TKH Security Solutions iProtect allows easy monitoring of security systems at a Dutch office tower

At the reception desk one can see camera images of fixed and PTZ IP cameras

Advanced video surveillance

The FiftyTwoDegrees building, located in the south of the Netherlands, is growing into an inspiring environment for ICT.

This ninety-meter high black office tower is seventeen stories and certainly eye-catching. It is partly open to public and requires varying levels of security, thereby necessitating a customised security system. TKH Security Solutions provided the solution: an iProtect™ access control, intrusion detection, and video surveillance integrated security management system. With the IP-based iProtect™ Security Management System, the security personnel of the multiple office tenants can manage the access control, intrusion detection, and video surveillance system via a single network.

Innovative

The office tower is meant to become a business innovation center with an international allure. FiftyTwoDegrees refers to the geographic position of the area itself: 52° to the north. This building will not be left on its own. Local real estate development is already ensuring several building projects in the area, such as multiple shops and houses, a luxurious hotel, and even another event center.

Staff and visitors

Parts of the FiftyTwoDegrees tower, such as the restaurant on the ground floor and the car park, are open to the public, but the floors accommodating offices are not. The most important reason for opting for iProtect™ was the opportunity to work in a flexible and scalable manner with different databases over one network. Given that each floor is rented out separately, each floor is provided with a badge reader. The smart cards serve as a personal badge that have to be worn visibly by employees. NPX Semiconductors manages its own database with the personal data and access privileges of its employees.

All employees have Mifare smartcards, which for the time being are used for the access control. Payment features for the restaurant, the car park, and time registration may possibly be added to the smartcard in the near future. At the reception desk, which is manned in the evening as well as during the day, one can see camera images of fixed and PTZ IP cameras including of the corridors and car park, among other locations. Six lifts and the stairwell are centrally located. To reach these, one must first pass through turnstiles. A smart card is also required for activating the elevators. Although fire alarms are not connected with iProtect™, this information is sent to the control system so that doors can be unlocked in case of fire.

Initiative

The complete initiative for building the FiftyTwoDegrees tower was all taken by NXP Semiconductors (formerly known as Philips Semi-conductors). They wanted to locate to a central location where the building itself would be shared by multiple parties. This was to stimulate the sharing of knowledge and innovation.

NXP Semiconductors also have aspirations to accommodate international employees living temporarily in the Netherlands. In addition to NXP Semiconductors, other ICT companies will move onto other floors in the tower.