PRESTON TEMPLE

Complete transformation of fire and safety systems on a complex site

PRESTON TEMPLE

The Preston Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, built in 1994, is a major spiritual and architectural landmark in the North West of England. Situated at the Chorley junction of the M61 motorway, its elegant white Italian granite façade and spire surmounted by the gilded Angel Moroni make it a striking presence in the heart of the countryside. Serving congregations in the Midlands, North of England and Scotland, it is one of the Church's largest temples in Europe.

Challenge

In 2020, the Temple's existing fire safety system failed; with the original installer refusing to intervene and other providers reluctant to commit to an obsolete infrastructure, the Facilities Manager turned to Scutum. A temporary solution was quickly put in place to stabilise the situation, while a full replacement and modernisation was planned.
The Temple sits at the heart of a 15-acre estate, comprising several buildings, including visitor accommodation, an education center, offices, function rooms, a chapel and landscaped gardens used by church members and the local community. The Temple and its site close only twice a year for essential maintenance, so accurate and reliable timescales were crucial.

Solutions implemented

Scutum was commissioned to install a complete fire safety and intruder alarm system for the entire site. In eight weeks, a team of ten technicians and in-house designers installed and commissioned a fully integrated solution.

1 - Fire alarm system

Over 900 detection points on seven panels, all connected to a central platform with detailed floor plans. Staff can now monitor and manage alerts remotely with real-time precision.

2 - Intruder alarm system

Modernized to integrate with the same central software, offering complete visibility of all site security points.

Scutum operates to the highest quality standards. Their staff inspire confidence with a genuine, proactive approach, and their exemplary customer service clearly sets them apart. They were remarkably helpful, even when our IT department was changing access and servers - the Scutum team was always available and ready to step in. We're delighted with the results and look forward to a long-term partnership.

Results

The installation not only ensured full regulatory compliance, but also brought an unprecedented level of operational control across the entire site. Preston Temple, an extraordinary and much-loved site in the North West, required a complex upgrade within a strict timeframe. Despite these challenges, the team of designers and technicians worked seamlessly together to deliver a system that performs well, is scalable, and now gives facility staff complete confidence in their operations.