Premium smart buildings require premium security – here’s how K8 did it
Commercial buildings in Norway are becoming increasingly digital. 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 managed through emails, spreadsheets, and manual routines – in buildings that are otherwise fully automated.
At the same time, security expectations are rising. NIS2, GDPR, and stricter requirements for data integrity demand solutions that can document security end-to-end – from software to hardware.
When Base Group developed K8 in Stavanger, they wanted to address exactly this challenge. Their ambition was a landmark office building that was as smart on the inside as it looked from the outside – a building where security is never visible, but always felt.
The Hidden Challenge in Modern Buildings
Three stakeholders, one shared goal
K8 officially opened in March 2024. With clean architecture, a modern glass façade, and flexible floorplans, it quickly became one of the region’s most visible office buildings. But the ambition went further than architecture: the building needed to be as secure as it was beautiful.
To achieve that vision, every technical system – from lighting to access control – had to work discreetly and efficiently. The security infrastructure needed to handle several hundred daily users without becoming visually intrusive or creating friction in everyday routines.
Caverion was selected as security partner and delivered the complete access control system. As part of the solution, they chose the identity management platform Breeze, combined with STid Architect readers from Sotera. The result is a building where security, design, and user experience operate seamlessly together.
STid Architect
For the access hardware, Caverion selected the STid Architect series, supplied by Sotera. These readers are produced in Europe and combine high security with minimalist design – recognized with 11 international design awards. They support modern encryption and secure communication in line with NIS2 and GDPR, while blending naturally into the building’s architecture.
For Base, this was essential: security needed to function flawlessly, but remain invisible.
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.
The road ahead
K8 is a multi-tenant building, home to companies like DNB and Deloitte. Hundreds of employees with different roles and access levels rely on the building every day. The challenge was to find one solution that would work for all parties – without anyone having to compromise.
The solution – where physical access meets digital identity
Caverion faced a clear choice: build around traditional access solutions with known limitations, or find partners capable of meeting all requirements simultaneously.
The answer became a two-part strategy: robust physical access control combined with cloud-based identity management — all provided by Sotera.
Breeze
But access control is more than readers and cards. The real question was how to manage the identities of hundreds of users – with flexibility, control, and traceability.
This is where Breeze became central. Breeze provides every tenant with a dedicated portal and predefined card templates. Ordering a new credential takes only a few clicks. Sotera receives the order automatically, and the card arrives at K8 within two to three days.
A new landmark in the heart of Stavanger
How it works in practice
For tenants, the process has become remarkably simple. Siri from DNB explains:
“I log in, add the name, press send – and the card arrives witthin days. I can do it whenever it suits me; full freedom and control.”
She contrasts this with previous routines:
“Before, everything had to go through several people. You had no control. Now I can see everything and do it myself.”
Organizations with high security requirements often prefer local card printing. Others – especially those with high turnover or many sites – rely on Duo ID, Breeze’s self-service feature that allows users to manage their own credentials.
For K8, with stable tenants and moderate volume, central card production offered the ideal balance: professional quality, full auditability, and two–three day delivery – without local equipment or training. Breeze handles ordering, Sotera produces, and Newsec activates. Simple, reliable, scalable.
The next evolution is Breeze Access – an expansion that unifies the entire identity lifecycle in a single platform. Connected directly to HR systems and access control software, Breeze Access transforms Breeze into a complete IAM solution for properties and organizations.
Why central card production – and what’s coming next
When hundreds of people move through a building every day, email chains and manual routines simply aren’t enough. Security must be digital, auditable, and intuitive for everyone involved.
With Breeze, STid, and Caverion, Base Group has shown how this can be achieved: a solution that gives freedom to users, control to operations, and confidence to owners.
And with Breeze Access on the way, the next step is full lifecycle identity management – connected directly to the systems that run the organization.
At K8, Breeze is more than a tool – it’s a new way of thinking about security.
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. When employees leave, their access rights are removed just as easily as they were created. No emails, no spreadsheets, no leftover permissions.
The result
Base achieved a building where security is fully integrated, discreet, and dependable.
“It flows naturally and has become part of everyday life,” - Siri Omendal.
Tenants gained control over their own identity management.
“With five or six clicks I order a new card, and two to three days later it arrives at reception,” - Siri Dahl.
Newsec benefits from more efficient operations and fewer errors.
“Instead of everything going through us, tenants manage it themselves. We have less administration and better oversight,” Sverre Dydland.
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.
