Note: Property details have been generalized at client request. The scope, process, and outcomes described reflect an actual project completed by Innovative Developments LLC.
When the property management team at a 200-unit multifamily building in the DC metro area called us, they had three problems.
First, their intercom system was generating constant tenant complaints. Residents couldn’t reliably buzz in guests. The system rang landline phones that most residents had long since disconnected. Package deliveries were piling up in the lobby because drivers couldn’t reach anyone.
Second, the building was running entirely on physical keys. Across 200 units, plus amenity areas, utility rooms, and management offices — the key management burden was significant. Move-out rekeying costs were a recurring budget line. There was no way to know what keys were outstanding.
Third, they had no audit trail. When incidents occurred — a theft in the mail room, a dispute about unauthorized entry — they had limited footage and no access documentation to work with.
This is a common profile for multifamily buildings built in the 1990s and 2000s: functional enough to not demand immediate attention, but quietly accumulating operational costs and liability exposure.
The Assessment
We started with a full site assessment: walking the property with the property manager, documenting all entry points, reviewing existing intercom wiring infrastructure, assessing the network environment, and inventorying the current key management situation.
The assessment produced a clear picture of what was needed and — critically — what was already in place that could be leveraged. Much of the existing low voltage wiring was still viable for the new intercom system, which reduced the installation scope and cost.
The Solution
We proposed a two-component upgrade:
1. ButterflyMX smart intercom system at all primary building entry points. The existing wiring was assessed and partially reused; new cable runs were added where needed. ButterflyMX panels were installed at each entrance with weatherproof enclosures for exterior points.
2. Credential-based access control for the main building entrances, amenity areas (gym, package room, pool area), and management offices. We installed card readers with an NFC-capable option for mobile credentials, giving the property a pathway to fully eliminate physical keys over time.
Both systems were integrated into a unified management dashboard, allowing the property management team to handle intercom configuration, access control, and audit log review from a single interface.
The Installation
The installation was phased over four weeks to minimize resident disruption. Wiring work was done during off-peak hours. The existing intercom system remained operational until the ButterflyMX system was fully tested and confirmed — there was zero gap in building access during the transition.
Resident onboarding was handled in coordination with the property management team. We provided setup support for the ButterflyMX resident app, and the building saw 80%+ resident adoption within the first two weeks of go-live.
What Changed
For residents: Visitors can now reach them via smartphone video call. Deliveries can be handled with one-time access codes. The front-door experience feels modern.
For property management: Access credential management takes minutes instead of hours. Move-out deactivations happen in real time. The audit log provides complete documentation of every entry event.
For the building: The documentation trail has already been used to support one insurance inquiry, shortening the resolution process significantly. The property projects a substantially more professional image at the entry points.
For the bottom line: The rekeying costs that previously hit the facilities budget quarterly have been eliminated.
This is what a properly executed access control upgrade looks like at the 200-unit multifamily scale. Not a rip-and-replace of everything — but a thoughtful, phased upgrade that addresses real operational problems and creates durable operational value.
Innovative Developments LLC is a licensed low voltage contractor based in Gaithersburg, MD, serving commercial and multifamily properties across Maryland, Virginia, DC, Delaware, and Pennsylvania.
If your multifamily building has similar challenges, contact us for a free site assessment.