ASSA ABLOY has partnered with the University of East Anglia in the UK to better protect its students from on-campus theft and crime by implementing the company's Aperio access control solution.

Formed in 1963, the University of East Anglia is located in the city of Norwich and serves some 15,000 students. In order to boost security for UEA’s latest campus residence hall, Crome Court, campus officials decided on a system from ASSA ABLOY. The new residence hall houses 231 en-suite rooms that are primarily rented out to post-graduate students.

Also key to the new residence hall project is a commitment to environmental responsibility, and the building was specifically designed by UEA to reduce environmental impact. With this in mind the university felt it was vital that the chosen access control solution should also be in line with this goal.

The university sought a system that could guarantee electronic locks that were built to serve the unique demands of the student accommodation, while also ensuring student safety and security. Other requests included a stylish, affordable component design that fit the environmentally advanced profile of the new residence hall. To aid in the process, Gallagher, ASSA ABLOY Access Control’s OEM’s partner, helped to identify the best security solution for the university.

The residence hall's doors have been fitted with Aperio E100 online escutcheons, with installation training provided on campus by ASSA ABLOY. Students now open their doors with smart cards instead of metal keys. The battery-operated Aperio locks also emit significantly fewer CO2 emissions than wired locks, fitting with the campus' environmentally conscious aims.

University staff can also control doors from a web-based interface or mobile phone. “Unlike other systems, Aperio provides audit trails online, allowing for real-time monitoring,” says Jason Boyce, Sales Manager at Gallagher. “The fact that Gallagher and Aperio devices can operate with the same data on the card has allowed for tighter integration, which saves the customer money.”

In addition to the current installation, Aperio are offering the capability for additional doors to be integrated into UEA’s Gallagher system over time as required.