The Bindery + Sentry Interactive : Sustainable Access Control for Retrofit

In the heart of Farringdon, a beautiful 1930’s art-deco building has been transformed into an iconic workspace called The Bindery. With a blend of historic charm, future-first sustainability, and modern amenities, this building now stands as a testament to what multi-tenant office space should be.

The Bindery, a part of Dorrington’s portfolio, was honoured with the OAS Development 2023 Award and shortlisted under the ‘Refurb Project’ category at the Architects Journal Awards for 2023. These nominations and awards underline The Bindery buildings excellence in sustainable building innovation. Sentry Interactive, along with InterGate, has been integrated across 9 floors and has an active user count of approximately 300+ users.

I had a chat with Nick Brandford, Senior Asset Manager at Dorrington and Greg Sutcliffe, Managing Director at InterGate and explored how Sentry Interactive, powered by Doordeck and InterGate are working together to facilitate The Bindery’s mobile access control, building and tenant needs. 

Sustainability appears to be at the heart of The Bindery. Was leveraging cutting-edge technology for energy reduction and sustainability a crucial part of the retrofit project?

Absolutely. Dorrington has always put sustainability at the centre of the retrofit. Sentry Interactive has been part of fulfilling our ESG goals, we’ve not just enhanced with energy efficient and smart access but reduced plastic waste and energy consumption. The clever use of NFC technology and Sentry Interactive’s reverse-engineered approach to access control has meant that the customer receives mobile access without an energy bill to accompany it. The way that Sentry Mobile Access’ self-powered passive NFC tile uses the active NFC from the mobile is genius, it really helps to support our commitment to eco-friendly and simplified building management whilst saving thousands on new hardware, unnecessary installation costs and key fobs.

 “As part of our wider company focus on our ESG goals we have identified that Sentry Interactive’s software only and keycard-less solution means that not only do we not need to rip and replace perfectly adequate legacy hardware but we no longer need to issue and replace key fobs and so are able to reduce single use plastic waste and provide the lowest carbon technology solution.”

Nick Brandford, Senior Asset Manager, Dorrington Plc

Can you tell me more about your other green goals?

The Bindery has exceeded environmental targets by using the very latest in low and zero carbon technology, such as energy-efficient water heating, lighting systems, and photovoltaics, coupled with a 100% green energy supply. All construction waste has been recycled or repurposed, and new materials like timber are sustainably sourced. A significant  effort has been made to reduce CO2 emissions by reusing embodied carbon within the existing building structure.

Additionally, the project enhances local ecology by incorporating extensive planting and bird nesting boxes, fostering biodiversity in the urban setting. The Bindery prioritises occupant wellbeing through ‘biophilic’ design, incorporating natural elements in the architecture to support the physical and psychological health of its users.

How does Sentry Interactive facilitate access control within The Bindery’s infrastructure?

The Bindery’s blend of historic architecture and contemporary interior design for hybrid working made for a unique retrofit project. Sentry Interactive’s software development kit and APIs for mobile access, had already been integrated with the InterGate tenant experience app for The Crane building, another Dorrington site, a couple of miles away on Bankside. After the smooth transition to mobile access for that site, it was essential for us to have Sentry Mobile Access at The Bindery as well. Minimizing access control system ‘rip and replace’ of existing and perfectly functioning hardware goes against our sustainable ethos. By not needing to remove any of our old readers and access infrastructure it meant there was no need for electronic plastic waste, any rewiring, repainting and re-plastering. 

 “Building security is enhanced with features like multi-factor authentication, banking level encryption and remote access management. Sentry Mobile Access, combined with the InterGate platform, provides a secure and streamlined mobile first user experience.”

Greg Sucliffe, Managing Director, InterGate

As security is a key concern when adopting cloud-based solutions for a building, how does Sentry Interactive ensure secure access for a multi-tenant building like The Bindery?

The Bindery required a robust, flexible access control solution for a hybrid work environment to be able to easily handle irregular building usage and the influx of staff and visitors. Building security is enhanced with features like multi-factor authentication, banking-level encryption and remote access management. Sentry Interactive, combined with the InterGate platform, provides a secure and streamlined mobile-first user experience and offers permanent and time-restricted mobile access for tenants, visitors and contractors. We can manage and monitor mobile access credentials in real-time, without the security risks and expense of issuing and managing key fobs. Sentry Interactive’s cloud-based access control infrastructure provides a dynamic yet secure access solution, adapting quickly to changes in building usage without compromising on security.

What are the advantages Sentry Interactive has brought to The Bindery Building in terms of operational efficiency and user experience?

Sentry Interactive’s has reduced the demands put on The Bindery’s front desk team. No longer are key fobs required to be issued and managed. Through being able to issue mobile entry ahead of visitors arriving or new staff starting, our front desk team don’t get the same level of front desk queues and can now focus more on community building and support. Our tenants can now enjoy fast, frictionless mobile access to spaces, via an excellent app-based user experience. Whilst our front desk team are able to minimize disruptions and and maximize their productivity.

Get in touch today to learn more about DoorDeck.

“Sentry Interactive’s integration into the InterGate app for The Bindery building, showcases how Dorrington appreciate our sustainable access solution for commercial real estate retrofits. It’s been great to work with Dorrington on another project that recognizes the value that we bring in reducing electronic plastic waste and the unnecessary use of those pesky plastic key fobs, (that always go missing). Helping to assist them in their low carbon goals through the use of our software and a smart integration with their tenant experience app sets the standard for smarter and greener retrofits.”

