Detroit Lions: door hardware helps Ford Field tackle security & safety needs

Doors and Hardware, August, 2003 by Lee Eisen Roberts

WHEN THE DETROIT LIONS OPENED THE SEASON at their new Ford Field home in Detroit, they also opened the doors to better safety and security. The new facility incorporates a range of door hardware that helps manage visitor traffic and maintain security at the building's many openings, while a two-level key system helps ensure the proper level of security for each location.

The 65,000-seat stadium opened in August, 2002, with an exhibition game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. It marked the Lions' return to downtown Detroit for the first time since 1974, when they moved to the Pontiac Silverdome. The 1.85 million square foot, $500 million complex includes four levels of suites, a level of club seating, and a ground level that features restaurants, concessions and retail. The unique Ford Field design incorporates the old Hudson's warehouse, which was built in the 1920s, as well as a glass wall that provides a picturesque view of the Detroit skyline. Because its design omits the traditional club and suite levels, thereby lowering the upper level, the new facility claims the best sight lines of any football stadium in the United States. During its first year of operation, Ford Field is expected to host as many as 120 events, including Detroit Lions football games, sporting events, concerts, banquets, consumer shows, tradeshows, business meetings and conventions. The Super Bowl will be held at the stadium in 2006.

Doors and Crowds

As with any sports facility, large numbers of people arriving in a short time period are exceeded only by an even greater concentration of fans leaving in a shorter time when the game ends. Therefore, each of the main entrances features a large number of doors, each equipped with exit devices that are dogged down during game periods to allow free egress while minimizing wear and abuse. "At first," explains Facility Engineer Bob Gardner, "about 60 percent of visitors came in through Gate A. Our other main gales are B and C, which probably handled about 15 percent, and still other gates were used by the media and suite holders. As people are becoming acclimated to the other gates, they are finding shorter routes to their seats, thus distributing the traffic more evenly." At times when no events are scheduled, the multiple openings are locked to control the perimeter, although the exit devices permit safe exiting in an emergency.

In locations required by code, to stairwells, rest, rooms, mechanical rooms and similar areas, all doors feature two-hour fire ratings. With some glass doors, such as those leading to the Club Level, floor locks with small format, interchangeable-core (SFIC) cylinders are used. Corridor and service doors, such as those leading to a pantry serving the Club Level, are equipped with electromagnetic hold-opens that automatically release if the building's fire/smoke alarm system is activated, allowing the closers to shut the doors.

Two Levels of Key Control

Gardner notes that the facility uses two separate key systems. "When we designed the building," he says, "there were certain areas that necessitated higher security than others, including liquor storage and all exterior doors." For these areas, a key system offering the highest security is used. A separate key system, which also provides high security because of its patented keyway design, works other interior doors. Gardner explains, "We wanted totally separate key systems, to prevent crossover in case a key ever gets out." In a large public facility such as Ford Field, with hundreds of possible users and continual personnel changes among vendors and other tenants, this was seen as a way to provide an extra layer of security.

Additional Security Solutions

Other security measures include more than 73 pan and tilt color CCTV digital cameras, as well as around the-clock security staff. The facility recently opened its doors to the retail and restaurant area for lunch on a daily basis. However. the stadium bowl and other areas are closed off by roll-down gates, and everyone must enter through the main gale. which is manned by security guards. This keeps the public confined to the proper areas.

Architects for the project were SmithGroup, Detroit with associate architects KMD Architects, San Francisco; Hamilton Anderson Associates, Inc., Detroit and Rossetti Associates Architects, Birmingham, Michigan. Contractors for the stadium were Hunt/Jenkins and While/Olson.

Lee Eisen Roberts, Manager, IR Security & Safety Consultants of Michigan, Ferndale, MI