myGEZE Control: intelligent building management for the Freiham Sports Park
How can a modern sports facility be designed to provide security and comfort for its various user groups, whilst also being efficient and straightforward to run? The Freiham Sports Park in Munich shows how it’s done with the myGEZE building automation and control system and its integration with GEZE Service.
Freiham Sports Park: Building automation for greater security
The modern sports complex relies on smart door networking to ensure security and comfort for thousands of visitors. © Jürgen Biniasch / GEZE GmbH
A modern sports complex is a magnet for thousands of visitors and a point of pride for the whole community. In addition to an appealing aesthetic, this requires, above all, well-planned technical building systems that are perfectly tailored to the infrastructure of sports facilities and cultural venues in order to ensure security and comfort for all visitors.
The Freiham district of Munich is home to one such state-of-the-art sports complex, which opened in 2020. It comprises several gymnasiums, extensive outdoor sports facilities and a swimming pool, and is used by schools on the adjacent campus as well as by sports clubs and the general public. Despite careful planning in advance, various security-related issues arose during operation, such as unauthorized access, problems with master key systems and the improper use of doors. The obvious solution: intelligent door networking to monitor the building more transparently and control it centrally.
The key to success: strategic consultation with all stakeholders
The client’s requirements were discussed in detail during a series of solution-focused consultations. The focus was on the following questions: How can security risks for users of the sports park and for the buildings themselves be minimised? How can efficient fault management be ensured without placing an additional burden on the operator? What technical implementation options are available, and what advantages does this option offer?
Based on this structured consultation process and in close collaboration with the operator, the FM team and the City of Munich, GEZE developed a concept that is state-of-the-art, future-proof and intuitive to use, whilst also taking individual customer requirements into account.
Ongoing collaboration between the project leads, the City of Munich and GEZE was crucial to the project’s success.
Siegfried Effenberger, Head of FM, Freiham Sports CampusSmart building automation at the gym entrance: access control, door control and barrier-free access ensure security and efficiency during the day, whilst reducing the workload for facility management. © Jürgen Biniasch / GEZE GmbH
The networked doors are monitored centrally, with faults automatically reported to GEZE Service – ensuring consistently high levels of security for personnel and buildings. © Jürgen Biniasch / GEZE GmbH
The benefits of building automation are clear: security, efficiency and accessibility
The focus of the project was installing a smart building management system. This enables monitoring and control of access control systems, opening and closing times of gyms and individual doors, as well as operational faults, such as doors being wedged shut by bags or bins. Key priorities included not only the security of personnel and the building, but also accessibility and a significant workload reduction for FM.
Another convincing plus for project managers: technical integration with GEZE Service. This makes the on-site team’s work much easier by forwarding fault messages from the connected doors directly to GEZE Service, where they are managed centrally. With this approach, any operational issues that arise can be resolved quickly and effectively, whilst the security of buildings and people is improved for the long term.
GEZE was tasked with implementing a building automation concept that, above all, enhances security and comfort, whilst also optimising the system’s energy efficiency and offering building operators intuitive operation. GEZE Service is also commissioned to provide customer-specific services.
Secure data exchange thanks to BACnet and OPC UA
Products are integrated using BACnet and/or the OPC UA protocol, which is widely used in the critical infrastructure sector. This not only enables flexible networking, but also secure communication through state-of-the-art encryption and authentication methods that meet the latest cybersecurity requirements in building automation.
The solution: smart building automation thanks to myGEZE Control and myGEZE Visu
The high-performance hardware is installed in control cabinets using standard top-hat rail mounting. Depending on the configuration, up to 200 GEZE products can be connected. © Jürgen Biniasch / GEZE GmbH
At the heart of the concept are the building automation and control system myGEZE Control and the myGEZE Visu visualisation software for building management. This enables the control, monitoring and fault management of all door systems to be centralised and automated.
Across the entire complex – from the clubhouse and gymnasiums to the swimming pool – doors have been fitted with smart drives and integrated into the building management system. In addition, the fire protection and emergency evacuation system, comprising smoke and heat extraction and EES, has been networked.
For the Freiham campus, myGEZE Control is the ideal system, as it
takes into account the flexible daytime operations of the campus and as
each door can be programmed and controlled individually.
This enables us to meet customers’ specific requirements regarding access and operational security.
Future-proof and expandable
myGEZE Control was selected because it is a future-proof system. New building sections, renovations or technical upgrades can be integrated flexibly, and additional functions – such as communication with the heating and air conditioner via BACnet or with the windows – can be added as required.
The doors at the sports park have been fitted with state-of-the-art door technology from GEZE and networked via myGEZE Control. © Jürgen Biniasch / GEZE GmbH
Optimised access system: automated door control with scenes and calendar functions
Using myGEZE Control, all doors on the campus – from hall entrances and changing rooms to service and emergency exits – are networked, controlled and monitored centrally via a PC. The software allows you to programme predefined scenarios that are tailored precisely to different user groups and operating hours. At the same time, safety-related aspects such as fire protection and emergency exit protection are taken into account.
