By: Maxence Tatford, Business Development Manager, Traka
The foundation of successful residential management begins before the foundation itself is poured. Decisions must be made about how to strategically integrate critical technology and infrastructure so staff can safely manage the property. LRM Prime, which manages some of the most high-end multi-family properties throughout London, has implemented a solution that’s impacted operational efficiency, site safety, and security and is now being integrated into nearly all of their properties, including as a mandatory component to new construction. Its application within their portfolio should serve as an example for developers and site managers to consider as they constantly evaluate how to operate at peak efficiency.
At the heart of most LRM Prime-managed locations is a concierge, who is the nexus for operations throughout the property. One of the most important responsibilities for each concierge is properly handling keys, which are stored in an intelligent key cabinet. The concierge and site managers can designate who has access to which key, which helps guard against unauthorized access. That’s especially helpful when managing contractors who only need access to certain areas of the property for a temporary amount of time, like for repairs and regular maintenance. The key cabinet eliminates the need for manually checking keys in and out and having to record those transactions in a logbook. The cabinet can produce an audit report on key usage, including why a key was signed out, which a concierge can give to the person replacing them on the next shift. If a key hasn’t been returned by a certain time, a notification can be sent to a manager or concierge, which can help expedite the time spent recovering the lost key. Ultimately, the cabinet helps establish accountability among staff, who are responsible for the key and know there’s a system in place to account for it.
Because the cabinet has proven its worth at multiple locations, LRM Prime has recommended it be included in the phased development of properties they’ll manage. This establishes that the cabinet will be a part of daily operations once the property is completed, and included in any onboarding for staff who have access to keys. The cabinet is also valuable when various contractors are on-site to complete the various stages of development. The cabinet ensures vendors only have access to specific areas that they need to do work in. When their task has been completed, their access can be immediately deactivated, which helps secure the property from any unnecessary access.
Another benefit to utilizing intelligent key cabinets that LRM Prime has experienced has been scalability. One of the most fundamental risks in high-rises is the sheer number of people occupying a single area. Because many of these buildings include social housing as well as mixed-use purposes like retail, commercial, and restaurant spaces, site managers must have clear control over who has access to which area. Operationally, as properties are being built higher to accommodate more residents, there’s a security risk to additional rooms that are further away from a main access point. Multiple key cabinets can be strategically placed throughout a property, as in LRM Prime’s Thames City location, which has more than 1,000 residential units. Staff there utilize six key cabinets, which reduces time spent walking to a single cabinet and helps group keys that only staff in that sector need. Managers have a comprehensive view of key usage among all cabinets, as all are connected to a central access control system. As noted above, this can help produce immediate audit reports for compliance regulations and general transparency for leaseholders and tenants.
In evaluating any technology, managers and developers must ask critical questions to fully understand the impact it’s going to have and if it’s worth the investment. LRM Prime did the same when they first considered intelligent key cabinets.
“What is the value this gives? What is the peace of mind?” recalls Veronica Sorbello, Mobilisation Manager, LRM Prime. “We have an obligation to everything that we put in – it needs to have a value. Every line item needs to have a reason.”
Regarding key cabinets, answers to the above questions are universally in the affirmative. Not only do they secure a property’s most critical shared assets, but they also improve operational efficiency and can be scaled to meet growing housing and commercial space needs. Developers and managers that implement them at the start of both construction and subsequent operations position contractors and full-time staff to effectively and safely utilize keys amidst the complex ecosystem that is high-rise residential properties.
