A magnificent Grade 1 listed building, Birmingham Cathedral (St Philips) is a rare and very fine example of English Baroque architecture. As part of a significant refurbishment of the interior, TORMAX was contracted to supply and automate two sets of traditional, wood-framed glass swing doors, providing DDA compliant access to the main lobby area. Helping maintain the architectural integrity of the building, the doors are powered by unobtrusive TORMAX 1201 operators, delivering smooth and reliable opening with whisper-quiet precision.
Birmingham Cathedral was awarded a £500,000 grant to undertake essential internal renovation work. This included a complete re-wire of the building, cleaning of notable structures including the numerous stained-glass windows, as well improving accessibility throughout the building. Contracted by Midland Conservation Ltd, the automatic swing doors, installed by TORMAX, feature glass panels etched with an ecclesiastical design to blend seamlessly with this historic interior.
The powerful motor in the 1201 operator was precision engineered at the TORMAX HQ in Switzerland and is more than capable of powering the doors installed at the Cathedral. Measuring only 85mm high by 128mm deep, it is still an incredibly compact operator however, making it ideally suited to heritage locations where architectural integrity is key.
Levels of foot traffic vary greatly at the Cathedral and the door operators have in-built flexibility to match all situations whilst minimising energy consumption. The doors can be
set for use in Power Assist mode, whereby users are aided in opening the door manually, Low Energy mode which limits power and speed and is useful for quieter times, as well as Full Power application.
“As a place of worship, we want to ensure our facilities are welcoming to all who visit Birmingham Cathedral,” explains Anna Pitt, chief executive at the Cathedral. “The automatic swing doors ensure easy access for all visitors whilst the carefully considered wood and glass combination, ensures they complement the interior perfectly.”
