integrated with video surveillance (VSS), which includes 205 cameras connected to four 64-channel DVRs. Thanks to this integration, events recorded by the access control system can be quickly linked to the video from the cameras, increasing the efficiency of facility security. This functionality includes, among other things, detection of garage intrusions, which automatically triggers an alarm and transmits it to the monitoring center.
In addition, integration with the building management system (BMS) has been implemented, which receives signals about critical and alarm conditions. All systems communicate via IP protocol within dedicated VLANs, which ensures adequate bandwidth and data transmission security.
The system is designed to support up to 13,000 users. The solutions allow users to be identified by both proximity cards and mobile devices, using Bluetooth and NFC technology. Currently, the system is being gradually expanded to include more passages to meet the growing needs of new tenants.
Benefits
The choice of the RACS 5 system made it possible to fully satisfy the investor's requirements, while at the same time providing fast and comprehensive support thanks to the manufacturer's local availability. Roger's enterprise-grade Polish security platform enabled the integration of access control with the video surveillance system (VSS) and the building management system (BMS), where event data is sent to the BMS. The system offers central management and value for money. Further expansion is planned in the near future, including additional passages, a partitioning function and the expansion of the VSS to include more cameras.
