Canary Wharf's Landmark protected by Oncam Global

Oncam Global has designed a customised security solution for The Landmark, one of London’s newest luxury residential addresses.

Boasting floor-to-ceiling panoramic views of central London’s skyline, the building, developed by Chalegrove Properties Ltd., consists of four towers joined by a landscaped central public piazza.

Critical to designing the security system for The Landmark was “first, understanding our key concerns and goals, as identified by security staff,” said Chalegrove’s general manager, Karim Azem.

Those key concerns, he said, were “to protect residents, personnel and guests by stopping unauthorised visitors from gaining entry to residential areas in the luxury towers and to prevent vehicles in the car park and retail shops from vandalism and theft.”

Network of both fixed and PTZ cameras

A network of Oncam 360° IP cameras and third-party fixed and PTZ cameras was installed around the building. It has been set up to watch the property 24/7.

Oncam Global’s general manager Kate Dela Cruz said: “When unusual behavior is detected, such as loitering near restricted-access areas, alerts from doors being held open too long, or card access denied, trained staff can appropriately respond to potential threats. An area or person of interest can be immediately acquired by the imaging system and automatically tracked.”

Brains as well as brawn

The cameras chosen have their own ‘brains,’ Oncam said, so that if one is tampered with, it does not take down the entire system. Also, images of all predefined events triggered by motion detection are recorded for retrospective viewing, designed to allow for both real-time and retrospective interrogation and verification of a threat.

“Each Oncam 360° IP camera and third-party fixed and PTZ camera is situated to provide maximum coverage outside the buildings and in the central piazza, and within the luxury towers, with camera locations in the lobby areas, entrances, residents’ gymnasium, underground parking area and the bicycle storage rooms,” said Paul Stout, who is the managing director of the installation company for the project, InCam Digital Surveillance Ltd.

“Powerful onboard analytics ensure that the area is continuously monitored with multiple viewing options within just one monitor, enabling persistent situational awareness, analysis and action, without interfering with the aesthetics of the concierge areas,” he said.

A design for life

The system, which is monitored 24 hours a day at two concierge centres in the building, has been installed on a high-spec fibre optic and CAT6 cabling system.

Fewer cameras for the solution as well as cabling meant that the building’s design aesthetic was not compromised, Azem said.

“We needed to purchase fewer cameras and, because Oncam’s have no moving parts, we also eliminated ongoing maintenance costs.”

“[The cameras] don’t compromise the property’s design aesthetic, which is important when it comes to such a residence as this. Oncam Global has met the high expectations that we have set for The Landmark,” he said.