Premium smart buildings require premium security – here’s how Base solved it in the K8 landmark building
A premium smart building where Base Property, Caverion and Sotera set out to modernize identity and access — without compromising architecture, security, or user experience.
Industry: Commercial real estate
Building size: 15 000 m²
Solution: Breeze Identity Platform + STid Architect series
Result: Faster onboarding, full traceability, and compliant, design-friendly security
Commercial buildings in Norway are digitalizing at record speed. Lighting, ventilation, and access are controlled by sensors and data. Yet one element is often overlooked: the identity of the people using the building. Access cards and permissions are still handled through emails, spreadsheets, and manual routines – in buildings that are otherwise fully automated.
At the same time, the requirements are tightening. The NIS2 directive, GDPR, and stricter rules for data integrity mean that both owners and operations partners must choose solutions that document security all the way through – from software to hardware.
When Base Group developed K8 in Stavanger, they wanted to address this reality head-on. Their vision was a landmark building that was as smart on the inside as it appears from the outside:
“We wanted to create a building where the security isn’t noticed, but always present,” - says Siri Omendal from Base. “You should simply know that it’s safe and reliable.”
The Hidden Challenge in Modern Buildings
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The European framework that governs how personal data is collected, used and deleted, and what rights individuals have. It ensures transparency and gives users control over their own information.
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EU legislation that requires organizations to have control over risks, security incidents and reporting — including when physical and digital systems are interconnected. It raises the security baseline across critical and important sectors.
K8 officially opened in March 2024. With its clean architecture, modern glass facade, and flexible spaces, the building quickly became one of the region’s most visible office buildings. But the ambition went beyond aesthetics: the building had to be as secure as it was beautiful.
To achieve that vision, all technical systems – from lighting to access control – had to function discreetly and efficiently. The security systems needed to handle several hundred users every day, without dominating visually or creating friction in daily operations.
Caverion was chosen as the security partner and received one clear mandate: high security without visual noise — and a solution that works seamlessly for multiple tenants. As part of the solution, they selected the Breeze identity platform and STid Architect readers from Sotera. The result is a building where security, design, and user experience work hand in hand.
A new landmark in the heart of Stavanger
Three stakeholders, one shared goal
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The solution had to respect the architectural profile
Security components must be discreetly integrated
Long-term value without continuous maintenance
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Independence: order and manage credentials without involving building operations
Speed: new hires must get access quickly
Simplicity: manage identities without technical skills
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Full overview of all identities and access credentials
Minimal administration – no email chains
Reliable activation and removal of access rights
K8 is a multi-tenant building with several companies, including DNB and Deloitte. Several hundred employees with different roles and access levels needed to use the building daily. The challenge was to find a single solution that worked for everyone involved – without forcing compromises.
Each stakeholder had its own requirements:
The solution – where physical access meets digital identity
To meet the requirements without compromise, Caverion chose a solution where identity and access are treated as a single, unified process. The model consists of two complementary components: secure physical access control in the building and a cloud-based platform that manages the identities.
Physical access: STid Architect
For physical access control, Caverion selected the STid Architect series, delivered by Sotera. The readers are produced in Europe and combine high security with minimalist design – a combination that has earned them 11 international design and security awards. They support modern encryption and secure communication in line with NIS2 and GDPR, and integrate seamlessly into the building’s architecture.
For Base, this was essential: the security should function, but not be visible.
Identity management: Breeze
But access is not just about readers and cards. The question was how to manage identities for several hundred users – with control, flexibility, and traceability.
This is where Breeze came in – a cloud-based platform that gives each tenant their own portal with ready-to-use card templates. When an employee needs access, the order takes only a few clicks. Sotera’s production receives the request automatically, and the card is delivered to K8 within two to three days.
For tenants, this means independence.
For facility managers, it means oversight without administration.
For Base, it provides a scalable system with no additional operational burden
For Newsec, the workflow is equally streamlined. Sverre explains:
“The tenant orders, the card arrives at our office, and we enroll it into the access system. The biggest advantage is that tenants have their own portal. Instead of everything going through us, they manage it themselves. We have less administration and fewer mistakes.”
The entire process is digital, traceable, and secure. No emails, no Excel sheets, and no heavy routines.
How Breeze works in practice
For tenants, the process has become remarkably simple. Siri from DNB explains it like this:
“I log in, add the name, press send – and the card arrives witthin 2-3 days. I can do it whenever it suits me; full freedom and control.”
She compares it with previous routines:
“Before, everything had to go through several people. You had no control. Now I can see everything and do it myself.”
Why did they choose central card production?
For K8, with stable tenants and moderate volume, central production at Sotera provided the optimal balance: professional quality, full traceability, and a 2–3 day delivery time – without the need for local equipment or training. Breeze handles the order, Sotera produces, and Newsec activates. Simple, reliable, and scalable.
Organizations with higher security requirements often choose local card production via Breeze. But for businesses that do not want to allocate their own resources for this work, centralized production at Sotera is both cost-efficient and resource-saving. A combination of local and centralized production also provides great flexibility and ensures available capacity when needs fluctuate.
Combined with the self-service Duo ID module, cardholders can enter personal details and upload ID photos themselves. With an added approval step, no card is produced until the information is verified.
The result
Base achieved a building where security is fully integrated, discreet, and dependable. Tenants gained control over their own identity management. Newsec benefits from more efficient operations and fewer errors.
K8 demonstrates how digital identity and physical access can work together in practice. With the right technology and a smart division of responsibilities, security becomes part of the experience – not an obstacle to it.
The road ahead
When hundreds of people need to move safely through a building every day, the solution cannot be email chains and manual routines. It must be digital, traceable, and so intuitive that everyone involved gets the freedom they need.
With Breeze, STid, and Caverion, Base has shown how this can be achieved: a solution that gives freedom to users, clarity to operations, and confidence to owners.
At K8, Breeze is more than a tool – it is a new way of thinking about identity management. Contact us to find out how Breeze can help your organisation or building.
