Constructed in 2020, the Arta’a Arts Center houses numerous facilities, including the Academy for Music, Literature and Dance; the Academy for Visual Arts; the municipal library; a documentation centre; and the culture and tourism unit. In addition to these public areas, there are residential apartments above the Center that are also accessed by the building’s main entry. In coordination with Basil Architecture, Boon Edam took on the challenge of designing an entrance solution that would be safe and secure while also complimenting the building’s beautiful architecture.

A multi-use building with unique needs

The Arts Center building is six storeys tall, with two of the storeys located at under ground level. The residential apartments are located on levels 2-4, and the facilities that comprise the Arts Center are located on the first floor, and the two underground floors. The Basil Architecture team were challenged to incorporate natural light into the two underground floors while also buffering the sound of a full rehearsing orchestra in the evening for those living in the upstairs apartments.

To address the lighting issue, the architects strategically placed large glass areas, or “light wells” in areas that would shine down onto the underground floors. They also incorporated a bright and unique yellow colour into the Center to give the impression of more light in the building. The addition of the Crystal TQ all-glass revolving door at the entrance also lent a hand in flooding the building with natural light.

The Crystal TQ revolving door is constructed from glass with only the most minimal stainless steel frame and capping. Because the Crystal TQ is the most transparent revolving door available, it makes an excellent addition to any building facade. The door is available in 3- or 4-wing configurations and is easy for the general public to push through.

Requirements for the main entrance

When considering the type of door to incorporate into the Arts Center entrance, architects had several requirements, firstly capability of handling the large flow of residents and visitors, especially during peak times; then, easy use for both young and old;  the ability to lock the door down after-hours, while still allowing entry to apartment residents; and, finally, an open, bright, and elegant design to match the building interior. The Crystal TQ revolving door checked all these boxes and more.