Trends in exterior entry access in mid/high rise with common corridor!!!

Hello All!!

What exterior entry methods are you seeing in mid or high rise apartment buildings with a common corridor?

Keypads, swipe-able resident cards, etc? Also, how are residents admitting guests in these communities? Buzzing them in?


Thanks for any information you can provide!!

Can I piggy back on this? I'd also love to hear what people are doing with that data! I was talking with someone who had keycard access to all their amenities, and yet they were doing nothing with all the data! I was amazed - how great would it be to be able to go into a renewal understanding exactly how the resident was using the property!

(Sorry about the tangent, April!)

Hi there,

The use of electronic credentials with residents for access is the biggest trend we’re seeing in the security industry today for mid and high rise buildings with a common corridor. Using electronic credentials are a more convenient and cost effective way to manage access control, and they help provide a customized experience for each resident. For example, designated parking, elevator and floor access can all be customized to a resident’s smart card, which delivers higher security and convenience at a lower price point than managing mechanical keys.

In terms of granting admission to visiting guests, mobile distribution is a popular trend right now as it provides added convenience to residents. Before a resident’s guest arrives, they are able to remotely provide limited access to specific exterior and tenant doors via email and/or text.

Video Intercom is becoming a popular building entry system as it allows tenants to enter keylessly (access card, key fob and/or key code) AND they can grant guests access through the main doors without leaving their apartment. Video monitors wall mounted in each tenant unit are equipped with door release buttons that essentially "buzz in" their visitors.

These systems are amazing in this day and age when even some random stranger could disguise his/her voice to gain access to a large building. Tenants or a concierge can visually identify all guests and avoid potential burglary, thefts, vandalism, etc. New buildings require an entry system, but choosing the right one can definitely be difficult. Good luck!