Opened as Napier Technical College in 1964 (taking its name from John Napier, the inventor of logarithms) and later renamed Napier College of Science, the Napier University has offered degree-level education since 1971. Based around the four main campuses of Merchiston, Craighouse, Craiglockhart and Sighthill, the university also has five smaller sites spread around picturesque Edinburgh which, together, form a comprehensive spread both geographically and academically.
Initiated in 2007, a comprehensive electronic security upgrade was planned to integrate each of the campuses’ access control and CCTV systems into one place within a new Control Room based at the historic Craighouse campus.
The university’s collection of Grade A-listed buildings in the district of Morningside presented a unique challenge to installer FMS Fire and Security, as the company’s Andrew Smith explained: “Due to the historical nature and unique layout of the buildings, installation at the facility was a challenge, especially within the Control Room.”
The building’s partly circular room layout provided a blank canvas and a unique challenge, one that was tackled head-on by Winsted. The company designed and manufactured a systems control console that boasts an innovative and intuitive design. Housing multiple control points, eight display screens and a data archive area; the bespoke console is seamlessly integrated into the building and provides the operational ‘nerve centre’ for the site-wide security network.
Level of technical ability and support
Andy Colbeck – associated director at project specifier Faber Maunsell – explained why Winsted was chosen to supply the technical Control Room furniture. “Due to the unique technical challenges involved with this installation, we required a supplier that could meet both the design specification and completion to deadline we required.”
Before manufacturing had began, Winsted’s design team provided Andrew Smith and the team with a visualisation of the planned finished console, as Smith explained: “Winsted provided us with highly detailed renderings and animated ‘fly-throughs’ of the proposed control console, shown in position in the Control Room. This gave our team and university management the ability to ‘fine tune’ the console’s design a number of times until we were completely satisfied with its functionality and design ergonomics.”
Napier University’s security operators can now control access to, and view camera images from the university’s four main car parks, in addition to camera locations from its other campuses, ensuring students and staff a safe and secure working and learning environment for years to come. “The newly-equipped Control Room now forms the key to a planned programme of system expansion that will see over 30 new camera positions added to the system. These are easily integrated with the Winsted-supplied control console furniture.”
