Pullman Place is a specialist mental health and learning disability clinic in the centre of Gloucester. As part of a wider refurbishment, it sought products for the entrance and waiting room area; to give access for visitors with mobility issues, while maintaining the aesthetics of the building’s lobby.
Pullman Place was purchased by Gloucester-based 2gether NHS Foundation Trust to be redeveloped as a hub for the Gloucester City Community Mental Health and Learning Disability teams. As the property had been a call centre, the building’s access needed work to enable visitors with mobility issues to access.
Appointed in September 2016 to redesign the four-storey building, Quattro Design Architects – an architecture practice based in Gloucester, with a healthcare team – were also contracted to work on the front entrance lobby.
Tom Bell, Architect at Quattro said: “Whilst the lobby was not part of the original brief, it was agreed mid-way through the site works that the front of the building needed some attention. The original lobby had hinged doors and was not wide enough to incorporate automatic doors. As such, the old structure was almost entirely removed in favour of a more welcoming, aesthetically-pleasing design, which met both the client’s accessibility and security needs.”
Quattro specified dormakaba’s ST Flex Green Sliding Door for the main entrance. Selected due to its slender profile design, the ST Flex Green can reduce day-to-day energy and heating costs thanks to its interlocking side, top and bottom seals that stop heat from escaping a building, while meeting the law for disabled access in the UK and Ireland.
As the service users have varying needs, it was decided by the NHS Trust that the reception should be split into two: one a welcoming space and the second forming part of the larger atrium by the entrance and exit lobby. To achieve this separation, Quattro specified dormakaba’s Charon HSD E03 Half-Height Swing Door. As a physical barrier between the two spaces and suitable the makers say for use in emergency and escape routes, the Charon HSD provides barrier-free access for wheelchair users. The unit is the manufacturer adds adaptable in design, uses low energy consumption and allows for comfortable passage thanks to its servo drive.
Debbie Armstrong, Estate Project Manager at Pullman Place said: “We are really happy with the redevelopment of Pullman Place. The new sliding doors at the front entrance meet our brief for improved accessibility, security and aesthetics. We have been able to programme the opening sequence of the doors to meet our security needs and the access needs of our service users, staff and visitors. The doors have proven to be reliable and problem free.”
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