The doors at Freiham Sports Park can be monitored securely, efficiently and transparently at all times. © Jürgen Biniasch / GEZE GmbH
The calendar function has the advantage that it not only distinguishes between weekdays and weekends, but also takes public holidays and school holidays into account.
By simply accessing the scenarios, the FM team can manage the various user groups with ease – digitally, centrally and intuitively. myGEZE Visu provides a visual overview.
Typical uses for the gymnasium:
- Morning school operations: Automatic unlocking of certain entrances; teachers open the doors using transponder cards and let pupils into the hall; controlled access to changing rooms and secure areas.
- Club use in the afternoon/evening: Time-controlled opening of individual gym entrances for groups, without opening the entire campus. In return, the clubs receive transponder devices. They are responsible for members and visitors.
- Major events: Temporary access control for visitor flows or participant areas.
With myGEZE Visu, operators and facilities managers can monitor and visualise buildings and control door, window and safety systems individually. © GEZE GmbH
myGEZE Visu: Continuous monitoring of all door statuses
Even though the system operates autonomously, monitoring and visualisation are essential – in particular so that any faults or error messages that arise can be quickly identified and rectified. GEZE’s own visualisation system, myGEZE Visu, connects seamlessly to myGEZE Control and picks up exactly where it leaves off: myGEZE Visu provides a clear and intuitive overview of all linked areas – including all door systems in the gymnasiums, the entrances to the swimming pool, the technical areas and the escape routes.
The platform provides real-time information on:
- Door opening and locking statuses
- Modes of operation and door groups
- Safety-critical sensors
- Error messages, warnings and alarms
The visual representation of the buildings and facilities enables operational staff to respond quickly at any time – which is particularly important in high-traffic areas, such as at clubs or schools.
Energy-efficient and sustainable: myGEZE Control offers double the value
The introduction of myGEZE Control not only improves the security of buildings and their users: the smart system also pays for itself thanks to its energy efficiency and sustainability, as doors are no longer left open unnecessarily.
Learn more about energy efficiency in buildingsWith the implementation of myGEZE Control and clear access regulations, Freiham Sports Park is ideally equipped to meet the demands of multifunctional use. The facility sets new standards for security, inclusion and sustainability.
Siegfried Effenberger, Head of FM, Freiham Sports CampusService integration – for greater security and smooth operation
If the system reports an alarm or a fault, this is forwarded directly to GEZE Service. Once arrangements have been made, the team will set off immediately. © Jürgen Biniasch / GEZE GmbH
Faults automatically reported via myGEZE Control and myGEZE Visu are dealt with in a targeted manner – ensuring maximum operational reliability with minimal downtime. © Jürgen Biniasch / GEZE GmbH
To ease the burden on the FM team and ensure smooth operations outside working hours, a special arrangement has been put in place for the Freiham Sports Campus: fault messages and alarms are routed directly to GEZE Service, where they are coordinated.
In practice, this works as follows:
- Automatic fault detection: myGEZE Control automatically detects malfunctions such as jammed doors or unlocked emergency exits.
- The building management system myGEZE Visu displays the faults immediately and clearly in real time, including their location and priority.
- The report is forwarded directly and automatically to GEZE Service. This means the operator does not have to forward or analyse it manually – a huge advantage for large facilities with many users.
- GEZE Service analyses the report, contacts the campus operator and discusses the next steps.
- If necessary, a service technician will be sent directly to the affected system – fully prepared and without any delay.
Particularly for a campus that is used for different purposes every day and is open to the public, this automated service chain ensures maximum operational reliability and keeps downtime to a minimum.
Conclusion: GEZE building automation solutions and customised services offer real added value
Thanks to a comprehensive consultation and needs analysis, the ideal solution was found for the Freiham Sports Park:
The myGEZE Control building automation and control system networks doors and security systems and controls them centrally via the myGEZE Visu building management system. The specific requirements of each building were taken into account, as were the needs of the various people who use these buildings throughout the day.
This has resulted in a lasting improvement in the security of people and buildings.
The solution also provides automated fault message to the GEZE Service team, taking the pressure off of facility management and covering times after working hours.
The track at the Freiham Sports Park is also used by local clubs and for school sports. © Jürgen Biniasch / GEZE GmbH
Spacious corridors leading to the gymnasiums at Freiham Sports Park. © Jürgen Biniasch / GEZE GmbH
The entrance doors to the gymnasiums are barrier-free. © Jürgen Biniasch / GEZE GmbH
The swimming pool also features doors with smart drives, which can be visualised in myGEZE Visu. © Jürgen Biniasch / GEZE GmbH
Gymnasiums with energy-efficient ventilation and extensive outdoor facilities make Freiham Sports Park a popular destination. © Jürgen Biniasch / GEZE GmbH
