Allegion and Comfort Technologies Implement Mobile Credentials at Luxury Apartments

CARMEL, Indiana – Artisan Apartment Homes, a luxury apartment complex in Dunedin, Florida, recently transitioned from mechanical keys to electronic locks and centralized system software with support from Allegion US, a leading provider of security solutions, technology and services, and Florida-based Comfort Technologies, which specializes in deploying multifamily access control, IoT devices and software management solutions.

Multifamily Access Control Challenges

The upscale 65-unit apartment property previously issued all residents a fob for perimeter access and a key to access the mechanical lock at their apartment door. Between legacy fobs and keys, patchwork infrastructure, and a steady flow of traffic throughout the complex – the property manager was experiencing significant challenges with its perimeter access control system.

“By running disparate systems, it became a complicated and time-consuming process for me to create new fobs for residents when they moved in and then deactivate them when they moved out,” says Sally Caron, Residential Property Manager at the Artisan Apartment Homes. “Plus, it was costly to replace lost fobs and mechanical keys."

In total, the development had 92 doors and openings, including gated garage entry and a bicycle storage area. Before the upgrade, all residents had been issued fobs for perimeter entry and mechanical door keys. Residents had to carry both a key and a fob when they left the complex.

The entire hardware installation included:

• 65 Schlage Control BE647 locks on apartment doors
• Two Schlage RCK 15 reader-controllers – one on the main front door and one on the lobby garage door
• 12 Schlage XE360 wireless locks on residential storage spaces and a rooftop door
• Six Schlage MTB15 readers on IP bridges on the bike cage, stairwell doors and retail gate
• Six Schlage NDE locks on staff-only mechanical, electrical and storage closets

After a careful review process with its integrator Comfort, the Artisan moved forward with an ecosystem of solutions from Allegion. In 2022 the mechanical locks on all 65 apartment unit doors were upgraded to Schlage Control smart locks with ENGAGE access control to give residents keyless entry. The following year, the Artisan upgraded to the Zentra cloud-based software platform from Allegion, which manages perimeter, amenity and unit access all in one centralized system.

“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."

Most recently, the mobile resident key in 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. The Artisan is also on track to be the first multifamily property to deploy resident key in Google Wallet in mid-2025.

“Our residents love the security and convenience of resident key in Apple Wallet and are adapting to the change quickly,” says Caron. “Residents have expressed that they feel safer, and that the adoption of mobile credentials has given them the freedom to go for a jog or a walk without worrying about carrying anything with them but their iPhone or Apple Watch for reentry.”

Learn more about the upgrades, specific solutions utilized, and more by reading the full case study, here.