Det Kongelige Theater — Danish Opera House case study

Step inside the Operaen and immediately you are in awe of its beauty. All four levels of the marble-clad foyer offer sweeping views of Renaissance Copenhagen and the city harbour. A restaurant with roof terrace is situated on the top floor offering a panoramic view of the royal palace, Amalienborg, and the adjacent domed Marble Church. Daytime’s natural light brightens the Operaen to a pristine spectacle, while under the cover of darkness inside and outside lights take on a life of their own.

Operaen is part of The Royal Danish Theatre. Rich in history and tradition in Denmark, the unique building was designed by Danish architect Henning Larsen. Both the Danish Opera and Ballet troop perform at the Operaen.

Challenges

Extensive backstage facilities consist of five mobile stage units as well as a small experimental stage, Takkelloftet, in addition to the auditorium and the rehearsal and training rooms for the ballet and the opera.

Employing and securing 1200 people in the Operaen was a challenge to Director of Security, Carsten Andersen. The Operaen must secure areas open and closed to the public. HI SEC’s Thor Access Control and Intrusion system was chosen in the project phase among others due to demands about expansion possibilities to other buildings in Copenhagen belonging to the Royal Danish Opera. Thor fulfilled all technical specifications.

The external part of the building is secured by various detectors up to 4 meters from ground level.

Together with cameras covering the entire outside of the building the perimeter is very well secured.

Vehicles are monitored via the perimeter cameras and under the access roads retractable road blockers are installed, all controlled from the guard center.

Staff can roam freely inside the non-public areas of the opera house, where the public does not have access. The audience remains in the public areas, where 70 readers control access, keeping everyone safe and in their proper areas.

“Thor Complete provides secure access while remaining virtually invisible to the public,” said Jorgen Krogh, International Sales Manager for HI SEC.

Denmark ’s royal family has its own entrance into the Operaen. Limited access is provided at the entrance, as well as its private section in the seating area. The royal family also enjoys a private lounge. Only a few staff has access to this area, limiting access to Queen Margrethe and her royal family.

“Entertaining the Queen and her family requires intense security measures to be in place,” said Anderson. “We were able to secure the public, and provide the extra security demanded by the royal family so they can enjoy the opera or ballet. The security system is practically invisible to them thanks to the Thor security management system, yet they are secure.”

Canceling old cards was a past challenge for security staff. A few thousand cards were circulating for 1200 employees, resulting in a security breach. All the cards worked. New cards have been distributed to all employees, and when one is lost or stolen, it is immediately deleted from the system.

The staff found the system easy to use; however, transitioning the artists into a security mindset was a challenge.

“In the world of art and theatre, people are very ‘free’ and don’t like locked doors,” said Andersen. “There was a lack of understanding of why it is necessary to have a security system. Then something was stolen and now the artists understand.”

Why HI SEC

HI SEC’s Thor Complete provided the access control and intrusion system the Operaen needed to secure its art loving audience and staff. Thor allows the Operaen to grow in terms of number of readers. Currently 70 readers secure the exterior and interior doors, but as more theatres are built in the nearby area, they will integrate. Thor allows The Royal Theatre Group to use one security management system for all theatres.

The area surrounding the Operaen is becoming known throughout Copenhagen as the Art District. The Production House is recently constructed and opened end of 2006. Scenery for all productions will be created at The Production House.

The Comedy House is finished in construction later in 2007. Comedians from all over Denmark and Europe are expected to perform.

Both facilities have installed HI SEC’s Thor and are integrated with the Operaen.

“HI SEC’s Thor system meets all our needs and will continue to do so as we grow,” said Andersen. “I highly recommend it to any company needing an integrated security system.”