ITABmk - Triflos at Manchester Aquatic Centre

Security and access control are major priorities for any public facility

Located in the heart of Manchester, the Manchester Aquatic Centre, which played host to the pool-based events of the Commonwealth Games 2002, is no exception.

Manchester Aquatics Turnstiles.jpg Manchester Aquatics.jpg

With 1.4 million visitors every year, ensuring well managed and authorised user-access to the centre's extensive leisure facilities, which includes a 65 station gym, a competition pool with seating for an audience of 1,000 onlookers, a diving pool, a leisure pool and health club, had become a prime concern.

'Our city-centre location meant that crime prevention had become an issue for us,' says Tony Wood, Business Manager for Serco Leisure, which manages the Centre on behalf of the local unitary authority.

'In addition, the success of the Centre itself had caused an additional problem,' continues Mr. Wood. 'Attracting more visitors than was ever anticipated at its opening, the original entrance control equipment, installed when the facility was built in 2000, was not robust enough to cope with current foot-traffic levels.'

After consultations with the local police and their crime prevention team to discuss the best control access and exit points for the facility, Tony Wood turned to specialists at ITABmk. The challenge was to design a bespoke solution that would meet the unique requirements of the Centre.

'We needed to move from the existing failing swing gate entrance system to a more secure but cost effective and robust system that was compatible with our own access control software,' explains Tony Wood.

'We also needed to ensure the solution complemented the interior design criteria of the facility which incorporates a large and open space lobby area with chrome finishing.'

ITABmk installed the new, specially designed solution. Incorporating Tri-Flo Premiers and Rotogate SI turnstiles, the system provides for manned push button access gates that enable the reception team to monitor and control entrance. In addition, new card-reader managed turnstiles provide the Centre's membership holders with a fast-track entry system that eliminates the need for additional monitoring by main reception personnel. All equipment was designed with a stainless-steel finish to ensure the aesthetic appeal of the lobby area was not compromised.

'The new system gives us everything we had asked for and has already generated considerable benefits for both our staff and customers, in terms of additional security, safety and faster access to the facilities,' confirms Tony Wood.

'As a result of this success we are now working with ITABmk to review how to improve our exit management controls.'