Modern office design needs access control that is powerful, flexible and aesthetically in tune with workspace users. Aperio achieves all three – wirelessly – at Plexal, a new £15 million flexible work environment for East London’s ‚innovation community‘.
Enterprise and academia work together at ­Plexal, with technology companies, start-ups, universities and creatives under one roof. Up to 800 entrepreneurs use the workspace. Plexal required a tried-and-tested access control solution they could rely on for high-end security to protect this new co-working office against unauthorized intrusion and burglary. Easy, non-disruptive installation of new locking devices was another goal, so a wireless solution would be preferred.
Any chosen solution would need the flexibility to expand access control as the site scales up over time. Device aesthetics had to complement a contemporary, light-filled interior design with lots of glass.

Flexible Wireless Access Solution
Plexal offices are now fitted with Aperio wireless, access card-based locking technology. The battery-powered locks are integrated with Doorflow, Netnodes’ online platform for managing and auditing building access. So far, fifty-nine L100 wireless high-security door locks have been installed and integrated online. These locks provide a high level of physical protection and transmit door status in real time.
“Plexal required an adaptable locking solution for a range of different doors and, with no wiring required, it was quick and easy to install Aperio with minimal disruption,“ said Stewart Johnson, Director at Netnodes.
Because the locks are battery- rather than mains-powered, the wireless solution also keep the facility‘s maintenance costs and energy consumption low. The wireless locks use no power when idle, only ‚waking up‘ to read credentials or maintain a system heartbeat. Annual running cost savings over traditional wired doors are significant.

Modern Design for a Contemporary Office
„We have a futuristic-style, open-plan design here – our offices are predominantly glass-fronted, so we needed an effective design which was not only robust but adaptable, too,“ said John Herbert, Facilities Manager at Plexal. „What really appealed to me about Assa Abloy access control’s products was the aesthetics.“
Aperio technology is built on an open platform for integration with management system. Plexal have the option to easily expand to new offices, floors or even buildings. Aperio can upgrade mechanically locked doors and wirelessly connect them to new or existing access control systems. This is achieved with minimal modification to doors and premises, offering a simple, cost-effective security upgrade.
“Should any additional doors need to be added to the system in the future, this can be done easily without modifying or changing the aesthetics of the environment,“ Stewart Johnson confirmed.