Comelit-PAC has collaborated with The Hillcrest Group of Companies to enhance the door entry system at Dundee's Mary Slessor Building. This improvement integrates GDX Next with Housing Central, streamlining access management for residents and housing teams alike.
The Mary Slessor Building comprises eight residential apartments. Hillcrest sought an advanced video door entry solution that promised dependable service for inhabitants and more efficient management operations. A primary consideration was utilising the existing wiring to reduce both disruption and costs associated with replacements.
Existing cabling infrastructure
With these needs in mind, Hillcrest opted for GDX Next, Comelit-PAC's platform specifically designed for social housing and residential settings. The system was installed covering the building's main entrance and every apartment, effectively using existing wiring and eliminating the need for extensive rewiring efforts.
Comelit-PAC's platform specifically designed for social housing and residential settings
According to Mike Biggam, Operations Supervisor (Electrical) at Hillcrest, the choice for a video door entry system that utilised existing infrastructure was pivotal. "We required a video door entry solution that would be reliable for residents while making the system easier for our teams to manage. The ability to retain the existing wiring infrastructure was a significant factor in our decision, helping minimise disruption and reduce installation costs. Combined with Housing Central, GDX Next has given us a more efficient way to manage access across the building," he stated.
As part of the upgrade, Housing Central from PAC was implemented to manage access credentials through the cloud. This allows authorised staff to handle access permissions remotely, thereby reducing routine site visits and enabling rapid adjustments when necessary.
Access management projects
The project has proven advantageous for both the residents and the operational teams at Hillcrest. Residents now benefit from a reliable video door entry system that enhances secure and convenient visitor management. Meanwhile, housing teams manage access permissions remotely via a central platform, which offers enhanced system visibility and reduces time spent on routine tasks.
Margaret-Ann Sheppard, Business Development Manager at Comelit-PAC, remarked, "Successful access management projects start with understanding how our customers operate. By working closely with Hillcrest and understanding its requirements, we were able to deliver a solution that supports residents while giving housing teams greater visibility, flexibility and control over day-to-day access management."
Comelit-PAC has worked with The Hillcrest Group of Companies to upgrade the door entry system at the Mary Slessor Building, combining GDX Next with Housing Central to simplify access management and support a more efficient service for residents and housing teams.
The Mary Slessor Building in Dundee is a residential apartment block comprising eight apartments. When reviewing options for the upgrade, Hillcrest was looking for a video door entry solution to provide a reliable experience for residents while supporting more efficient day-to-day management.
Existing cabling infrastructure
A key requirement was the ability to utilise the building's existing wiring infrastructure, helping to minimise disruption and avoid the additional time and cost often associated with replacement projects.
To meet these requirements, Hillcrest selected GDX Next, Comelit-PAC's door entry platform designed for social housing and residential environments. Covering the building's main entrance and all eight apartments, the system was installed using the existing cabling infrastructure, allowing the upgrade to be completed without extensive rewiring works throughout the building.
Reducing installation costs
Mike Biggam, Operations Supervisor (Electrical) at The Hillcrest Group of Companies, said: "We required a video door entry solution that would be reliable for residents while making the system easier for our teams to manage. The ability to retain the existing wiring infrastructure was a significant factor in our decision, helping minimise disruption and reduce installation costs. Combined with Housing Central, GDX Next has given us a more efficient way to manage access across the building."
Alongside the door entry upgrade, Hillcrest implemented PAC's Housing Central platform to provide cloud-based management of access credentials. Through a centralised system, authorised personnel can manage access permissions remotely, reducing the need for routine site visits and enabling changes to be made quickly when required.
Access management projects
For Hillcrest, the project has delivered benefits for both residents and operational teams. Residents now have access to a video door entry system designed to support secure and convenient visitor management, while housing teams can administer access permissions remotely through a single platform. This provides greater visibility of the system and reduces the time required to manage routine access-related tasks.
Margaret-Ann Sheppard, Business Development Manager at Comelit-PAC, concluded: "Successful access management projects start with understanding how our customers operate. By working closely with Hillcrest and understanding its requirements, we were able to deliver a solution that supports residents while giving housing teams greater visibility, flexibility and control over day-to-day access management."
