The entire hardware installation consisted of deploying 65 Schlage Control BE467 locks on apartment units, with two Schlage RCK15 reader controllers - one on the main front door and one on the lobby garage door, 12 Schlage XE360 wireless locks installed on multiple residential storage closets and the rooftop door, 6 Schlage MTB15 readers on IP bridges on the bike cage, stairwell doors and the retail gate, and 6 Schlage NDE locks on the mechanical, electrical closets and the maintenance shop sprinkler room. All devices are mobile-enabled, meaning they are ready to read Bluetooth or NFC-based access credentials, and residents are able to use their mobile devices to access spaces. This was important to The Artisan as they wanted to be ready for future mobile credential technology options.
In 2023, The Artisan upgraded to the Zentra cloud-based software platform from Allegion, the next generation of multifamily access management that was launched in 2023. The Zentra software solution manages perimeter, amenity and unit access all in one centralized system. To improve efficiency, property managers can now assign access, create fobs, and assign schedules all from their desk. Comfort Technologies was the first Zentra Authorized Integrator and handled the upgrade seamlessly with no interruptions to operations. In addition, residents were transitioned to Bluetooth mobile credentials through the Zentra mobile app for iOS and Android as a more convenient alternative to using their fobs.
“Zentra clearly stands out from the other access control solutions due to its simple, smart, and secure access experience that not only improves security, but operational efficiency,” says Daniel Kus, Allegion’s Project Implementation Manager. “Zentra is a real game changer in the multifamily space as it’s one of the first in the industry to allow property managers to manage perimeter and apartment units together on one native OEM platform.” The previously installed Schlage control locks used on the apartment doors and the NDE electronics locks on the mechanical and electrical doors were also migrated to the Zentra platform.
The next step involved converting the perimeter from a third-party entry-level commercial access control system to Zentra. “This is where Zentra really shined as both networked and offline openings throughout the building could now be managed on the Zentra platform,” says Kus.
“I absolutely love having everything on one platform as it has made my job easier in so many ways,” says Caron. “Anything state-of-the-art is always more convenient and easier to manage. I’m now able to give temporary access to people for grocery or online deliveries, UPS, Fed-Ex, or housekeeping. Residents now have an overall better experience not only during the enrollment and move-out process, but every day.” In June of 2024, the mobile resident key in the Apple Wallet was introduced as a way for residents to access the building and their individual apartment units by using their iPhone or Apple Watch. “We were extremely excited that Zentra was the first to market with resident key in the Apple Wallet for both perimeter and interior access,” says Kus. “With resident key in Apple Wallet, tenants can seamlessly access spaces with their iPhone or Apple Watch by simply holding it near a Schlage device — there’s no need to open an app. With Express Mode, there’s no need to authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or passcode to wake up the device. Just tap to unlock.”
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