Home to around 33,000 students, the fifth-highest number of any university in the UK, the University of Leeds is the UK's eighth biggest university and is a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. It has invested over $466 million in transforming its campus over the past few years, one of the biggest capital investments in British higher education, and its aim is to provi...
Home to around 33,000 students, the fifth-highest number of any university in the UK, the University of Leeds is the UK's eighth biggest university and is a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. It has invested over $466 million in transforming its campus over the past few years, one of the biggest capital investments in British higher education, and its aim is to provide students and staff with a world-class campus allied to its ambition of securing a place among the world's top 50 universities by 2015.
To accommodate its many students the university has a wide range of accommodation to choose from – everything from modern multi-storey blocks on large sites, through to smaller buildings on campus, and everything in between. This is then further broken down into a choice of catered and self-catering accommodation with 4 venues providing catered living and 15 venues providing self-catered arrangements.
The newest accommodation facility is Storm Jameson Court,named after former student Margaret Storm Jameson a prolific author of more than 50 books and plays, which offers hotel-style accommodation to students during term time and is available to conference delegates during the summer recess.
This impressive two-block, 459-bedroom development, features light spacious rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows in every room to maximise light, data access points, IPTV facility and a safe, purpose designed en-suite bathroom pods and contemporary style built-in furniture to make the most of the available space. The accommodation also fully facilitates students with varying levels of disabilities, holding the highest possible accreditation under all categories of the National Accessible Scheme (NAS), with 26 rooms specifically assigned to accommodate disabled students.
To achieve its requirement of securely controlling who can access what, where and when within the new blocks, Em-B Solutions Ltd the Leeds based SALTO Certificated Partner recommended, installed and commissioned a SALTO Systems XS4 proximity based access control solution.
Catherine Higgins of Em-B Solutions Ltd says “The XS4 electronic escutcheon platform in the form of E9450 comfort and security model handle sets, together with cylinder locks and locker locks provide the means to operate an almost totally keyless environment because of their unique ability to distribute ID information to access controlled doors by using Mifare contactless fobs to upload and download information between the on-line and off-line doors.”
Since most access related information is kept encrypted on the fobs, strategically sited wall readers are able to update and receive information from the fobs at any time. This makes the system easy to use and provides 90% of the benefits of a fully on line access control system at the cost of a standalone system.
The fobs build up audit trails through normal use giving the university complete control over access and enabling the movement of students, staff and visitors to and within Storm Jameson Court to be monitored 24/7 as well as controlling access at all times. And if key security is breached due to the loss or theft of a fob, it can be instantly deleted without the need or cost of rekeying or changing locks – saving the university time and money.
Paul Carr, SALTO Systems Northern Area Sales Manager, adds: "SALTO Systems are world leaders in advanced wireless access control solutions for the education sector. We have vast experience of working with schools, colleges and universities and understand the challenging security issues faced by these establishments.
Education sites like many others can face a variety of threats including theft, vandalism and trespass. The University of Leeds prides itself on providing a safe environment in which its students can live and study so it's important therefore that security is paramount.
The simple to use SALTO XS4 platform provides this in a versatile and cost-effective way. It regulates entry to premises and provides effective security on a daily basis, ensuring the physical safety of everyone onsite whilst controlling access to specific areas at specific times, helping to maintain the continuity of education by preventing any potential disruptions caused by theft or damage.”