Story at a glance:
- Door entry systems now integrate with apps and software, offering easy remote control and instant information about building access.
- Built-to-last hardware can work with a building’s current wiring, which reduces installation time, costs, and material waste.
- These systems are customizable on every level, from tech integration options to aesthetic designs.
The days of a stainless steel, two-way intercom on every multifamily building are over. New connected door entry solutions break the mold to offer convenient, high-tech security.
“When I first started, multifamily basically meant old infrastructure, old intercom systems: you know, a typical buzzer. Somebody’s at your front door, you buzz them in,” says Robert Bhiro, vice president of sales at Comelit.
Today’s systems streamline and elevate the experience: They’re intuitive to use and offer reassuring layers of security. “No matter where the project’s located, I think there’s always a desire to keep a sense of security and ownership of the spaces for the residents of the building,” says architect Nate Sunderhaus, senior associate at Perkins Eastman.
That security goes hand-in-hand with sustainability, too. Flexible modern systems can reduce waste, conserve resources, and even fit aesthetically with buildings of any style.
High-Tech Visibility
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- Comelit solutions include options for rain shields. Photo courtesy of Comelit
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- Door entry systems now integrate with apps and software, offering easy remote control and instant information about building access. Photo courtesy of Comelit
Smart intercom systems integrate with other software for sleek, comprehensive security. Property management software and mobile apps are popular integration options. Video that shows what’s happening at an access point has become valuable, too. “With the use of Wi-Fi and the ability to have everything interconnected, video is incredibly important, and live feeds,” Sunderhaus says.
These integrations are also highly customizable. “Security is now proactive rather than reactive,” Bhiro says. Landlords and property managers can decide which tech integrations they’d like, instead of picking a one-size-fits-all option.
Integrated modern systems offer not just high-end security, but visual reassurance that helps tenants feel secure. “The better the tech looks, the more they’re going to feel that way and the better it’s going to feel,” Sunderhaus says.
Sustainable Durability
These high-tech options can be more sustainable than older, simpler designs. “Most intercom companies, back when I started, their life cycle was five, six years,” Bhiro says. Each time an old system got removed and replaced, it became e-waste.
Today’s systems are more durable. Improved sustainability requires hardware that lasts: Even touchscreens must stand up to heavy use and inclement weather. It also requires software that upgrades easily without replacing hardware. “A big part of sustainability is reusing or not having to rework things, making things flexible,” Sunderhaus says. These long-lasting systems offer long-term value for users and for the planet.
Customizable Options
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- Visual style is important, too. Comelit’s graphic user interfaces can be tailored with custom wallpapers, images, and information. So can the physical intercom panels; a range of designs can always match a building’s style. Photo courtesy of Comelit
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- The Mercer Building in Denver uses Comelit’s VIP video entry solution across more than 230 units. Its setup includes two 316 Touch panels and one Ultra Touch panel, with app-based access that streamlines secure entry for residents. Photo courtesy of Comelit
Not all buildings have the same budget, but they all can have secure, modern door entry systems. The options range from simple intercom-less designs that work by calling a resident’s phone to fancy 7-inch touchscreens that control entry from inside apartments.
Visual style is important, too. Comelit’s graphic user interfaces can be tailored with custom wallpapers, images, and information. So can the physical intercom panels; a range of designs can always match a building’s style.
“Lobbies are typically very high-design spaces,” Sunderhaus says. “So we’re always trying to show off a little bit of what’s going on inside and how nice the interiors of the building are.” At The Ryland, a multifamily building in Philadelphia, the design team added an intricate decorative wall to the lobby. They chose to place a well-matched intercom system on a pedestal in front of the wall to suit the design without distracting from it.
Infrastructure Compatibility
This StuyTown project uses Comelit for building access. Photo courtesy of Comelit
When Comelit was founded in Italy in 1956 its analog systems had to work on the existing wiring of old Italian buildings. While the systems have modernized, the compatibility remains the same. “We’ve installed intercom systems on wiring that was put in in the 1960s, 1970s, and it still works perfectly fine,” Bhiro says.
After 10 or 20 years go by and it’s time for a replacement, the newer replacement system can still use existing wiring. This not only saves time and money but cuts back on material waste, since buildings don’t need to be rewired for new intercoms.
User-Friendly Design
As technology evolves user friendliness remains key. Comelit prioritizes intuitive designs, like a button that flashes green to answer an intercom call, and another that flashes red to hang it up.
Intercoms are no longer just a communication tool. They’re part of an access control solution.
Software is part of user-friendliness, too. App-integrated smart intercoms allow for easy control from anywhere. For example, residents can use a mobile credential app to send visitors a single-use access pin or QR code. “Before intercoms were smart, none of these things existed,” Bhiro says. “Intercoms are no longer just a communication tool. They’re part of an access control solution.”
Property managers can use similar solutions, like granting access to new tenants through a management app. “You can provide and take away access remotely, and you can do it in real time,” Sunderhaus says.
Information Security
Security isn’t just about physical access. In the digital era cybersecurity is paramount; intercoms need to be encrypted and protect against digital threats. “Especially now that some of the intercom systems require people’s email addresses and phone numbers and apartment numbers to be inside the system,” Bhiro says. Storing tenant information locally at the building, instead of on the cloud, can protect tenants against cybersecurity leaks.
Connected door entry systems continue to evolve, with exciting possibilities on the horizon. “We’re thinking about what is going to be part of this building solution that lasts longer, that works smarter, and provides property managers and residents with better control over the security,” Bhiro says.
