'Healing Architecture': Accessibility in the city centre clinic
The Stuttgart City Centre Clinic, opened in 2014, is one of the largest paediatric, adolescent health and gynaecology centres in Germany. GEZE has stylishly met the high accessibility, preventive fire protection and user convenience requirements with state-of-the-art door and safety technology.
Discerning clinic design
The new hospital complex includes 12 individual clinics, an interdisciplinary emergency ward, numerous outpatient clinics and 385 beds. In keeping with the 'healing architecture', the Stuttgart firms SFP Architekten GmbH and HPP Laage & Partner focused on top-class conditions for the medical care and wellbeing of patients when designing the building. GEZE met the stringent demands of clinic operation with accessible door systems and complex fire safety solutions, amongst other things.
Safety and functionality thanks to GEZE door technology
Single-leaf glass swing door in the clinical area © Jürgen Pollak / GEZE GmbH
Accessibility, non-contact opening, preventive fire protection, emergency exit protection, access controls and a modern, consistent design - clinic doors must fulfil all these requirements. Using flexible system solutions by GEZE, these requirements were met on over 100 automatic single and double-leaf swing doors both in the entrance area of the clinic and inside the clinic.
Slimdrive SL NT sliding door systems in the entrance area
A double-leaf automatic sliding door system connects the outdoor facilities and the spacious foyer of the new clinic, creating a bright, inviting atmosphere. A passage measuring almost three metres wide, sleek door profiles and Slimdrive SL NT-FR drives integrated into the ceiling combine accessibility with emergency exit protection and transparency. The double-leaf doors manage the high volume of users quietly, powerfully and precisely, with the hold-open time being automatically adjusted to fit the frequency of people passing through. Integrated into a metal bollard, the door programming switch has become a design element in itself.
Accessibility with Slimdrive-EMD swing door systems
Single-leaf Slimdrive-EMD swing doors, which open automatically via a movement detector, can be found in almost all clinical areas. Alternatively, the swing doors can be activated via an elbow switch, such as for patients in wheelchairs or beds being transported. The sensor monitoring stops the doors when a person is in the swivelling range. The ‘Push & Go’ function, which can be switched on and off, offers additional convenience and allows the door drive to be activated by briefly pressing the door leaf.
Double-leaf swing doors ensure preventive fire protection
Integrated into fire alarm systems, double-leaf swing door systems with Slimdrive EMD-F/R-IS drives act as emergency exits. With Slimdrive EMD inverse drives, they serve as exhaust openings for natural smoke and heat exhaust ventilation in the event of fire. If fire is detected, the alarm command from the fire alarm system also triggers the release of the TZ 320 emergency door controls so that the doors open automatically. If there is a power failure, the drives’ inverse function ensures the doors open and are held open automatically.
Access controls for the maternity ward
A single-leaf swing door with Slimdrive EMD-f/r at the entrance to the maternity ward combines accessible convenience, access controls, emergency exit protection in both directions, and preventive fire protection.
The door control can be selectively set to 'automatic mode' or night operation, which allows only authorised persons access to the maternity ward. In the event of danger, a quick evacuation is possible at any time, with an alarm being triggered simultaneously.
Comfort and safety: The fire protection door closes automatically in the event of danger. © Jürgen Pollak / GEZE GmbH
GEZE hold-open systems in fire safety design
Hold-open systems, which are used to keep single and double-leaf manual fire section doors open electro-mechanically, are used in nearly all the wards. The hold-open systems are compactly and discreetly integrated into a solution using TS 5000 door closers with a continuous R-ISM guide rail system, which guarantees that the fire protection door will close securely in the event of danger.
The hold-open systems are also fitted with TZ 320 emergency door controls in the escape and rescue routes; the power supply to the electric strike can be cut off using the emergency button, which allows the emergency exit to open for everyone. A visual and acoustic alarm, which is triggered when the emergency button is pushed, makes it harder to abuse the system.
Safety and hygiene with intelligent swing door accessories
GEZE pivot bearings fitted on the door frame and T-Stop guide rails are installed in almost all the patient rooms. The system with integrated opening restrictor prevents the bathroom door and the adjacent room doors from 'colliding', and renders floor-mounted door stoppers redundant. The smart solution increases user comfort and makes maintaining hygiene in the rooms easier, as the floor can be cleaned without any obstacles.
Double-leaf swing door
Accessible convenience: the manual fire protection door is held open electro-mechanically. © Jürgen Pollak / GEZE GmbH
Double-leaf swing door
Secured smoke and heat extraction in the event of a fire: Swing door with EMD inverse drives. © Jürgen Pollak / GEZE GmbH
Wall-mounted emergency exit controls
The emergency stop switch enables the fire protection doors in the emergency exit to open in the event of danger. © Jürgen Pollak / GEZE GmbH
Main entrance to the clinic
Contemporary and inviting: the main entrance to the clinic offers convenient accessibility. © Jürgen Pollak / GEZE GmbH
Bathroom door in a patient room
The T-Stop guide rail makes floor-mounted door stoppers redundant. © Jürgen Pollak / GEZE GmbH
GEZE products in the City Centre Clinic
- Slimdrive SL NT sliding door systems
- Integrated Slimdrive SL NT-FR drives
- Slimdrive EMD swing doors
- Slimdrive EMD F/R-IS drive
- Slimdrive EMD inverse drive
- TZ 320 emergency exit control
- TS 5000 door closer with R-ISM guide rail
- GEZE pivot bearing fitted on the frame and T-Stop guide rail
