Knightvest Dorian: Securing Common Spaces with iglooworks Smart Access
Challenges
The Dorian is a garden style multifamily property with approximately 300 units. The property possessed an older access control system to manage entry to their common areas and residential buildings. It was not operational due to high maintenance and the lack of modern credentials. The cost of maintaining an older system was prohibitive as newer solutions in the market could provide far superior capabilities at a similar price point.
As existing door hardware and power infrastructure was available, a retrofit solution was deemed optimal. This approach allowed for the integration of newer smart technology components while retaining the existing hardware.
The previous system, which relied on key fobs and keypads had to be manually configured. This created significant inconvenience for management, often leading to common area doors being left unlocked. This practice compromised security, as it allowed unauthorized individuals access to resident-only spaces.
The property management team was looking for a new solution that could:
Create a secure and safe space for residents and the community at large.
Manage multiple shared areas, buildings and facilities in a cost effective manner.
Provide insights and traceability on the property.
Be installed without major infrastructure changes such as pulling cables or adding property-wide managed Wifi.
Solution
Knightvest implemented igloo access control solutions at The Dorian, enabling access to all common building doors via the iglooworks dashboard and app. This solution provided residents, visitors, and staff with the convenience of unlocking doors using their mobile phones, and PINs eliminating the need for physical keys. Furthermore, it added an extra layer of security to shared community spaces.
Using the iglooworks app, residents could create time-sensitive PIN codes to allow guests to enter the property via the keypad. The igloo system offered convenience & security to both residents & staff while providing usage insights and traceability to management and security.
The igloo solution consisted of:
SW1 Switch - a Bluetooth-enabled door controller designed to operate electric strikes on metal swing handle doors. It facilitates single-motion exiting for enhanced egress safety and simplifies installation on existing door preparations. The switch operates solely on a 12/24VDC power supply, eliminating the need for Wi-Fi or Ethernet connectivity.
EK1 Keypad - a wireless PIN code entry device installed on the outside of the doors enabling residents, visitors and staff to use app-less PIN code credentials.
iglooworks App - a mobile application which enabled residents and staff the ability to unlock common doors and generate short term pin code credentials for visitors.
iglooworks Dashboard - a web based access management dashboard enabling the property manager to manage user and visitor access as well as offering audit trails and activity logs.
Installation was quick, as existing power and conduit lines were already in place from the previous access control system, so it was just a matter of fitting in new door strikes and ensuring that the existing wiring was working correctly.
To configure access for the first time, existing tenant & staff details were bulk uploaded into the iglooworks dashboard where accounts and credentials were created and shared.
Tenants could access common areas by downloading and logging into the iglooworks app. Additionally, they could create temporary PIN codes for visitors on demand.
The property manager was able to onboard new tenants via the iglooworks dashboard as needed, creating accounts and credentials remotely without the need for managed WiFi on the property.
“At Dorian, we were able to demonstrate the real strength of Igloo’s retrofit-friendly approach. By leveraging existing infrastructure, we delivered a modern, secure, and easy-to-manage access solution without the costs and complexity of a full system overhaul. Residents now enjoy seamless app and PIN-based access to their community, while management benefits from the oversight, traceability, and efficiency that a cloud-connected system provides. This project shows how multifamily properties can elevate security and resident experience in one step.” - Paul Hoggard, Head of North America
Results
Upon completion, residents & staff were able to unlock all common access areas from their app. For those preferring app-less access, pincodes were generated on the iglooworks dashboard for use on the igloo keypad.
Modern smart access significantly enhanced the property's security, ensuring spaces remained locked and protected for residents. The property manager gained real-time oversight of all app-based unlocking activities via the dashboard, providing valuable usage trend data to boost ongoing operational efficiencies. Finally, a retrofit friendly solution harnessed the existing wiring and power infrastructure, reducing up front costs.