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San Francisco Museum Of Modern
Art Exhibits Door Security
Pleasanton, California
Before the new San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
(SFMOMA) opened its doors to the public, a lot of
planning went on to be sure that only the appropriate
doors would be open, and only under the proper conditions.
Protecting the museum's art collection while assuring
visitor safety in an emergency was the twofold concern.
Selecting the right door hardware was a key part
of the answer.
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)'s
new $62 million building opened January 18, 1995,
replacing previous quarters in the War Memorial
Veterans Building, where it had been located since
opening in 1935. The 225,000 square-foot building
was the first U.S. project designed by Swiss architect
Mario Botta and also his first museum. Hellmuth,
Obata and Kassabaum (HOK), San Francisco, served
as the architect of record for the project, which
was completed on schedule and within budget. The
building is the second-largest single structure
in the U.S. devoted to modern art.
Project manager was Bechtel International Company,
and the general contractor was Swinerton & Walberg
Company, both of San Francisco.
Botta's design features an impressive stepped-back
brick and stone facade that is distinguished by
a soaring truncated cylinder emerging from the roof.
To the rear, the building consists of a five-story
tower that houses galleries, as well as the Museum's
curatorial and administrative offices.
Inside, the building is flooded with natural light,
with generous open spaces. A full-height central
atrium court is illuminated by the skylight cylinder.
The building houses a permanent art collection worth
almost $75 million, as well as various visiting
exhibits. Protecting the collection, the new building,
and the throngs of visitors that flock to the museum
and often stretch around the block before opening
time are all the responsibility of the Operations
Department and a team of security officers on duty
24 hours a day.
The heart of the security system is a console, located
away from the general public and staffed to monitor
visitor activity in many different ways. CCTV cameras
help the officer on duty to keep an eye on general
activities and check out specific problems.
Generally, doors that are not meant for use by the
general public are equipped with door position sensors
and alarmed. This is especially true for emergency
exits that lead to service areas or to the street.
If such an opening is breached, a local alarm sounds,
and it is also reported at the console in the security
office so a response can be initiated.
 Doors
leading from main lobby are normally closed and
alarmed, as marked on door. In an emergency, alarms
are silenced and doors can be opened for quick egress.
Von Duprin Series 88
The building is structured so
people would exit from every floor to designated
areas with a security officer in case of an emergency.
The first stairwell doors have panic bars so people
can get out, in addition to low-level exit signs,
which would aid in locating doors in the event of
smoke.
So people in the building can exit safely in an
emergency, these doors are equipped with exit devices,
as required by code. The building's unique architecture
gives rise to the use of different exit devices
that are appropriate to each door design. A mix
of Von Duprin's Series
55 and 88 cross
bar devices, as well as Series
33 pushpad devices, gives an eclectic look to
the doors and reflects their design diversity as
well.
 San
Francisco Museum of Modern Art's new building design,
by Swiss architect Mario Botta, features an impressive
stepped-back brick and stone facade distinguished
by a soaring truncated cylinder emerging from the
roof. The tower is finished in alternating bands
of black and white granite and topped with a radial
pattern of the same contrasting material. A distinctly
detailed pattern and texture is featured in the
building's burnt-sienna brick facade.
To control the office area and
security post, the visitors' door and entry door
to the area are equipped with electric strikes that
allow the security officer on duty to grant access
remotely by simply pushing a button to release the
strike. These doors are not alarmed, since they
are always under positive control, and security
staff is on duty around the clock.
Some fire doors have magnetic stops that hold them
open for easier traffic flow and ventilation. These
electromagnets are wired into the building's fire
alarm system, so they will release and allow the
doors to close automatically in the event of a fire.
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