Apartments, Condos, and
Multifamily Dwellings

Apartments. Condos. Townhouses. Duplexes. Gated communities. Whichever way you look at it, the growth and appeal of multifamily dwellings is exploding as baby boomers and empty nesters downsize, and millennials follow their dreams and move to the city.

Apartments, Condos, and Multifamily Dwellings

Apartments. Condos. Townhouses. Duplexes. Gated communities. Whichever way you look at it, the growth and appeal of multifamily dwellings is exploding as baby boomers and empty nesters downsize, and millennials follow their dreams and move to the city.

As demand for multifamily living grows, so do the demands on property owners and developers to deliver the highest levels of technology, ease of use, and the wow factor – especially when it comes to building security. Tech-savvy tenants demand a solution that comprises the latest technologies, is intuitive yet comprehensive, and provides 24/7 peace of mind. Building owners and managers require a cost-effective solution that delivers efficiency, reduces liability, and boosts service levels. Everyone wants to improve safety and security without impacting convenience.

A single unified solution

From the perimeter to the penthouse and everywhere in between, an ICT solution provides security, video surveillance, access control, elevator control, wireless locking, building automation, and 24/7 alarm monitoring - all from a single platform.

Having one unified system to manage the entire complex – as well as individual residences – enables you to control the entire site from one piece of software, greatly enhancing operational efficiency while offering residents an intelligent, state-of-the-art, smart living experience.

Intuitive and easy to use

Designed with the end user in mind, Protege GX offers an intuitive and user friendly interface that is loaded with features for controlling and monitoring the system from one unified platform. The instinctive, easy-to-use interface makes learning a breeze, reduces training costs, and ensures personnel are quickly up to speed.

Once the system has been configured, front desk staff simply enter new tenant details to automatically grant the relevant access to the building, parking area, elevators, common amenities, and so on.

Anywhere access

The optional web based client offers the ultimate flexibility - with no software to deploy to end user workstations, it works on any device with a modern web browser, enabling users to access the system from anywhere with an internet connection.

The web client can also be used to expose an interface to the building system to third parties via the internet. This is an ideal solution for where a corporate leasing agent is sub-leasing multiple floors and requires the ability to access the software externally to manage and report on their own portion of the system.

First impressions count

Competition in the multifamily dwelling market is tough. Making a good first impression is important, but so is striking a balance between user convenience, security, and cost. ICT's intercom range offers an open standard, non-proprietary solution that can operate as standalone point-to-point intercom systems or integrate with your Protege system to unlock a wider feature set for added capability and efficiency - unlock the doors leading to your apartment, trigger lighting along the way, and even summon the appropriate elevator.

Explore ICT's Intercom range

Apartment Control

Being able to provide a low-cost intruder detection solution is a must, especially for ground-floor units which have a higher risk of attracting a break-in. Not only is this a problem for the tenant, but it also allows access to the rest of the building. This is one reason that many apartment complexes are now providing intruder detection to the lower levels as standard.

The apartment feature within Protege GX allows all this to be managed from a single user interface. A keypad, and up to four sensors, are installed in each apartment and wired to the nearest controller. This behaves just like an isolated intruder alarm system but can be centrally managed and monitored by the concierge or management staff. Owners can change their own PINs, but management are able to reset users if a property becomes vacant. IP monitoring is also built in, allowing residents to have their system monitored off-site without costing an arm and a leg.

Mobile peace of mind

The Protege Mobile App gives you the same peace of mind that you have at home, while you are away. Did I arm the alarm? Did the kids get home from school? And - if you’ve chosen a fully integrated home - did I close the garage door?

Fumbling for your keys or garage remote becomes a thing of the past as you use your phone to lock and unlock the door. Instead of rushing home to let the babysitter or plumber in, use the app to unlock the door remotely and disarm the alarm, then relock and rearm as they leave. And forget about coming home to a cold, dark, unwelcoming apartment. A couple more taps and you have the heating and lights turned on, all from the comfort of your car.

