Door technology for greater safety in the well-designed Sidera building
The new headquarters of CIA Conad in Forlì, Italy, is visually stunning and impresses with its neuroarchitectural concept. The door technology needed to blend seamlessly with the design without compromising on safety, access for all and comfort.
Safe and accessible: door technology with high design standards
Panoramic view of the Sidera building during the day. © tissellistudioarchitettura
On the outskirts of the northern Italian city of Forlì, an extraordinary office building was constructed in the early 2020s: the Sidera building. Its linear design with large glass surfaces and aluminium slats on the façade attracts attention even from far away – especially since the surrounding area was previously characterised mainly by dreary warehouses. The Sidera building now creates an architectural contrast that stands out impressively from its surroundings.
The Sidera building is the headquarters of CIA Conad, an Italian association of retailers for the large retail and food chain Conad.
Neuroarchitectural design for greater well-being
The high design standards are also reflected inside, with spacious rooms characterised by plenty of natural light, controlled ventilation and sound insulation. The result is a building that elevates user well-being and promotes employee comfort and productivity. GEZE Italy made a major contribution to the success of the project.
Neuroarchitecture
The Sidera building embodies the concept of neuroarchitecture. This combines two disciplines: neurology and architecture. The fundamental idea is to consider how the human brain reacts to spaces and how spaces need to be designed so that people can feel comfortable there. Neuroarchitecture is increasingly being used in healthcare and in the workplace.
Professional door planning
In order to meet the high requirements of the project, well thought-out door planning was crucial. In addition to design and spatial concepts, regional safety and fire protection regulations had to be taken into account. GEZE Italy was commissioned with the planning and implementation of various door systems.
The challenge: door solutions that are technically and visually compatible with the overall design
The GEZE Italy team was tasked with finding door solutions to optimise access flows and improve comfort. The objective: doors that integrate seamlessly into the design concept while ensuring the safety of building users, access for all and comfort. GEZE automation guarantees high reliability in terms of safety and a wide range of configuration options for all types of requirements. The team succeeded in delivering optimal solutions for the various conditions in and around the building:
Directing access flows and making an impression: door technology for the main entrance
The entrance to the Sidera building with sliding doors from GEZE. © GEZE Italia
The main entrance is the calling card of a building and is designed to achieve a specific, desired visual effect. The entrance doors of the Sidera building form the transition from its extraordinary exterior to its prestigious interior. At the same time, the main entrance is also the busiest area and needs to direct the flow of visitors safely and smoothly.
The entrance area of the Sidera building is characterised by two-part door systems that together form an entrance hall. This not only ensures that the entrance appears spacious and impressive, but also turns this vestibule into a lobby, which has a positive effect on the building's energy efficiency, as both heat and wind are kept out. The GEZE sliding door solutions used in the new CIA Conad headquarters can be networked and integrated into the building automation system via open standards (BACnet). They also feature an independent fault detection and memory system. Self-cleaning roller carriages improve product durability and minimise maintenance requirements.
ECdrive T2: Efficiency in a discreet design
The automatic sliding door system GEZE ECdrive T2 was used for the external entrance door. It features a slim design with a height of only 100 mm, offering greater creative freedom. Thanks to the double roller carriage, heavy door leaves and GEZE profiles, such as GCprofile Therm and GE50NR, can be moved while ensuring comfort and safety. The GCprofile Therm profile system further improves energy efficiency, while GE50NR ensures emergency exit protection in case of danger.
Assembly is quick and easy thanks to the pre-drilled aluminium profiles, while the integrated cable routing keeps everything tidy and speeds up operation. In the event of a power failure, the integrated buffer battery guarantees that the door continues to function properly and can be opened and closed without interruption. In addition, the interface integrated in the drive enables quick maintenance and adjustments, further simplifying system management.
The corner sliding door provides access to the reception area. © GEZE Italia
The GEZE Slimdrive SLV was manufactured to the customer's specific requirements. © GEZE Italia
For special design requirements: GEZE Slimdrive SLV
In keeping with the modern architecture of the building, and for ideal integration into the façade design, a square automatic door that emphasises the linear architectural concept was selected for the interior entrance door. The corner sliding system GEZE Slimdrive SLV is the ideal solution for angled entrances. Among other technical features, the system offers a particularly quiet and reliable drive from the Slimdrive series with a height of only 7 cm.
The product was designed and manufactured specifically for the Sidera building, ensuring that it could be optimally adapted to the customer's specifications. In general, the Slimdrive SLV is characterised by
- a smooth-running, low-wear DC drive
- a height of only 7 cm
- available brackets in the drive rail between 90° and 270°
- independent error detection and logging
- freely configurable inputs and outputs
- an integrated rechargeable battery for emergency opening and closing in the event of a power failure
- various mechanical and electrical locking mechanisms are available as options
GEZE GE50NR profile system
GEZE understands the requirements for products in different markets worldwide. Various products have been developed specifically for different countries and are only installed there – such as the GEZE GE50NR profile system in Italy, which is suitable for heavy doors with large opening widths and is approved for escape routes.
Safety in case of danger: GEZE Powerturn F for garage access
The GEZE Powerturn F increases safety in the event of a fire. © GEZE Italia
To increase the safety of people and buildings in the event of a fire, the garage entrance has been fitted with a fire-resistant vestibule, which separates the building from the underground car park and is integrated into the fire detector system.
The GEZE Powerturn F electromechanical swing door drive optimised safety and simplified access to the underground car park. This drive is designed and approved for use on fire and smoke protection doors.
The technical features of this solution include:
- minimal energy consumption
- obstacle detection thanks to automatic reversing
- automatic locking of doors in case of fire, provided that a connected smoke switch control unit signals this
- smart swing function in normal operation, allowing for easy manual opening of the door
- networkable and can be integrated into building automation systems via BACnet
- custom adjustment of opening and closing speed
Emergency exit protection and comfort: door technology for offices
Sliding doors with escape route function ensure privacy. © GEZE Italia
GEZE Italy also found the ideal door solutions for access to the offices: for the routes from the foyer to the offices, employee comfort and safety in an emergency were the top priorities. ECdrive T2 FR automatic sliding doors with an escape route function were used for the office entrances to keep escape and rescue routes accessible in case of an emergency or danger. During everyday work, the doors are contactless and accessible, while also providing structure and noise reduction in the corridors.
Sidera building: facts and figures
- Name: SIDERA – HQ CIA Conad
- Category: Office building
- Location:, Forlì, Italy
- Completion: End of 2023
- Architects: Tissellistudioarchitetti
- Size: approx. 10,000 sqm
- Total cost: < 200,000,000
