Beau Vie II is a student apartment block located at Banghoek Road, Cape Town. It opened in early 2024 and is only a 10-minute walk from the University of Stellenbosch, providing students with modern and convenient accommodation.
Patron Capital SA is responsible for the development of the high-quality student accommodation. They wanted a high-security, intuitive, and aesthetic access control and security solution. Patron worked with Remote Entry Systems, an experienced security installation company who specified Paxton’s product range.
Paxton, the international security technology company, designs and develops access control systems, video intercom products, IP cameras, and wireless door handles that are used all over the world.
Requirement
The requirements for the Beau Vie II building were clear from the beginning. Biometric readers were required to increase building security through verifying users via fingerprint or facial recognition. The site also required IP cameras to ensure real-time video access and footage capture, and an intercom system to allow ease of visitor access. Simple remote system management was also one of the top requirements.
Solution
Morné Mellet, Technical Systems Specialist at Remote Entry Systems, presented five security installation designs to Patron, which included Paxton’s Net2 and Paxton10 systems. Patron chose Paxton10 due to its web-based software that allows for remote management and the ability for users to use their smart devices to gain access through doors.
Paxton10 is an online access control and video management solution that can manage up to 100 sites with up to 1,000 doors, 1,000 cameras, and 50,000 users.
Morné said: “In addition to Paxton10’s features meeting the requirements per Beau Vie II, the cabling and labour costs required for installing and configuring Paxton products were lower than the other brands, helping to reduce the overall project costs for the client.”
An add-on benefit of choosing Paxton10 for this building is that it is fully campatible with the other product ranges that the manufacturer offers, including Paxton10 cameras, video intercom system, Entry, and smart door handle, PaxLock.
Morné said: “Compared to other access control systems I have worked with over the last 13 years, Paxton10 was the only all-in-one solution that ticked all the boxes for this building. The ease of bringing all the necessary components online and that Paxton10 is compatible with Entry and PaxLock is extremely user-friendly.”
Paxton10 readers are installed on doors in the car park and communal areas in the building, and wireless door handles PaxLock are installed on each apartment unit door. Using them alongside Paxton10 software means the readers and PaxLocks offer free smart credentials through the Paxton Key app, which allows users to gain access to doors using their smartphones or smartwatches.
To provide an additional level of security, system administrator can add extra authenitication on access points, requiring users to unlock their device prior to access granted. This met the original requirement for biometric readers.
Morné said: “The smart credential is a major plus point for the client and the residents. At first all the residents used the traditional keyfobs, but then one by one they requested the smart credentials after seeing other people using their phones instead.
“Currently about 90% of the residents are only using their phones as keys!”
An Entry panel, Paxton’s video intercom system, is installed at the building’s entrance, and Entry monitors are installed on each apartment. This allows visitors to call the unit that they are visiting, and the residents can verify the visitors’ identities via the video call and grant access from their apartment. As the Entry system is compatible with Paxton10, it also provides a smart credential access option at the entrance for residents.
To further increase building security, Paxton’s own range of IP cameras are installed in the car park and throughout the building, making sure every apartment front door is in field of view in case of an emergency. The Paxton10 cameras are plug-and-play and designed to work seamlessly with Paxton10.
Morné manages the Paxton10 system for the building, and its online software allows remote management of users, doors, and cameras, giving Morné absolute convenience.
Morné said: “Being able to remotely manage the system is highly efficient and time saving. I have had a few instances when the client asked me to open doors for maintenance contractors, or residents who accidentally locked themselves out of their rooms.
“I was also able to visually verify the resident’s identity for security reasons, from the real-time video footage in Paxton10 before I open the doors for them.”
Result
Since the opening of the building in early 2024, Patron is happy with Paxton10 and Morné’s assistance in managing the system.
Mackenzie Johnson, Managing Director at Patron Capital SA, said: “Paxton 10 has significantly enhanced the security and convenience for residents at Beau Vie II. The system’s advanced features provide comprehensive surveillance and streamlined access management, ensuring that the apartment complex remains secure and well-monitored. Additionally, the intercom system at the apartment’s front doors has been very well received by the occupants, who appreciate the ease of use and added layer of security it provides.
“We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Morné Mellet. His expertise and dedication have been instrumental in the successful implementation of this advanced security solution. Overall, the installation of Paxton 10 at Beau Vie II has been a successful upgrade, contributing to the safety and satisfaction of the residents.”
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