New IP CCTV for Historic Birmingham Building
No matter how well planned or how creatively designed, some of today's buildings seem to lack the character and quality of the buildings of yesteryear. Historic buildings often reflect the lifestyle of the past and say something about the people who occupied them.
One such older building is 55 Temple Row in the Central Business district of Birmingham. Raised on podium fronting St Philip's Cathedral Square, the building was designed by Fitzroy Robinson & Partners. It features Portland stone and copper clad beams and was built between 1969 and 1972. Originally occupied by the Bank of England, 55 Temple Row is now home to an award winning multi-disciplinary barristers chambers and the largest commercial real estate services company in the world.
Security is always going to be a major concern for older buildings of historic interest. Earlier this year a leading managing agent awarded Watch Systems Limited, a specialist Birmingham based security provider, with a contract for a new IP CCTV system. The sophisticated security system includes 15 surveillance cameras that monitor both internal and external activity to protect employees, visitors, business assets and the building itself.
When it comes to security installation, protecting older buildings is important but also challenging. Older structures require discrete, sympathetic solutions and attention to detail.
Watch Systems understood the importance of the building’s heritage and conducted a thorough risk assessment to identify which parts of the building were structurally sound and unsound. This enabled the team to install a security system that was both efficient in detecting and preventing crime and yet less intrusive in its installation to the fabric of an older building.
Speaking about the work, Simon Trimmer - Director of Watch Systems Limited said:
“Old buildings convey stability and familiarity. It’s important to preserve them because they represent a link to the past. My team took extra care to balance the security and protection of 55 Temple Row, with a sensitivity to the buildings features and aesthetics.”
The new CCTV installation by Watch Systems Limited, is protecting 55 Temple Row in an effective and inconspicuous manner and sensitive to the requirements of an older building. This allows the building to be safely enjoyed by all.