Author – Guy Adderley, Director of Sales & Operations (UK and Europe)

William Bainborough

Board of Directors

William is an experienced British entrepreneur, founder, and accomplished board executive and advisor for a number of businesses. He is the CEO and co-founder of Doordeck, the world’s only true cloud-based access control aggregator. He is also the managing director and founder of Group Secure, a leader in providing security, CCTV, and access control solutions, products, and installation for high-net-worth individuals in the UK. 

William established his first business at just seventeen and brings 20-plus years of in-depth experience and industry knowledge. He has a proven track record for building businesses from the ground up—and then leading them to profitability and a successful exit across a myriad of sectors including hospitality, retail, security, telecommunications, and e-commerce. William’s leadership, vision, and experience in creating cutting-edge SaaS-based technology platforms will prove invaluable for Sentry Interactive moving forward.

Denis Hébert

Denis Hébert

CHAIRMAN & CEO

Hébert began his career at Honeywell International where he held several leadership positions including Managing Director for the Automation and Controls business in France and eventually President of the NexWatch Corporation from 1999-2002. Hébert led HID Global as President & CEO over a transformative 12-year period from 2002-2015, where he provided strategic guidance and grew the business tenfold through a mix of strong organic and acquisitive growth. Most recently, Hébert was President of Feenics Corporation which is a cloud-based access control company that was successfully sold to ACRE LLC at the end of 2021. Hébert also served on the Board of Directors for the Security Industry Association (SIA) from 2009-2020 and was nominated to be Chairman of the Board for SIA from 2016-2018. He is currently Chairman of the Board for Nightingale Security based in Newark, CA.

Stephen Taylor Matthews

Board of Directors
Stephen is a very accomplished attorney, member of the Texas State Bar, licensed commercial real estate broker, and an avid philanthropist. He is an experienced executive board member, serving in leadership positions for more than 20 community councils and corporate boards—ranging from Boy Scouts of America to the ABBA Business Leaders Council, and most recently the American Bank BOD, the Real Estate Council of Austin, and the Marbridge Foundation BOT. With more than 35 years experience, Stephen and his firm, Barrond & Adler, L.L.P. are devoted to eminent domain cases in Texas.

Jon Davis

Board of Directors

Mr. Davis is an Experienced corporate board member, having served on boards of public, private equity-backed, and venture-backed companies. Jon possesses deep industry expertise in dairy, food processing, food technology and manufacturing, and food, beverage, and entertainment services. 

During Jon’s tenure of 25 plus years, he’s led operations, research and development, and mergers and acquisitions. He’s served as CEO and has been the founder and active board member for many successful enterprises—from startups to billion-dollar corporations. While COO and CEO of Davisco Foods International, Jon built a state-of-the-art cheese plant which was awarded the United States Dairy processing plant of the year in 2005 by Dairy Foods magazine. Currently, Jon is active with several non-dairy projects, including investments in local real estate, the Wayzata Brewworks, and his latest venture the new CōV restaurant in Edina’s Galleria.

Joe Caldwell

Founder and Chairman of the Board

Joe is an American entrepreneur, investor, and accomplished executive. He has co-founded, founded, and led many successful businesses, including US Internet, a leading fiber internet service provider, Securence, a leading provider of email filtering software, and Ravon, an industry-leading digital voice communications service. 

It was Joe’s venture, Municipal Parking Services (MPS), that inspired him in 2020 to start Sentry Interactive, an advanced touchless and staffless detection platform.

Caldwell currently serves as CEO and Chairman of the Board for Municipal Parking Services (MPS), a global tech company based in Austin, TX responsible for inventing and patenting technologies that assist in parking and security enforcement.

Joe was named one of Minnesota’s 500 Most Powerful Business Leaders for the past two years—and is a seasoned corporate board member. He’s served on boards of public, private equity-backed, and venture-backed companies—and has deep industry expertise in all aspects of digital technology.

Jason Bohrer

Jason Bohrer

Board of Directors

Jason Bohrer is one of the visionaries behind our mission to bring people back together safely and securely, in any environment, through Sentry’s advanced digital communications and detection platform. With over two decades of senior leadership experience, Jason’s track record of success spans across sales, operations, product innovation, strategy, and technology for domestic and global companies like Bexar Technology Partners, CPI Card Group, HID Global, and Motorola, Inc. Prior to launching Sentry Interactive, Jason was actively involved with several key technology transitions across multiple industries, including the contact and contactless EMV transitions in the U.S. payments industry and the adoption of smart card and mobile technologies in the global access and identity market. Jason was an inaugural member of the University of Chicago Executive Institute and holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin. He also serves as the Executive Director for two industry-leading not-for-profit organizations: the Secure Technology Alliance and the U.S. Payments Forum.
Brent Terry

Brent Terry

Chief Operating Officer
Brent Terry leads the operations and solutions organizations at Sentry. This includes all product innovation, development, and operations management. A veteran in the technology space, Brent has more than 30 years of experience across a myriad of industries, like physical security technology and building automation, SAAS, hardware and software product development, internet, digital TV, interactive TV, digital media, telecommunications, and medical products and services. Prior to Sentry, Brent has spun up successful startups and led high-performing teams for some of the biggest global, Fortune 500 companies, including ARRIS, Conerco, Motive Communications, SeaChange International, and IBM. Brent holds a BS in Computer Science from the University of Louisiana. He also is the committee Chairman and Program Director for a non-profit organization responsible for the rollout of smart cards for physicians and first responders.