Discreet electronic locks for a more home-like feel

Middlemore Hospital has opened stage one of their new Mental Health Acute Unit, Tiaho Mai. Designed by Klein, the new facility is a step change in New Zealand for this building type. With its focus on well-being and the journey to recovery, spaces are less institutional, with security layers managed in subtle and often invisible ways.

Tiaho Mai features a new model of care by Counties Manukau Health. Based on salutogenic design principles, the environment puts greater emphasis on the well-being of the individual with natural light, fresh air and community spaces. ‘By increasing the quality of the environment, the patient can see the value placed on their health and wellbeing,’ says Melanie Mason, project architect from Klein. ‘There was a strong drive on behalf of the client to create something beautiful and as home-like as possible to enhance people’s recovery.’

The 76-bed facility is notable for seven landscaped courtyards, which create light-filled, single-loaded residential corridors, and open-plan socialisation rooms which flow onto private outdoor spaces. The largest is the therapies courtyard linking the reception area, whare and whare kai space through to the central therapy and activity heart of the building.

‘Rather than looking institutional, at every level, we have selected home-like details, materials and experiences,’ says Mason. ‘This puts a high value on getting well, as opposed to the old model of treating disease. It’s a very different focus and message.’

This high-security environment posed multiple challenges when achieving a ‘home-like’ space. With layers of building security to keep both staff and residents safe, the final solution was found in a combination of zoned planning and flexible spaces, all activated by electronic locking systems by Assa Abloy.

Bedrooms were the first area of focus and the hospital mocked up two full-scale suites with a complete entry door frame and assembly. Door and bathroom hardware pose the greatest risk to patients who may want to self-harm, so locks and handles needed to be flush, smooth, tamperproof and anti-ligature, while not looking heavily institutional. Assa Abloy supplied a range of hardware samples for testing on the one-and-a-half leaf configuration.

‘The primarily requirement for the door hardware was the welfare of the patient and their room security,’ says Max Tongue, Assa Abloy’s architectural consultant. ‘Locking on each room is electronically managed with fob keys and wrist bands, so that only the resident and their support staff have access.

Electronic locking with the high-security Protec 2 manual key override means staff can change settings according to the time of day and the security of the resident. This also allows the use of a traditional high-security key in the case of a power outage or intentional damage to the electronic lock. All locks are linked to the security system and fire alarm.’

Building zoning was also a core part of the brief and unobtrusive patient management. ‘As a person moves along their journey to recovery, their security access can be progressively opened up allowing them to access more communal spaces,’ says Mason.

‘Staff can run the facility in different modes, including how wings are set up and connected. It’s very flexible, but not overly complicated and one of the features the staff believe will be most useful. From design for well-being to a home-like interior to subtle zoning and access, the whole approach is transformational for this sector in New Zealand.’

For more information about the products used on this project, contact the Assa Abloy architectural team on (09) 448 9188.