Case Study
AIB Head Office in Belfast
Speed Lane Turnstiles &
Access Control at AIB's
Belfast Head Office
Supply and installation of modern speed lane turnstiles and Card Access Control to AIB's Grade A Head Office in Belfast city centre.
"Highly intuitive & User-friendly"
A landmark refurbishment demanded a security solution to match.
Electro Automation were awarded the contract to supply and install modern speed lane turnstiles and card access control as part of AIB's major full-building refurbishment in Belfast city centre. The project required a high-throughput, premium-finish access solution that could integrate cleanly into a Grade A commercial interior while meeting AIB's own security specification.
Project Snapshot
Client
AIB (Allied Irish Banks)
Location
City Centre, Belfast, UK
Sector
Commercial Offices
Region
ROI, NI, UK
The Project
AIB's head office in Belfast underwent a major comprehensive refurbishment — stripping the entire internal fabric back to shell, replacing all glazing, and installing a new revolving entrance door to the main tower. The ground, first and second floors were completely rebuilt including all new mechanical and electrical services, loose furniture and fittings, AV equipment and security equipment to AIB's own specification.
The refurbishment also included the fit-out of main toilets, lift lobbies and stairwells to the third and fourth floors, along with base M&E installations to the third, fourth and fifth floors for future tenants. Within this context, Electro Automation was responsible for delivering a seamless, high-throughput access control solution precisely matched to the prestige of the completed building.
The Solution
The speed lane turnstile uses swing glass paddles as its control barrier — locked in the closed position but designed to swing open quickly in the direction of travel, allowing smooth, controlled access and egress without disrupting foot flow. This makes it one of the most popular and cost-effective means of creating a controlled access point in a high-specification commercial environment.
Access control readers are concealed neatly within the top panel, maintaining the clean lines of the lobby interior while delivering full credential verification. LED red and green lighting provides instant, clear passage status at each lane. With lane widths configurable from 550mm to 900mm, the installation was tailored precisely to the lobby layout — achieving up to 30 persons per minute throughput while complementing the premium finish of AIB's refurbished building.
Key elements delivered
Speed lane turnstiles for staff access
Card Access Control integration
LED lighting status indicators
The Result
The completed installation gave AIB a controlled, high-throughput entrance fully aligned with the Grade A specification of the refurbished building. The speed lane turnstiles handle peak staff flow without creating bottlenecks, processing up to 30 persons per minute while maintaining single-person entry discipline across every lane. Security is enforced consistently without placing any visible burden on the building's interior aesthetic — the glass paddle design and concealed readers ensure the lobby reads as a premium commercial space first.
Card access control integrated across the building to AIB's own specification means every floor and access zone is consistently managed from a single system. Staff move through the building efficiently, with LED status indicators providing immediate, unambiguous passage confirmation at each lane — reducing confusion and keeping entry points flowing smoothly throughout the working day.
Key outcomes
Up to 30 persons per minute throughput with no bottlenecks at peak entry
Controlled single-person entry preventing tailgating across all lanes
Glass paddle design and concealed readers complement the Grade A lobby
LED red/green indicators provide instant passage status at every lane
Full card access control integration built to AIB's own security specification
A high-security entrance that enhances rather than interrupts the building experience
AIB's Belfast headquarters now operates with access control that matches the standard of the building -secure, high-throughput, and invisible within the premium interior.