Link to cameras to see who rang the doorbell, to keep an eye on the pets, or to check if an important parcel has arrived. Subscribe to push notifications to receive alerts of system or sensor activity. As a parent, you get peace of mind to see the system disarmed when the kids return home from school. And of course, you’re alerted instantly to any alarms.

Learn more about an ICT Mobile solution

A smarter home solution

The term ‘smart home’ has been around for some time and has been used to describe everything from lighting and AV control systems through to consumer electronics that connect to the internet to automatically order more mayonnaise when you run out.

The reality however is often a bunch of gadgets on the wall that don’t work well together, and an end user who reverts to using the light switch to turn on the lights and walking to the store to get more mayonnaise when the bottle is empty. Multiple disparate systems not only lack continuity, they are both inefficient and uneconomical.

At ICT, we play to our strengths. We know what we’re good at and we recognize that sometimes it’s better to partner with an expert than to reinvent the wheel and attempt to be everything to everyone. Protege GX integrates with many home automation and control systems, including Savant and Crestron, to provide a simple, single-point solution that balances energy efficiency with the needs of your organization.

Having a single unified system to manage the entire complex, including the lobby, parking facilities, and common amenities, as well as individual home residences, is not only an additional selling point, it also optimizes convenience and energy efficiency.

Intelligent lighting that turns on as soon as an apartment is disarmed, when motion is detected, or that adjusts levels automatically based on the current ambient light
Temperature sensors that adjust a thermostat based on your presence to deliver heating or cooling as needed
Ambient light sensors that automatically adjust electronic blinds
Programmable functions that automatically turn off non-essential appliances, such as your coffee machine, when the alarm is set, and on again when the alarm is deactivated
Schedules that manage energy by controlling such things as towel rails so they are only on when they need to be, and hot water is turned off when residents are away for an extended period.

Key Features

Perimeter Security

Features such as stay arming mode provide flexibility by allowing the perimeter of the building to be armed, while the occupants are free to move around inside. Integration with wireless sensors and detection devices, enables you to cost-effectively, expand intrusion detection into parking lots, underground structures, and other areas that may be difficult to wire.

Video Surveillance

Preventing the bad guys from getting in is always a good idea, but if something does go wrong, it’s good to have electronic eyes to provide situational awareness. Seamless integration with a variety of CCTV systems enables you to control cameras, and view live and historical video footage from a single easy to use interface.

Elevator Systems

Integrating access control with an elevator system not only increases building security, it provides added convenience and improves the flow of people. With a tightly integrated solution, an elevator car can be called and the relevant floor selected automatically as a tenant presents their access credential at a door approaching the lobby, or when a visitor is granted access via the entry station.

Parking Solutions

Using the Bluetooth capability of our tSec range, an ICT wireless remote or a Wiegand long range reader, there are a range of solutions available for secure parking facilities. For high end developments, take advantage of intelligent License Plate Recognition (LPR) that is available for selected CCTV integrations.

Community Amenities

Community spirit is one of the features that attracts people to the multifamily residential situation. Most developments now offer communal amenities such as club rooms, gyms and swimming pools, but securing these facilities can be challenging and expensive. Being able to control access to these facilities from one central system has many advantages and enables management to provide access to members on a subscription basis or for tenants to reserve facilities for a defined period.

Building Management

Knowing when an area is occupied and how many people are in a room, allows for tight integration with building management systems to control HVAC, lighting, energy, fire, and elevator solutions. Integration provides an immediate return on investment by greatly reducing energy consumption and operating costs, as well as providing control from one centrally managed system.

Wireless & Offline Locking

Hardwired access control is often too expensive to roll out to every door. Integration with a wireless or offline locking system offers a more cost-effective solution to provide secure, keyless access. The wire free environment means there is no need to hard wire the building, and the ability to use your existing credentials means you also avoid any expensive migration costs. What’s more, with the vast range of products available, virtually any kind of door can now be equipped with wireless locks, including narrow profile, aluminum, and glass doors.

Watch the ondemand webinar

From the perimeter to the penthouse and everywhere in between, an ICT solution provides security, video surveillance, access control, elevator control, and so much more - all from a single platform. Join Pat Alvaro as he outlines the features and benefits available for multifamily dwellings.

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