Hotel Indigo Manchester – Victoria Station choose TLJ access control

TLJ are proud to have completed installation of a site-wide access control system at the newly opened Hotel Indigo – Victoria Station in Manchester.

As an approved InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) supplier, we were initially contacted by the project’s main building contractor, Bowmer & Kirkland. Their specification required a class-leading, self-contained RFID lockset for the room doors. The highest levels of accreditation and certification were stipulated, especially Secured by Design which requires the lock to resist sustained physical attack. TLJ’s market-leading 3-year warranty, in-house engineering and support teams and highly competitive quote helped secure the contract.

The project involved the installation of 187 TLJ Infinity RFID electronic locksets on all bedroom doors, a further 54 Infinity locks on communal and staff doors, plus nine access control readers on external doors. For the latter, TLJ worked closely with the project’s M&E contractor, Hesis. In addition to the locks and readers TLJ were commissioned to work with Schindler to supply and install two in-cart controllers for the elevators. The latter was particularly important as the hotel occupies a busy city centre location and guest security is, naturally, of paramount importance. Finally, TLJ supplied and configured an interface between their bespoke lock management software and Hotel Indigo’s online PMS system, Oracle.

TLJ’s ethos of working with, and effectively becoming part of, the building contractor’s team supports a given project at every stage of its development: what TLJ likes to call “We’ve Got Your Back”. Evidence of this at Indigo Manchester – Victoria Station is how we provided Bowmer & Kirkland’s door supplier with lock samples and templates prior to routing doors, advised Hesis on their plans for access control cable installation and supported Schindler’s project management on lift installation throughout the entire build.

TLJ’s involvement didn’t end there however: not only did we provide comprehensive on-site system training to all relevant staff as part of the handover process, technical support from our UK-based engineers is available, as standard, 24 hours a day. Combined with the provision of a box of ‘First Aid’ spare parts for on-site emergency repairs, plus ongoing refresher training, this represents one of the leading aftercare packages in the industry.

TLJ’s Managing Director, Luke Martin, said:

The project is a major development for IHG in the north of England. Famous for its individuality and celebration of local culture, heritage and history, the Hotel Indigo brand is a perfect fit for the vibrant Northern Quarter in Manchester. With its reputation for being a centre for the creative arts, this bohemian district of the city nevertheless boasts a proud heritage of innovation in science and engineering, with strong links to the city’s industrial past.

Previously known as City Buildings, the basic Grade II-listed structure has been heavily restored, and a magnificent 14-story rotunda tower added. It houses 187 boutique-style bedrooms, a 120-seat dining space and bar, and even a small gymnasium. The bedrooms pay homage to Manchester’s industrial heritage with three distinct themed decors: cotton, paper and tea. Even the reception area utilises the bare brick walls of the original City Buildings to striking effect.

As a footnote, TLJ are also happy to announce we have been selected to provide access control on a new 75-bed IHG development, again for Hotel Indigo. Situated in the city centre of Chester, we are due to begin our install at the beginning of April 2019.