The historic courthouse in Crown Point, Indiana, U.S. has upgraded its access control management capabilities with a Brivo Systems cloud-based access control system. The system, specified and installed by Phil and Son, manages access for more than 100 users a day and upward of 200 users for after-hour events and/or office access.
The historic courthouse in Crown Point, Indiana, U.S. has upgraded its access control management capabilities with a cloud-based Brivo Systems access control system. The system, specified and installed by Phil and Son, manages access for more than 100 users a day and upward of 200 users for after-hour events and/or office access.
Under the leadership of the Crown Point Courthouse Foundation, the courthouse was transformed into a three-story mix of retail, offices, ballroom function space, and a still-functioning courtroom. Security for the remodeled historic courthouse remained standard lock and key, and that's where the problems began. “It really got out of control,” said Allen Pante, Director of Electronic Division, Phil and Son. “While there are only four entrances, there were over 200 keys in circulation, so when the foundation took over, they faced the hassle and expense of re-keying the entire building.”
For the new mixed-use complex, someone had to manually open all four doors each morning and then re-lock them at 6:00 pm each evening. After-hours access for events was needed, as was a way to grant after-hours access to the businesses that maintained offices in the upper floors. “Clearly, the foundation needed a better, more efficient way to manage access for the many and varying demands of all the building's tenants, visitors, and customers,” Pante explained.
“The Foundation Board members wanted access card control, add and delete capabilities, remote access, and to provide specific access privileges,” said Pante. “And the retail shop owners wanted a lot more—door scheduling, and to be able to change and add system features.”
“Many of the systems we looked at were ‘fix it now,' but I could see the Brivo system had the flexibility for future needs as well,” said Pante. “Other systems required that I load software onto Board members' computers—that wasn't going to work—and most did not offer mobile access.” The building's internal network is out-sourced, so the system couldn't compromise the network. Another key feature of the Brivo access control system is remote management. So, now Pante and his Phil and Son colleagues can assist the Foundation staff in managing the system and provide important back-up resources for any of their needs or questions. “It's been a pretty big change going from keys to something this sophisticated,” Pante explained, “so being able to help the staff along the way and provide a comfort level has been a tremendous advantage.”
The Brivo system is used to manage the four main doors located on the north, south, east, and west sides of the building, as well as two bathroom entrances. Two of the main entrance doors lead to the first floor and the retail shops, and the other two doors provide access to the upper floors, where the offices, ballroom, and courtroom are located.
Phil and Son has assisted the Foundation staff to create separate groups with specific access for the retailers in the basement (first floor), clients on the second and third floors, Foundation management, different service providers, cleaning crews, and volunteers. The main doors automatically unlock each morning and relock in the evening; they are programmed for specific access on the weekends, and to provide different access for each special event in the ballroom after hours.
“The Board did not want any construction on this historic building, so that locked out a number of technology providers,” said Pante. “Luckily, through Brivo's integration with Schlage, we had a wireless solution—problem solved,” Pante. Also, for Phil and Son, they're saving money. With the aid of remote access and management, Pante does not have to roll a truck to the site every time there is a program change or request and Brivo's access control system eliminates questions of warranty and service agreements.
Recently, the Foundation Board came to Pante with a problem—they needed to limit retail customer access to the upper floor offices on the weekend. “We integrated the Brivo system with the elevator controls, and we were able to close off access to the offices as needed,” said Pante. “The Foundation has been pleased we can solve all these issues and each time they come up with a new request, it doesn't cost them thousands of dollars.”