GEZE UK is opening doors to more shoppers at Glasgow Fort which
has recently launched a third phase of shops and leisure facilities at its
out-of-town shopping and leisure complex.
With more than 100 outlets and parking for 2,500, Glasgow Fort is
noted for being one of the few purpose-built uncovered shopping villages with a
two-sided mall design intended to recreate a traditional high street.
That’s why installing the right doors were crucial in the design
and specification of the new phase – not only to protect the new stores from
the elements – but to maintain the fluidity of the stainless steel and glass
aesthetic within its horseshoe layout.
The latest 175,000 sq ft extension – designed by Glasgow
architects Cooper Cromar for owner British Land - includes an 80,000 sq ft
Marks & Spencer department store housed within an iconic three-storey
stainless steel-clad pavilion.
The store entrance has four sets of automatic sliding doors,
powered by GEZE’s Slimdrive SL NT operators, to form a draught lobby and
display area. The Slimdrive SL NT blends seamlessly into the uncluttered glazed
frontage. With an operator height of just 7cm – it is almost invisible,
virtually silent in operation and can move leaf weights of up to 125kg - ideal
for buildings with high levels of footfall and a continuous flow of people
moving in various directions.
GEZE UK worked with Gray & Dick Ltd and Greenfield Contracting
to create the entrances for M&S and seven other shops and restaurants on
the north of the site where the new development is located. They include:
- Fat Face
- Footasylum
- JD Sports
- Mamas & Papas
- River Island
- Wagamama
- Waterstones
In total 12 GEZE products were supplied. In most cases the
Slimdrive SL NTs were used to create the entrances for the units. Fat Face,
Footasylum, Mamas & Papas, River Island, Wagamama and Waterstones chose
seamless entrances, each with a pair of automatic sliding doors which provided
flow and continuity with their glazed façades.
For JD Sports, a much larger unit, two Slimdrive SLT telescopic
automatic sliding door operators were used to create two entrances across the
span of its frontage – each fixed to glass. Like the Slimdrive SL NT, they
operate quietly and boast an elegant drive design with a 7cm operator height.
Said Martin Revie, general manager for GEZE UK in Scotland: “This
was a fascinating project on which to work. Glasgow Fort has become a ‘go-to’
destination for shopping and leisure in the region as it combines great
facilities and shops, with an open, airy environment and contemporary design.
“The third phase of the development needed to combine the
requirements of the businesses going into the new premises and incorporate
functionality, safety and security while retaining the aesthetic values of the
development as a whole.”
