Safety first - Auckland Art Gallery's architectural door hardware supplied and installed by Hardware Direct Ltd

Part of the experience of visiting the art gallery comes from the apparently seamless flow between the old and new spaces, as well as between all the different exhibition areas. However, in a large public building, the sensation of uninterrupted progress throughout the various galleries has to be tempered by the requirement for doors that can be closed when necessary for security purposes and to provide fire-rated protection.

Specialist hardware company Hardware Direct worked closely with the design and construction teams and with other subtrades during the project, taking the architectural concepts and transforming them into functional and aesthetically pleasing hardware for doors throughout the art gallery.

Hardware Direct interpreted the ideas of the design team to supply and install everything from locks, door closers, doorstops and kickplates to entry pull handles. At the same time, all the hardware had to comply with a variety of regulations, including building codes and ratings for fire door compliance.

Director of Hardware Direct, Dave Nicholson, says his company's speciality is meeting the needs of each individual project it works on. "As an example of this, for the entry pull handles on the threshold doors, every handle was individually made in appropriate sizes, with different fixings to ensure each was a perfect fit. We are not limited to off-the-shelf items," he says.

HARDWARE DIRECT LTD

PO Box 21693, Henderson, Auckland 0650Phone (09) 837 1561 Fax (09) 837 8260www.hardwaredirect.co.nz ingrid@hardwaredirect.co.nz

Story by: Trendsideas