Door Security An Open And Shut Case At Baruch College's New Library

New York
Controlled exit devices and related door access controls installed at Baruch College's new William and Anita Newman Library and technology center perform a dual role. In the college's urban setting, they help maintain a safe environment for students and staff while also providing the security needed to protect computer systems and other expensive property.

Baruch College is one of ten senior colleges of The City College of New York (CUNY), the largest urban public university in the United States. Its landmark building at 23rd Street and Lexington Avenue occupies the site of the Free Academy, the first institution of free higher public education in the country. In 1953, Baruch College was named in honor of Bernard M. Baruch, statesman, financier, and a leader in the College's formation. It now occupies seven buildings in the Gramercy Park area of Manhattan, the heart of one of the world's most dynamic cultural and financial centers, and serves over 15,000 full- and part-time students.

A Study in Contrast
The newest and yet one of the oldest buildings at Baruch College houses the William and Anita Newman Library, which opened in 1994. Located in a restored 1890s Italian Renaissance former cable-car drive station that once powered some five miles of track, the new library features the latest in electronic communications and computer information systems.

As part of a master plan developed for the college by architects Davis, Brody & Associates, the previous antiquated library was targeted as the highest priority for expansion. When the cable-car building became available, its six floors of rental lofts above the former engine room seemed an ideal fit. Adding to the appeal was an adjacent vacant lot that allows room for future expansion in the congested midtown Manhattan location.

Architecturally, the building retains its original cast-iron structure and floors of shallow masonry vaults. Its facade was carefully restored, prompted by the building's listing on the New York State Register of Historical Buildings. A central light well, originally open above the first floor, has been capped with a massive new skylight. Cherry paneling in the atrium blends with code-mandated windows to add a warm academic atmosphere that complements the building's lines.

Stairwell doors in elevator lobby are equipped with Chexit controlled exit devices that sound an alarm and delay egress for 15 seconds, providing combined safety and security. Alarm can be disabled temporarily with keyswitch. In an emergency, tie to fire alarm system negates 15-second delay for immediate exiting.

The quality of the finished building is a tribute to the dedication of the architects and the now-retired college administrator, Marilyn Mikulsky, in making quality and long-term maintenance a high priority. Kenmore Watson, University Assistant Engineer, emphasizes Mikulsky's role as a catalyst in the project. "It was almost a 10-year project from the drawing board to implementation, and she was instrumental from the beginning," he says. According to Watson, who joined the staff at the beginning of the construction phase, she played a key role in coordinating requirements of the various city and state authorities and the building owner, The Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY).

The completed structure includes a new second floor, added to the former engine room, and a partial ninth floor above the original roof. With these additions, the 330,000 sq. ft. building encompasses not only the library, but also extensive computer facilities, a conference center, and general school functions such as records and admissions. It serves as a college center for a campus that previously had none.

Safety with Security
To provide a secure atmosphere for the students and staff, as well as protecting the expensive computer equipment from theft or damage, the college has installed Von Duprin Chexit controlled exit devices on fire stairwell doors and other emergency exits.

A high-density student population and multiple doors make it necessary to restrict the use of fire stairs and emergency exits at street level to prevent the possibility of computer equipment and other high-value items being stolen. Because of the urban location, it also is necessary to restrict access to authorized students and staff members to maintain personal safety and peace-of-mind. Yet emergency exits and stairwells must provide safe egress in a fire or other emergency.

The Chexit pushpad exit devices used on most exits and stairwells sound an alarm for 15 seconds before unlocking, which allows a security response and discourages unauthorized use of the exit. However the devices are tied into the fire alarm system and will allow immediate exiting in an emergency. Thus, they serve both life safety and security needs. Rick Duskiewicz, College Locksmith, points out that when the doors or stairwells must be used, the alarms can be temporarily disabled by an authorized person with a key.

A different approach is used on some service doors, where Von Duprin Series 88 crossbar exit devices are combined with an alarm and keyswitch. Generally located away from public areas, these exits are equipped with an anti-passback feature that prevents them from being used as an unauthorized entrance. When exiting, an individual can silence the alarm temporarily by using the adjacent keyswitch, but it will revert to an alarmed stated after the door is closed.