126 Locks & Building Hardware Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk THE door industry journal winter 2025 HOPPE hardware specified for Goldfinger House refit Hungarian-born Ernö Goldfinger was a renowned modernist architect who moved to Britain in the 1930s. Typical examples of his work include high-rise housing blocks, such as London’s Trellick Tower, post-war schools and office blocks. He had a distinctive style using concrete frames and grids of windows. Ernö’s designs caught the attention of author Ian Fleming, but for all the wrong reasons. The James Bond author disliked some of Goldfinger’s projects so much he named the villain in his novels after him. Many of Ernö’s projects were in London but he also ventured out of the capital to design Goldfinger House in Solihull, near Birmingham. Originally constructed as the office headquarters for Carr’s Paper Works in 1955, the Grade II listed building became home to The Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP) in 2014. A view to a refurb Following a fire risk assessment in 2024, improvements relating to fire doors were recommended. The building’s owners subsequently worked with local architectural ironmonger 1st Call Lock and Key Shop Ltd (LKS) to specify new fire door products to help meet building regulations. Established in Birmingham, in 2004, LKS has grown from a small key cutting trade counter supplying local trade to a full-service architectural ironmonger servicing the Midlands and distributing products throughout the UK. Following a management buyout in 2014 by current managing director Joshua Kambo and business partner John Camp, the company now offers a complete suite of services including survey, design, supply and installation. LKS conducted a full site survey to establish what products would be required for the building, where many of the rooms are named after James Bond characters. After developing a schedule of works incorporating products from ARRONE, a HOPPE brand, work began on site. Licence to refit Over the course of a few weeks and multiple phases, with a works schedule and project management devised by LKS, all fire doors throughout the building were removed, the frames were repaired with the correct fire lining, and replaced, bringing the entire building into compliance with all regulations. All finishing works were completed, including decoration, working around CIPP’s hybrid working pattern. This meant that some works had to allow for staff being present. For the new fire doors, LKS specified the popular AR1500 overhead surface-mounted door closer. The category of the AR1500 has recently been upgraded from three to four, providing a controlled closing of a door from at least 180 degrees compared to the previous lower angle of 105 degrees. It is particularly suited to applications on doors where wider openings are needed. The controlled power can be altered by adjusting the spring. This can help in obtaining acceptable opening forces required to open the door which is a consideration for those less physically able. The unit also has adjustable closing speed to control the doors
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