With VERSO CLIQ, Olympic Stadion enjoys all-round protection

Berlin – With thousands of visitors, sports persons and guest stars every year, a multi-functional arena such as Berlin's Olympic Stadium needs to rely on a flexible, comprehensive security concept. IKON’s VERSO CLIQ locking system from ASSA ABLOY Sicherheitstechnik GmbH enables the operator, Olympiastadion Berlin GmbH, to enjoy the benefits of a security system which combines highly developed microelectronics with intelligent data encryption. Such a system means locking cylinders can be reprogrammed in a short time in the case of constant changes to access authorisations. Key losses also no longer represent a security risk as lost keys can simply be deprogrammed from the system.

Berlin's Olympic Stadium was built for the 1936 Summer Olympic Games under the supervision of architect Werner March. In 1966, the landmark building was included in West Berlin's protected monuments list.  It received partial roofing for the 1974 World Cup when other restoration and upgrading work was also carried out.  After a series of redesigns and survey reports, some of which planned to demolish the stadium and build a new, football-only stadium, in May 1998 the Berlin Senate decided to restore the dilapidated Olympic Stadium and convert into a multi-functional arena. The architects von Gerkan, Marg and Partners (gmp) won the bid. The stadium was rebuilt while still in operation.  The construction site was not only the venue for Hertha BSC's Bundesliga matches and German Football Association cup finals, but as from 2003 it also hosted home matches for the NFL Europa American football team "Berlin Thunder". The stand roofing in the new design was not closed in a complete ring, so as not to obstruct the historic opening at the so-called Marathon Arch.  This ensured the view to the emblematic bell tower was retained as required by a preservation order.  The roof incorporated state-of-the-art lighting technology, including non-dazzling flood light systems and a public-address system with a capacity of over 150,000 Watts. In the summer of 2004, the stadium was handed over to its operating company, Olympiastadion Berlin GmbH, and was inaugurated during a grand opening ceremony on July 31. Since then, Germany's largest stadium is once more fully able to host a wide variety of sporting and cultural events.

Predetermined access routes and traceability

"In the face of the permanently large number of people entering the stadium, we decided to change over from a mechanical locking system to a mechatronic one. We require programmable locking cylinders, so we can provide individual event organisers and their subcontractors with flexibility in managing access authorisations," explains Sylvan Bandke, Technical Manager at Olympiastadion Berlin GmbH, with regard to their decision to use ASSA ABLOY Sicherheitstechnik's VERSO CLIQ locking system.  "When a specific room or box is leased, the VERSO CLIQ key is programmed only for access to that particular space. Event organisers have no access to any other rooms. We can thus predetermine access routes and also trace who entered a particular room at a particular time.“

Protection when keys are lost

If keys go missing or are not returned by an event organiser, they can be easily eliminated from the VERSO CLIQ system without the expense of having to replace locking cylinders. "There is a considerable risk to security with mechanical locking systems.  VERSO CLIQ provides us with a high standard of security," declares Bandke.  High security areas in the Olympic Stadium such as the security control centre where all other security systems, including the burglary and fire alarm systems, converge feature additional protection from the Technilock L3 High Security Door Bolt from ASSA ABLOY's established effeff brand. "We thus have all-round, maximum protection," affirms Bandke.

Customised fit and easy handling

VERSO CLIQ offers a further advantage in its reduced number of keys: "In the past employees and guides who took visitors around the stadium carried a large bunch of keys. VERSO CLIQ enables each person with access authorisations to have just one key, into which all authorisations can be programmed individually." Another significant factor influencing the decision to choose the IKON locking system was the fact locking cylinders could be customised to fit doors in the historic parts of the building.  "Preservation order documents stipulated that doors had to be preserved and couldn't be replaced," explained Bandke.  "This is where we benefitted from VERSO CLIQ's practical modular system." The modular system enables the locking cylinder to be modified in length by means of various extensions and is fitted using a cross bar. VERSO CLIQ could thus be adjusted to the leaf thicknesses in historic doors.  "The ASSA ABLOY partner Tegge Berliner Schlüsseldienst even supplied us with special solutions when necessary - an excellent service we are still very happy with today." Olympiastadion Berlin GmbH was also won over by the low cost for installation as well as VERSO CLIQ’s ease of use and straightforward programming and the fact the energy required to operate the system comes from the key battery.  "With VERSO CLIQ, only keys and programming keys supply the energy to operate the system or communicate with the cylinder, so there is no need for structural alterations or expensive cabling to the doors," says a pleased Sylvan Bandke. "This means less work and expense." Moreover, the standard batteries in keys can be replaced by all employees themselves.

Security of investment and guarantee of additional supply

Tegge Berliner Schlüsseldienst's efficient service ensured a total of about 1,480 VERSO CLIQ lock cylinders were installed within Berlin Olympic Stadium in a short period of time. All outside doors in and around the building as well as the fencing were fitted with the IKON system. VERSO CLIQ's weatherproof design provides effective protection against rain, sand and dust for outside locks.  "The boxes, changing rooms, dressing rooms, warm-up hall for sports, the catering area, the administration wing and padlocks for roller shutters are also protected with VERSO CLIQ," says Sylvan Bandke.  "We were not only convinced by VERSO CLIQ's price-performance ratio, but also by the large range of lock cylinder models. We rely on security from ASSA ABLOY Sicherheitstechnik GmbH - IKON was chosen to fit the stadium with its first mechanical locking system way back in 1936 for good reason.  And if our locking system should need extending, this poses no problem with VERSO CLIQ, even in ten years' time, as ASSA ABLOY Sicherheitstechnik guarantees long-term security of investment und future additional supplies."