printer friendly version

Integrated Rose Bowl

Honeywell and Clear Image provide integrated video and access control management for the new Leeds Metropolitan University Business School building – The Rose Bowl.

Clear Image, Honeywell and ADI Global Distribution were the chosen security companies for Leeds Metropolitan University’s new Rose Bowl development located in Leeds city centre in the UK. The landmark £50m development which was officially opened by HRH the Duke of Kent in April 2009, is now the new home of the Leeds Metropolitan University Business School.

At its heart is a reflective glass Rose Bowl lecture theatre. Leeds Metropolitan University is one of the largest and most popular universities in the UK with over 52 000 students. Therefore it is no surprise that campus security is taken very seriously.

Having recently delivered an innovative security systems maintenance solution which resulted in cost savings of over 30% for the University, Clear Image was asked to project manage and deliver a fit for purpose security solution for the Rose Bowl.

Universities are presented with a multitude of complex security threats internally and externally. They house many thousands of rands worth of audio visual and computer equipment and have hundreds of faculty, staff and students entering, leaving and moving within the buildings on a daily basis. The system design required a fully integrated and networked security and access control solution comprised of IP CCTV surveillance and digital/network video recording, intruder detection and barrier management.

“From a safety and security perspective, the University’s main priority was a robust and reliable system to protect people and premises,” said Declan Meighan, Leeds Metropolitan University security consultant. “Having worked with Clear Image over a number of years, and knowing of its vast experience in the university sector, they were the right choice to deliver such a major project.”

The solution

Clear Image recommended a Honeywell video and access system solution as it offered the best match for the University’s requirements. The system consists of a Honeywell WIN-PAK Access Control system with 100 Honeywell FlexPass proximity door readers, two Honeywell Fusion 32 channel digital video recorders (DVR) with three terabyte memory capacity, Fusion Video Management Software (FVMS) and 25 IP CCTV cameras.

The key elements of the new Honeywell video and access system was the ability to work seamlessly with other manufacturers’ equipment – in this case the cameras, domes and intruder solution and of course the remote monitoring requirement – satisfied by Honeywell WIN-PAK and FVMS. This is part of the University’s strategy to control security, video and access from a secure hub not located within the main campus buildings.

“When I was commissioned to manage the project at the Rose Bowl I encountered a number of technical issues with the design and how the new system would meet the customer’s operational requirements,” said Martin Aston, Clear Image project manager. “These issues were easily overcome due mostly to the flexibility of the Honeywell systems and how they all integrate with each other. Working with the Honeywell team and the design consultant, we produced a very effective solution that meets the security needs of this site.”

The Rose Bowl now has a state-of-the-art, cost-effective and user-friendly security solution that ensures the safety of staff, students, visitors, equipment and property, while monitoring the movements of its employees, visitors and students. The security operation benefits from a combined systems approach with remote connectivity and integration. The access control, video and intruder alarm systems can all be controlled from the security hub located off-site which allows the security team to centrally monitor all CCTV and alarm events while being able to run consistent and holistic access control reports from the WIN-PAK application.

Importantly, the system is highly scalable, allowing for seamless expansion and development in the future, in line with the University’s growth and building requirements. As WIN-PAK, Fusion and FVMS are network-based solutions; the University IT team has been able to add them seamlessly onto the existing network infrastructure, thus reducing the significant costs associated with additional cabling and network architecture requirements.

Share this article:

Further reading: