We recently supplied and fitted steel security doors to the Marpe Centre, a historic red-brick church in Coventry. The brief was simple to say and harder to do: give the building strong, low-maintenance security without spoiling the character of its original entrances. Our team completed the whole installation in just two days.

Churches and community buildings often sit empty for long stretches of the week, which makes their doors the first line of defence. Every opening on this building was a different shape and size, from wide entrances under large glazed transoms to round-arched brick doorways and a main entrance beneath a semicircular fanlight. We made four doorsets to measure (three double-leaf doorsets and one single door with a blanking side panel) so the doors fit the building rather than the other way round.

What we installed

• Steel security doorsets finished in RAL 9005 Jet Black, with stainless steel lever furniture and mortice sash locks, to suit the white render and red brick of the frontage.
• Existing glazing kept: on the wide entrances, the new doorsets fit neatly below the building’s original glazing, so light still reaches the interior.
• New angled glazing unit above the single door, which we supplied and fitted together with a solid blanking side panel.
• Bespoke steel arched tops, made to follow the curve of the arched entrances so the doors stay in keeping with the building’s character.
• Solid infill side panels to close down the extra width of the larger openings, giving a secure, flush finish with no weak points either side of the doors.
• Push-bar emergency exit hardware on the inside, so the building can be left quickly and safely.

The result

The Marpe Centre now has a consistent, secure frontage that looks tidy from the street and keeps its period details on show. Inside, the doors still work as practical everyday entrances and exits. If you look after a similar building, see our community halls & clubs page, our range of steel security doors, or how our steel door installation service works.