Nicol Corner, based in Bedfordview, Johannesburg, South Africa, is home to a six-star fitness club, prime office space, and an award-winning rooftop restaurant. This is the first building in South Africa to have its glass façade fully incorporate fritted glazing, saving 35% on energy consumption.
Developed by Nicol Corner (Pty) LTD, this 11-storey mixed-use commercial building encompasses approximately 22,000 m² of floor area. The project involved collaboration with industry-leading partners and the specification of world-class equipment, including a high-spec, bespoke security and access control system.
Paxton’s flagship access control system, Net2, was chosen for its scalability and feature-rich solution that integrates easily with other leading security products. Paxton, an international security technology manufacturer with nearly 40 years of experience, is known for developing user-friendly access control products.
The project required an access control system capable of managing hundreds of doors and accommodating frequent footfall, with scalability for future expansion. Additional requirements included lift destination control tailored to different areas, such as office spaces, the public access gym, the car park, and the restaurant. Boom gates and an ANPR system were needed at parking entrances to streamline access for employees and visitors. The system also needed to integrate with turnstiles and customer account management software for the fitness centre, all communicated and configured via an IP network for remote site management.
Access control solution from Paxton
Paxton’s Net2 was recommended to Nicol Corner’s building manager due to its simplicity and ability to meet all specified requirements. Intellisec, the security installation company, handled the hardware installation, while Nicol Corner’s IT technician configured the Net2 system.
Kevin Topp, Nicol Corner’s Back Office Engineer, remarked on the ease of use of the Net2 system, noting that he configured the access without official training, relying on Paxton’s online technical documentation.
Net2 software provides centralised administration and management of sites with up to 1,000 doors and 50,000 users, and it integrates easily with various security systems. This streamlined security is crucial for Nicol Corner, which accommodates employees, external gym members, and visitors to the restaurant.
The Net2 system has been integrated with the KONE Lift Destination Control System, ensuring that users can only access permitted floors. Keyfobs presented at the lift lobby verify identities in the Net2 system, and the central lift system screen displays authorised floors.
The building’s six-star gym occupies the fifth and sixth floors, with turnstiles integrated into Net2 to manage access for employees and public gym members. Salesforce, the customer relationship management software, has been integrated with Net2, allowing gym reception to manage member accounts without directly accessing Net2, thereby maintaining security.
ANPR cameras at all parking area boom gates facilitate traffic flow for employees and require visitors to register for a temporary token. Nicol Corner uses Net2 Pro software for enhanced features, including the Net2Online web user interface for remote system management. Kevin highlighted the intuitive online interface and the Paxton Connect app, which enables remote access management from a smartphone or tablet.
Since the initial installation four years ago, the Net2 system at Nicol Corner has been expanded at least five times, adding an extra floor and 21 additional doors, currently securing 218 doors. Kevin expressed satisfaction with Paxton’s support and recommended Net2 for its advanced security capabilities and bespoke integrations.
